[SI-LIST] Re: EM simulator software?
- From: ttsp@xxxxxxxxxxx
- To: si-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Wed, 23 Oct 2002 11:33:47 -0500
Rafael,
I agree with DG's and Jason's comment on HFSS. I began using HFSS this May,
there is a very deep learning curve. You need to invest a lot of time before
you can really use the tool. I even attended their training class in July,
but the training class is useless to me. Did not help me to understand
better about the tool, but more confussing about how it handles and
simulates a 3D structure.
The 3D modeler in HFSS is another bad design. One cannot even drag and drop
an object. Every move of an object needs to type in the moving distance
manually. The shorcut key is another bad design. Some functions/commands are
used repeatedly, but don't have shortcut keys, so one have to go the top
menu bar, pull down the menu, and select the function repeatedly. I believe
the GUI definitly needs to be improved in their future release.
The manual of HFSS is brief and most likely one can get confussing about the
wording. Since the manual is not written in detail, I have to keep asking
Ansoft AE for various questions. Another comment about their AE's, some of
them are just not experienced enough. If you are lucky, your local AE may
explain most of your questions.
The good side is its accuracy. It matches the lab measurement pretty well.
Overall, I have lots of furstration of using HFSS before a good simulation
is obtained. If you have time or someone can teach you, and if you
understand microwave & RF deeply, HFSS is definitly an accurate 3D full wave
tool to be considered.
Tim
-----Original Message-----
From: D G [mailto:dgun@xxxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Wednesday, October 23, 2002 10:42 AM
To: si-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [SI-LIST] Re: EM simulator software?
I have used all three, and more. Do you need full 3D simulation or is
"planar 3D" (2-1/2D) good enough? (When I refer to "planar" below, I really
mean "planar 3D".)
HFSS is a great general-purpose tool, but difficult to grasp unless you have
a good understanding of RF & Microwave. I don't like the user interface
(UI). Ansoft sells many other simulators (probably too many) in addition to
HFSS which may meet your needs. Ensemble is a planar MOM simulator that you
can try for free. Spicelink might be interesting. (I haven't used Ensemble
nor Spicelink.)
Sonnet only offers planar simulation. However, they've teamed up with CST
Microwave studio to offer their 3D simulator. I have only used the free
version of sonnet planar simulator, and it works fairly well. The UI was
easy to learn. I couldn't fully test it, however, since the free version is
severely crippled compared to what I need. I've never used Microwave
Studio, but the web page says it offers both time-domain and
frequency-domain simulation, which might be useful.
I've only used Eagleware for the distributed filter design. I've never used
the EM simulator. Note Eagleware only offers planar simulation. So if you
need to simulate non-planar circuits, Eagleware likely won't work for you.
Agilent offers Momentum, which is a good planar simulator with a good UI. I
use it extensively, but it won't work for non-planar circuits.
There are many other tools out there that I haven't tried. Some of them
have been mentioned on this list. Is service and support important to you?
If not, you can try something like LC (time-domain), which is free from
cray.
From: "Rafael Martinez" <rmartinez@xxxxxx>
>
> Hello SI-List,
>
> We are investigating packages, interconnects, antennas and PCB components
> such as spiral inductors, capacitors... We are currently reviewing various
> 3D EM simulators such as HFSS, sonnet and Eagleware. Does anybody have any
> previous experience with them? and which of them would you recommend?
Thank
> you very much in advance.
>
> Best regards,
> ___________________________________________________________________
>
> Rafael Martinez Catala Rossa Avenue, Bishopstown,
> Postgraduate Research Student Cork, Ireland
>
> Cork Institute of Technology Fax: +353 21 4326625
> Electronic Engineering Dep. Tel: +353 21 4326881
>
> http://www.cit.ie
> ___________________________________________________________________
--
Daniel
ZZZ-dgun-ZZZ-@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
(remove the Z-'s to reply--they're what I do when I read spam)
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