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A SIGMA Project (Chapter Project) is used to manage the different files which are created and needed by SIGMA. A project is a folder in the directory. Essentially it contains various processes.

A SIGMA Process (Chapter Process) is the basic unit to work and simulate with. It unites all required data. The most important components are:

• Machine configuration (Chapter Enter Machine Parameters and Configuration ): The machine configuration manages the characteristic properties of a concrete machine and all its elements.
• Barrel configuration (Chapter Define Barrel Elements): The barrel configuration defines a concrete configuration for a barrel consisting of the defined barrel elements for this process.
• Screw configuration (Chapter Screw Elements): The screw configuration defines a concrete configuration for a screw consisting of the defined screw elements for this process.
• Process parameters (Chapter Simulation) and Material data (Chapter Material Data): The process parameters define the barrel temperatures and the material stages. But the concrete material data are saved in separate files so they are not integrated part of the process parameters.
• Die configuration (Chapter Die Module): If a die is assigned to the process, SIGMA can calculate the pressure at the screw tip.

These items listed above are not integrated parts of a process but they are saved in separate files which are independent of each other. In this way it is possible to use the same machine configuration in different processes. All example processes use the machine example.mas for instance.

This structure can be found in the project explorer, see figure. Additionally, there are listed the items Calculation settings (Chapter Calculation), Results (Chapter Options), and Experimental data (Chapter Experimental Data Management). The items machine configuration, barrel configuration and screw configuration are grouped into the item machine.