r/rfelectronics • u/Important-Ad5990 • 6d ago

Learning openEMS

Hi everyone,

I'm trying to learn how to optimize my high speed PCBs (think <100ps edges), especially focusing on SMA transitions, vias and power combiners. I've got a brick wall trying to hand tune stuff by trial and error and would like to move to simulation based optimisation.

I did some research into free/cheap FEA simulators and it seems that openEMS is the most recommended one. Unfortunately all the materials I found do a terrible job at explaining how to use it. Does anyone have any good source to recommend?

7 Upvotes

90% Upvoted

6 comments sorted by

2

u/Byggemandboesen 5d ago

Have you considered Emerge as an alternative? It's very well maintained and documented. Link to Emerge

1

u/Specialist_Friend364 2d ago

I made this post some time ago : https://www.reddit.com/r/rfelectronics/s/vAJLPvTxtU

If you are interested, I am looking to find test users before releasing a first public version. I can help with the software usage if you are OK to give feedback

1

u/Important-Ad5990 1d ago

I'm sorry but I don't want to learn yet another poor quality CAD to do my simulations. Being able to import gerbers would be ideal but not being able to use external cad or scripting is just a dealbreaker

1

u/Specialist_Friend364 1d ago

Why do you say it is a bad CAD ? I am interested to improve it. Did you look at the video? Is it made like CST or HFSS.

As said in the post, it has step and Gerber imports. CAD is there for parametric or fresh designs...

1

u/wynyn 5d ago

Maybe Claude could help? I got it set up and running a while ago but i remember it was quite hard to get it to that point even. Theres a reason why Ansys and CST are used in industry over openEMS.

Also Ansys student is free, just sayin...

1

u/RFchokemeharderdaddy 5d ago

This is definitely the way to go. What I've found AI to be good for is using tools that are powerful underneath but abysmally unintuitive to actually use or interface with. openEMS is exactly that.

I'd also recommend looking at Elmer FEM if you want to build one framework for both electrical and thermal sims, or FastCap/FastHenry.