Flow Conveyor Visualizations

Overview and Key Concepts

Global conveyor visualizations are global settings that are referenced by flow conveyors in the model. They define how the conveyors should look. A flow conveyor can use a local conveyor visualization instead, which only affects how that particular conveyor looks without affecting any other objects.

Properties

The properties window has the following properties:

Name

For global visualizations, you can change the name here. All conveyors using the visualization will automatically change to use the new name. When you are editing the visualization of a conveyor with custom (local) properties, this field will show "Custom" and be grayed out.

Surface

The surface pane allows you to define visual properties associated with the convey surface.

Draw Rollers

Check this box to enable the drawing of rollers on the conveyor surface.

Diameter

The diameter to draw rollers when in render mode. Only used in render mode.

Spacing

The distance from the center of one roller to the center of the next roller. Should be greater than Roller Diameter. Only used in render mode.

Draw Belt

Check this box to enable the drawing of a belt on the conveyor surface. Then you can define the texture to be drawn. There are several automatic options, or you can browse for the file.

Repeat Distance

The distance between each repeat of the conveyor belt texture, along the conveyor's forward axis.

Width Ratio

The width of the belt as a fraction of the conveyor width, where 1.0 is the full width of the conveyor.

Color

The color to apply when drawing the belt texture.

Side Skirt

The side skirt pane allows you to define visual properties associated with drawing the conveyor's side skirts.

Height

The height of the conveyor's side skirt.

Width

The width of the side skirt. Only used in render mode.

Vertical Offset

Defines the position of the side skirt relative to the conveyor plane. This is defined as a ratio of the Side Skirt Height. Usually the value will be between -0.5 and 0.5. For a value of -0.5, the side skirt will extend down from the conveyor plane. For a value of 0.0, the side skirt's center will follow the conveyor plane. For a value of 0.5, the side skirt will extend up from the conveyor plane.

Draw Texture

Check this box to draw a texture for the side skirt, instead of drawing a pre-defined shape. Then you can define what texture to use. There are some pre-defined options, or you can browse for an image.

Repeat Distance

Check this box to define repeat distance associated with the side skirt. This applies both if you are using a side skirt texture, or if you want the conveyor to draw its pre-defined side skirt shape.

Color

Defines the color to apply when drawing the side skirt. When in non-render mode, this applies to bot the side skirt and the conveyor surface.

Legs

The legs pane allows you to define visual properties associated with drawing the conveyor's legs.

Draw Legs

Check this box to enable the drawing of legs between the model floor and the conveyor surface.

Repeat Distance

The distance between each leg of the conveyor. Only used in render mode.

Height Rule

Defines how the height of each leg will be determined. Only used in render mode.

• Leg Height Following Conveyor Height - Legs will be a set height no matter how the conveyor rises or falls. If the conveyor rises, leg bases will rise with it.
• Leg Height from Lowest Point on Conveyor - Leg height is determined from the lowest point on the conveyor. For example, if the conveyor plane goes from z = 1.00 to z = 5.00, and the Leg Height is defined as 1.00, the leg base will be at z = 0.00 all along the conveyor (lowest point (1.0) minus leg height (1.0)).
• Leg Base Relative to Model - Legs will extend to a fixed model z position, defined by the Leg Base, no matter how high the conveyor is.

Height

The conveyor leg height. Only used in render mode when Leg Height Rule equals Leg Height Following Conveyor Height or Leg Height From Lowest Point on Conveyor.

Base

The leg base z-point. Only used in render mode when Leg Height Rule equals Leg Base Relative to Model.

Contents

The contents pane allows you to define visual properties associated with drawing the conveyor's flow (or bulk) content.

Fill Ratio

The width of the content on the conveyor as a fraction of the conveyor width, where 1.0 is the full width of the conveyor.

Show Capacity

When this option is enabled, a slightly transparent white box will be drawn on the conveyor which indicates the maximum capacity of the conveyor. This indicates how much of the maximum density remains available for accumulation at any point along the conveyor.