Document toolboxDocument toolbox

2023.1.116.1 Assembly Unit

Owned by Bob Ebergen
Jan 10, 2023
6 min read

 

Overview

The Assembly Unit is used to let the user simulate a complex process in a simple manner. Replacing a process that inputs multiple objects and transforms them into a different object. The Assembly unit is a black box that has multiple configurable inputs and a single output. Which includes a configurable timer and the option to change the output.

Where to find

The feature can be found in the Assets Library (Prespective > Menu > Industrial Assets > Assets Library). The Assembly Unit can be found in the Module > Assembly Units category.

Feature Layout

The image below shows the inspector of the Assembly Unit.

 

 

 

 

Visualization

 

Hide cue gizmos

Hides the cue gizmos.

This feature is currently disabled.

Configuration

 

Amount of inputs

The amount of inputs that will be generated on the input side of the Assembly Unit.

Inputs Nr.

The number that defines the index of the input.

Inputs Direction

The direction that the specific input is generated in. Different inputs can have different sides in which they are generated. The input direction of any of the inputs can not be equal to the out direction.

Inputs Length

The length of the input generated.

Out direction

The direction that will output the assembled product.

Length out path

The path

Assembly

 

Assemble time

The time the Assembly Unit emulates assembly. This is the time between that it is stopped inside the Assembly Unit and that it starts moving again to outside the Assembly Unit.

Moving in time

Time it takes to go from the start of the input spline to the start of the assembly. This time is used to adjust the speed that the actor has on the input splines.

Moving out time

Time it takes to go from the assembly to the end of the output spline. This time is used to adjust the speed that the actor has on the output spline.

Poduct supplies Input (number)

How many products need to be ready to assemble on each input. The assembly will not start until there are enough products on each output. Defines how many instances on each input are necessary to assemble an output instance.

Assembly type

The type of product that is outputted. The Custom option let’s the user decide what to change the outputted product to. Other options are predefined shapes such as a Cube, Sphere and Cylinder.

Show Preview

Shows a preview of the product that is outputted above the Assembly Unit.

 

 If Product Type is set to Custom

Custom Object

The game object that will be spawned after assembly.

Thickness

The new thickness after the assembly. As the object changes the thickness also needs to be redefined.

 

If Product Type is set to Cube, Sphere or Cylinder

Dimensions

The dimensions of the object that is outputted, defining the width, height and depth of the object.

Color

The color of the generated object.

How to use

  1. Open the Asset Library by first opening the Prespective menu by going to Prespective > Menu. Then open the Asset library by going to Industrial Assets > Asset Library.

  2. Download and import the latest version of the Assembly Unity By going to the Modules >Action Units category and clicking the Assembly Unit.


  3. Drag the Assembly Unit inside the scene.

  4. Go to the Modules > Conveyors category and import the Floating Conveyor.

  5. Drag two Floating Conveyor inside the scene. And snap the Floating Conveyor 's to the Assembly Unit.

     

  6. Go to the Action Cues category and drag the SimpleSpawner into the scene. Next snap it on both input conveyors.

     

  7. Configure the Simple pawner to select an game object to spawn. How to configure the Simple Spawner can be found in the Simple Spawner documentation.

  8. The Assembly Unit will now let game objects wait and move them along when the time to Assembly time is up and enough parts have arrived at the defined inputs.

     

  9. Unsnap the Conveyors. In the next step the directions and amount of input on the Assembly Unitwill be changed. As this can cause issues with snapping the conveyors need to be unsnapped first.

  10. Change the Input with number 0 to BACK and the out direction to FRONT. This will change the sides of the Assembly Unit that are used for the input and which are used for the output.

     

  11. Change the Length of each input to 2 to change the length of the input paths to 2. Change the Length path outwards to 3 to change the output path length to 3.

     

  12. Re-snap the conveyors and you’ll see that the conveyors now snap further away from the Assembly Unit.


    In the following images we will use the configuration of 2 LEFT inputs and one RIGHT output. As this makes it easier to see the input and output of the Assembly Unit.

  13. Change the Moving in time to 1, change the Assembly time to 2 and change the Moving out time to 3.


    This will result in the input taking 1 second to traverse. Then wait for 2 seconds in assembly. And then take 3 seconds to move out of the Assembly Unit.

     

  14. Create a game object and select it in the Assembly Unit Custom Object field. Now any game objects that are assembled will be transformed into the specified object.

    When creating a custom object, make sure the pivot of the object is at the bottom of the mesh. So that the product lays on top of the conveyor, this is necessary because the actor’s pivot is exactly set on the spline.

    If the Custom Object in not set while using the Custom option, the Assembler will leave the product part unchanged and act as a Timer.

  15. Change the Product Type to Sphere. The assembled object will now be turned into a sphere.

     

     

 

Prespective Documentation