Creating the layout in ipolog 4 Workspace

Stations and material areas can be created directly in the ipolog 4 Workspace software.

ipolog 4 Workspace now opens the layout editor, in which the areas are to be created as follows:

Creating of Areas

Enter the names and dimensions of the area in the respective fields. In addition, it is possible to assign the areas to specific stations that have been created in ipolog.

The Type "field" is used to define the type of area in ipolog 4 Workspace. There are four different types:

The default setting for the area is "Define Rectagle". With the setting "Draw Polygon" polygons can be drawn. The following settings are available for this purpose:

Polygons are added in ipolog with the mouse by setting vertices. Likewise there is the possibility to fix a vertex in ipolog via "Add Vertex". Drop Vertex" undoes the last vertex set. Close Polygon" closes the polygon. Furthermore, there are further settings for drawing the polygon in ipolog via the icons.

The button "Create" confirms the process. Afterwards the created area "hangs" on the mouse and can be placed in the layout. This is done by a left click in the view of the layout editor.

Create stations

The creation of stations in the software is analogous to the procedure for areas. Via "Add a new station" (1) new stations can be added via "new" (2). If an existing station is to be added again, it can be selected from the listed stations. Via (3) all available stations are selected.

Creating new stations is done as described:

Subsequently, an individual name for the new station can be assigned (2). The number of stations is entered in the "Count" selection field, the counting steps in the software name in "Increment". The confirmation of the designation is done via Create (3).

A station in ipolog 4 consists of five areas as shown in the figure below:

• Two material areas for material positioning.
• Two work areas to perform the work processes of the workers.
• A conveyor that represents the assembly line area. This area enables the visualization of the product later on

The dimensions for the respective surfaces are to be entered first (4) and then click on create Station(s) (5). After that, the user again has the possibility to place the stations directly in the layout editor.

Creating of Working Points

Working Points can only be created optionally in the software. You specify where a worker works.

In the assembly Excel, a worker's working points must be defined for each operation. However, a differentiation must be made here between product-related and stationary working points.

Product-related working points are specified directly when defining and importing products into the software and can also be adjusted via the catalog.

Stationary working points can be created and used as desired in the layout editor.

To place the working point freely in the layout, click on it and then move it. To do this, hold down the left mouse button.

Rotate areas

Areas created in ipolog 4 Workspace can be rotated via the Layout Editor.
To do this, "Layout movable" (see 1) must first be activated. Then the desired area can be selected by clicking on it. For the selected area a window opens, which shows among other things the position and the name of the area. The area can be rotated in different directions and at different angles (see 2):

Delete areas

To remove single or multiple areas via the layout editor, "Layout movable" must also be activated. Selected areas can then be deleted using the buttons shown in the screenshot below:

Renaming of surface designations

The renaming of material surfaces takes place in the Layout Editor. This must be opened in the first step. Now the option "Layout Areas Movable" has to be selected first. This allows you to move and edit areas in the layout.

The next step is to select an area. This is done by clicking on any area. A small window opens, which shows different parameters of the selected area, including the name of the selected area.

In the next step, change the name and confirm the entry with Enter. The newly defined name for the material surface will then be used in the 2D view and in the 3D view.

Moving areas + facilities and changing sizes

To change the dimensions of an area, it is possible to enter the areas manually (1). Here, the length and depth as well as the position on the x-, y- and z-axis can be entered. For the z-axis, a limit can also be defined in order to be able to plan large warehouses more easily. The z-coordinate can also be entered for non-fixed facilities in the layout editor per selected facility element. The entry is made in the context menu of the element.

z-limit defines the maximum limit that is allowed for resources. Resources larger than z-limit may no longer be placed on this area, they will be moved to the OC area. The z-limit is exported when the layout is exported, e.g. in the 4MF package. In addition, the z-boundary can be imported if a layout contains the z-boundary.

In addition, there is the possibility to change areas by dragging with the left mouse button at given points (1). The new dimensions are automatically taken over. Moving an area is done by holding and simultaneously moving (2). When moving an area, auxiliary lines are automatically displayed, which bring the area into the position of the displayed lines when the area is released. If this is not desired, the function can be switched off with (3).

Zoom and Select

To zoom in on one or more areas in the Layout Editor there is a possibility to drag a zoom window by holding the Alt key and drag a window with the left mouse button. Releasing the left mouse button zooms the view to the window.

To select specific areas, the process is similar to zooming. Selecting specific areas is done by holding the Shift key and dragging a select window with the left mouse button. Releasing the left mouse button selects the framed areas.