When a station is assigned a buffer logic and set as Automatic, it will autonomously send out carriers without human interaction. Routes should be set up so that buffer stations only perform Buffer Operations.
It is possible to change the behaviour of a buffer by assigning a different logic to it on the Station Settings page.
Fifo
A simple logic that attempt to dispatch the carriers as soon as possible. The name Fifo stands for First In, First Out, meaning that carriers will leave the station in the same order they arrive.
Having a fifo type buffer in a production route will act as extra storage capacity before the next operation, but fifo buffers can be used in any type of route, including Return Empty Carrier.
Mixed
A mixed buffer can hold several different articles, and unlike a FIFO buffer, the contents can be sent out in any order. The main advantage is that where a fifo buffer will stop sending on routing errors, for instance the destination of the current carrier is full, the mixed buffer can recycle that carrier and find a different carrier to send.
If the buffer holds only a single type of article, using a simpler FIFO buffer is recommended.
A mixed buffer is commonly used in an Overflow Route, especially if multiple articles are using the same overflow route.
This logic will attempt to continously check what carriers it has that could be sent out, and then work to sending those away.
Recycle
This buffer type is not used in regular production, but can be a handy for hardware testing or discovering what carriers are present on the buffer rail.
Recycle will not perform any buffer operations, and will just cycle the carriers around forever. If the carrier has a buffer operation that can be performed at the station and the station is a feeding buffer type, it will return to that same station.
If the buffer is not a feeding buffer, the carrier may be readdressed to any buffer that is optimal given the current Addressing Strategy. If the carrier cannot perform its next operation on the buffer, it will be routed to a location where it can.
Calling Buffer
A Calling Buffer will not send out any carrier on its own, but instead wait for an operator or supervisor to place a Buffer Call via the web UI.
When a call for a specific product is placed, all calling buffers will be searched for matching carriers. The order that the software searches the buffers can be changed via a system setting, Buffer Matching Algorithm
When the carrier selection has been completed, buffers with matching carriers will start attempting to send out carriers to their next operation.
Calling Buffer (FIFO)
This is a variant of the normal calling buffer and works the same in most ways, except it will not recycle carriers. This is most often due to that the station is not built to quickly recycle carriers and they must then make a full lap on the line to come back, which will negatively impact the capacity of the line.
If a buffer call is made for something that is not in first place on the rail, a notification will be shown in the UI warning about this.
Redirection
A redirection buffer will mechanically address carriers to a specified rail, but will still respect the rail load limit unlike normal mechanical addressing. Carriers will automatically be sent to the destination as long as there is enough room.