Adding 3D Datasets

HFSS, Maxwell, and Icepak designs support 3D datasets (representing a spatial or volumetric profile). Depending on which of these three design types you are using, you will be able to create only design-level 3D datasets, only project-level 3D datasets, or both.

In HFSS designs, you can define only project-level 3D datasets (used for the definition of material properties that vary according to the spatial coordinates).

To define a 3D dataset, specify a list of X, Y, and Z coordinates and the corresponding Values in the Add Dataset window. For example, the first line in the image below specifies a temperature of 30° C at (0.25, 0.25, 1). The data specifies a variation of temperature on the plane 0.25 ≤ X ≤ 0.75, 0.25 ≤ Y ≤ 0.75, Z = 1. In this example, the values in the Values column are temperature, but can be set to a different unit depending on the property you wish to assign. To change the unit, click the X, Y, Z, or Value header row.

  1. Using the menu bar, click ProjectDatasets or, on the Desktop ribbon tab, click  Datasets.

    The Datasets dialog box appears. This lists any existing datasets.

  2. Click Add > Add 3D Dataset.

    The Add Dataset window appears.

    The window contains fields for the dataset name and a table for X, Y, and Z coordinates and corresponding values. It can be resized to display additional rows and columns, and includes buttons for the following functions:

    • Add Row Above – adds a new row to the table above the selected row.
    • Add Row Below – adds a new row to the table below the selected row.
    • Append Row – opens a dialog box that lets you specify a number of rows to add to the table.
    • Delete Row – deletes the selected row or rows.
    • Import Dataset – this provides a way to import data sets from an external source. The format is a tab separated points file. Clicking the button opens a file browser window.
    • Export Dataset – this provides a way to export the current dataset to a tab separated points file. Clicking the button opens a file browser window.
  3. Optionally, type a name other than the default for the dataset in the Name field.
  4. Click the X, Y, Z and Value column headers to select a unit category. The default is No Unit.

    Click the header again to select a unit in that category. You can select No unit.

    Selected units are displayed for each column in the header cell.

  5. Enter the X, Y, and Z coordinates and the corresponding values by one of the following methods:
    • Import Dataset
    • Type coordinates and associated value in the X, Y, Z, and Value columns.
  6. When you are finished entering the data point coordinates and values, click OK.
Note:

When used with a clp function (Closest point interpolation) in an expression, performance will degrade with large 3D dataset.