Different product shapes leave different gaps after the same 3-second node delay because a fixed time interval does not guarantee a fixed physical separation. At constant conveyor speed, the nominal travel distance during that interval is speed multiplied by 3 seconds; product length, orientation, collision geometry, and the pathway axis can change the visible clearance. Inspect the PathAxis property of the Pathway behavior first, then verify the conveyor speed and each product’s modeled geometry.
Read the gap as distance traveled during the delay
A delay specifies elapsed time, not a target gap in millimeters. If products continue moving at constant speed while the delay runs, the nominal distance traveled is:
distance = conveyor speed × 3 s
Use consistent units: for speed in millimeters per second, the result is millimeters. This is the travel distance, not automatically the edge-to-edge clearance. That clearance also depends on where the simulation measures product position, the product’s length along the direction of travel, and whether the delay pauses, releases, or otherwise changes product motion.
| Quantity or property | What to inspect | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Node delay | Configured duration: 3 seconds | Sets a time interval; by itself it does not define a physical gap. |
| Conveyor speed | Actual speed while the delay is active | Determines travel distance during the interval. |
| Product geometry | Length and bounds along the travel direction | Changes when adjacent products touch or overlap visually. |
| Product orientation | Orientation on entry to and exit from the node | Can change the dimension presented along the path. |
PathAxis |
Pathway behavior property | A reported property to inspect when product spacing differs by shape. |
Compare the three products at the same measurement point
The observed outcomes differ by product: containers overlap, cylinders touch, and blocks have a gap of hundreds of millimeters. Compare those cases using the same reference point and travel direction. Measure the leading-edge-to-leading-edge interval and the edge-to-edge clearance separately. A constant interval between reference points can produce different clearances when product lengths differ.
Also check whether the products have the same conveyor speed at the node and whether the 3-second delay applies identically to each. A delay attached to a process node may represent dwell or processing time rather than a spacing controller. If the conveyor keeps advancing during that time, downstream separation depends on the motion and release behavior as well as the timer.
Check pathway axis and modeled product bounds
Inspect PathAxis in the Pathway behavior. Confirm that the pathway’s selected axis corresponds to the intended direction of travel for the conveyor. Then inspect the product bounds and orientation used by the simulation, especially the dimension aligned with that axis. A visual mesh can look correct while its modeled bounds or reference point produce unexpected contact or spacing.
Change one variable at a time. First compare the pathway axis across the relevant conveyor segments. Next compare each product’s travel-axis dimension, orientation, and position reference. Preserve the original values so that you can distinguish a pathway change from a geometry change. The available setup identifies PathAxis as a property worth checking; it does not identify a specific correct value for every model.
Adjust spacing by changing the variable that sets it
- Record conveyor speed, node delay, product type, orientation, and measured gaps for a repeatable run.
- Check
PathAxison thePathwaybehavior and confirm it follows the conveyor’s intended travel direction. - Compare the modeled bounds and travel-axis length of the container, cylinder, and block. Verify their position references and entry orientations.
- Determine whether the node delay pauses the product, holds it, or simply represents processing time while transport continues.
- If the desired result is a particular physical gap, calculate the required interval from the measured speed and desired reference-point spacing. Do not treat the 3-second delay as a millimeter setting.
- Change one relevant setting at a time, run the same sequence, and remeasure both reference-point spacing and edge clearance.
If a timer is the only available control, the required interval depends on the conveyor speed and the position reference used by the model. If the node supports an explicit position, release, or gap condition, use that kind of control for a physical-spacing target rather than assuming a fixed dwell produces a fixed gap.
Verify repeatability and separate geometry from timing
Run each product through the same node and conveyor conditions. Record the time between corresponding reference points at the node and the distance between their edges downstream. If reference-point spacing stays constant but edge clearance changes, product dimensions or orientation explain the difference. If the reference-point interval changes, investigate speed, delay behavior, release logic, and pathway configuration.
Repeat the test after each adjustment. Confirm that the axis change does not alter travel direction or produce incorrect motion on adjoining pathway segments. Verify the result with all three product types; a change that improves one shape can expose an orientation or bounds mismatch in another.
Recurring spacing pitfalls on conveyor models
Do not equate a delay with a spacing command: time only maps to distance through motion. Do not compare apparent clearances without accounting for product length and orientation. A mesh’s visible outline is not necessarily the collision or bounding geometry used by the model. Finally, changing several properties at once obscures whether the improvement came from PathAxis, the product bounds, the speed, or the node’s delay behavior.
Frequently asked questions
Can I set the product gap by changing the 3-second delay?
Only indirectly if conveyor speed and movement during the delay are known. The nominal travel distance is speed multiplied by 3 seconds; edge clearance also depends on product geometry and position references.
Does PathAxis affect the spacing between products?
PathAxis on the Pathway behavior is the first pathway property to inspect for this discrepancy. Check that it matches the intended travel direction, then compare product bounds and orientation.
Can different product shapes touch at the same delay?
Yes. The same delay can yield different visible clearances when product lengths or orientations differ, or when the node’s delay does not control conveyor motion in the same way for every product.
Does the 3-second delay guarantee a fixed millimeter gap?
No. It defines time, not clearance. Measure conveyor speed and product spacing, then account for the product’s dimension along the direction of travel.
When should I escalate a conveyor spacing problem?
Escalate when the pathway axis, product bounds, orientation, speed, and delay behavior have been checked but repeatable tests still produce unexpected motion or overlap. Provide the model configuration and measured reference-point intervals to the simulation software’s official support channel.