01_make_a_conveyor

Making a Conveyor : 

The following slides discuss how to create a basic conveyor in V-Sim. Follow along and create a conveyor that moves parts in a basic fashion. Once complete, we will save the conveyor into the eCat so it can be used later. The next tutorial will use this conveyor to make a basic layout. Making a Conveyor

Moving Around in V-Sim : 

Orbit – Use the Right Mouse Button (RMB) Pan – Use Right & Left Mouse Buttons (RMB/LMB) Zoom – Use Middle Mouse Button (MMB) Fill – Must Use Toolbar – No Mouse Shortcut Moving Around in V-Sim

The Left Side Tabs : 

eCat – This is a library of comp. that can be used to make layouts Param – short for parameters – essentially variables for components Create – the tab used to create components using primitive and behaviors Kin – used for creating kinematic motion like robots or elevators PLC – for connecting to real or soft PLCs – shows the status of the PLC tags and helps with debugging. The Left Side Tabs

Making a Conveyor : 

On the Create Tab – use the geometry sub-tab to make a Block. Set the values in millimeters to size the conveyor. On the Create Tab – use the geometry sub-tab to make a Frame. Pick a name that implies the start of a conveyor. This will be where parts enter the conveyor. Making a Conveyor

Making a Conveyor : 

Use the Trans button on the toolbar to move the Frame to the top center at the start of the conveyor. You can use your LMB to drag any color axis. Notice how the X, Y, and Z values change as you drag each axis. You can plug absolute values into these boxes as a second way to locate the frame. Making a Conveyor

Making a Conveyor : 

Create a second Frame and name it ‘End’. Click on the Trans icon then select the snapping function called out by the Yellow Arrow. Make sure option shown in the Red Box is depressed. It allows frames to snap to the center of a surface Next, position the cursor over the top of the surface of the block you created and click. Then drag the Red arrow to move the frame to the end of the block. Notice the ‘X’ value in the toolbar. Making a Conveyor

Making a Conveyor : 

NOTE: Behaviors are used to describe how components act within V-Sim. There are behaviors for creating components, interfacing with other components, and to connect to PLCs. Go back to the Create tab and select the Behavior sub-tab. The second icon (shown left) will allow you to create a Conveyor behavior. Making a Conveyor

Making a Conveyor : 

When you create a Conveyor behavior, the dialog on the left appears. The default settings are sufficient for this example except for the Route. The next step is to click on the ellipse (dots) to set the Route that parts take on this conveyor. We will reference the Frames that we just created. Making a Conveyor

Making a Conveyor : 

After clicking on the ellipse dots to set the Route, you will get the dialog shown on the left. You need to select the frame names that you created from the pull down and then click the Add button to make a dialog that looks like the one in the lower left of this frame. Making a Conveyor

Making a Conveyor : 

One of the main uses for Interfaces is to define how components “snap” together. For this conveyor we are going to create an interface at the beginning and end of the conveyor. The next step is to make interfaces so this conveyor can connect to other conveyors. Go to the Behavior sub-tab and select “One to One Interface” Making a Conveyor

Making a Conveyor : 

The “Section” portion of the interface allows you to define what will flow through the interface connection being made. Usually parts flow across interfaces but you can also pass information in the form of signals Once you make a one to one interface behavior, the following dialog appears. Click on the ellipse to the right of the word “Sections” Making a Conveyor

Making a Conveyor : 

First click on the white “new page” icon, then select the frame you want to associate with the interface and, lastly, choose the term “Flow Field” to represent that parts are being moved. Once the Flow Field is created, the Current Field area will need to be set to attach the interface to the beginning of the conveyor. Making a Conveyor

Making a Conveyor : 

Repeat the process for the End frame by making a second One to One Interface behavior. Select “Save Component As” from the File pull down. Notice the yellow triangle that represent the Interfaces. Making a Conveyor

Making a Conveyor : 

Choose a name for the conveyor and then give it a description on the subsequent dialog. These will be seen later. Making a Conveyor

Making a Conveyor : 

This completes the tutorial on making a conveyor. Look in your eCat where you saved your conveyor and you will see an automatically generated icon of your conveyor and when you mouse-over the icon, your description will be shown. Making a Conveyor