Adding 3D Datasets

In Maxwell designs, you can define both project-level and design-level 3D datasets. Use a project-level 3D dataset to define material properties that vary according to the spatial coordinates. Use a design-level 3D dataset to define temperatures 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:

  1. Click the X, Y, Z, or Value header row.

    2. Add Dataset dialog box with row selected

  2. Depending on whether you are defining a project-level or design-level 3D dataset, choose the appropriate one of the following two options:
    • For project-level datasets (material properties): From the menu bar, select Project > Datasets or on the Desktop ribbon tab, click  Datasets.
    • For design-level datasets (temperatures): From the menu bar, select Maxwell > Design Datasets.

    The Datasets window appears; it lists any existing datasets.

  3. Click Add > Add 3D Dataset.

    Dataset dialog for a project-level dataset; the Add 3D Dataset option is selected from the Add button

    The Add Dataset window appears.

    Add Dataset dialog box that opens from the Add 3D Dataset option

    The window contains fields for the dataset name, 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.
  4. Optionally, type a name other than the default for the dataset in the Name field.
  5. Click the X, Y, Z and Value column headers to select a unit category. The default is No Unit.

    List of unit categories available for selection

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

    List of units available from the Length unit category

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

  6. 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.
  7. 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 datasets.