How do I auto-send order to machines?
We recommend limiting the number of orders at a machine for a number of reasons. Once an order has been sent, it is more difficult to make modifications (needs to be recalled, changed, and resent). Also, operators have a habit of "cherry-picking" orders to find the easiest to run. This is essentially making their own schedule. In some environments, this is acceptable. In others, the scheduler has a better idea on the most efficient schedule, taking into account other criteria that the operator might not be aware of (shipping schedule, finished goods floor space, material supply, angry customer).
There are two mechanisms to maintain a set of work at the machine. They both work based on orders that have been assigned to the machine, in sequence. So, the scheduler populates "Assigned Jobs" in Pro and the "Assign" button in Classic to maintain this list. Note, do not use the "Send" button as this bypasses these features.
Auto-Push
Auto-Push is an Eclipse feature that continuously monitors the length of incomplete orders at the machine and sends the next order as needed to maintain the configured minimum length. The minimum length is configured on the Eclipse scheduler screen (both Pro and Classic).
Pro:
Classic:
Auto-Request Order Footage
This is a parameter in the controller. When the length of orders at the machine falls below the configured value, the controller will request more orders from Eclipse. It has two issues to be aware of:
- The controller only sends the request when the threshold is crossed. If there are not enough assigned orders on the Eclipse schedule at the time of the request, the controller will not send the request again. If new orders are assigned, they will not be sent automatically.
- Since this value is a setup parameter at the controller, it must be changed at the controller.
For these reasons, we do not recommend using the Auto-Request Order Footage parameter in the controller. Auto-Push is a more reliable method of accomplishing the same outcome.
