• Create meta machines
• Manage meta machines
• Use Meta machines

Metamachines are diameter-independent screw and barrel configurations.

They can be provided with tagged words and stored in a database. They can be used to quickly set up frequently used process configurations on different systems of different sizes. This saves the user the time-consuming assembly of different screw elements. The creation of such a meta machine is done in the visual machine configuration (Menu: Configuration > Open machine editor…), see the following figure.

This is where the user usually defines the individual machine configuration (see Enter machine parameters and configuration). Afterwards this screw and barrel configuration can be stored in the corresponding processes or it is additionally saved as a machine construction kit independent meta machine.

The button in the task bar Meta machine is used for this purpose. Clicking this button opens dialog opens (see following figure) and the user gets the possibility to add tags and gets the possibility to add tags and comments.

Individual keywords can be defined with the + symbol. The Ok button saves the configuration and asks for a unique name.

Since version SIGMA 12.1 it is possible to manage and use so-called meta machines. These are screw and barrel configurations, which can be stored independent of the construction kit and diameter. Beside the name of a meta machine, corresponding keywords can be created and selected.

It is possible to define keywords for certain material types and uses (e.g. PMMA, degassing screw).

An overview is shown in the following figure below.

The default directory for storing and loading meta machines is located at C:\Users\Public\Documents\KTP\SIGMA\MetaMachines.

In SIGMA you can reach the meta machine management via the menu: Configuration →Manage Metamachines…

All meta machines already stored are listed here.

Individual keywords can be added and managed via the tab „Tags“ (see following figure). can be added and managed.

Metamachines can currently be used via the 'Create Normal Processes…' (Menu: Project > Create Process…) wizard.

In the second step, the user has the possibility , after a construction kit has been selected for the respective task, to take over the barrel and screw configuration from a meta machine.

For this purpose, the checkbox must be selected.

Subsequently, the next step opens the selection option of a specific meta machine (see figure below).

If the initially selected construction kit has all the necessary elements for a corresponding assembly, SIGMA then generates the screw and barrel configuration.