Powerful, accurate software for three-dimensional,

electromagnetic, electromechanical, and thermal analysis

CONCEPT TO REALITY...FASTER
The 3D DC Magnetic capability
accurately computes static magnetic
fields where the source originates from
a DC current or voltage, permanent
magnets, or externally applied magnetic
fields. Typical applications include
actuators, sensors, and permanent
magnets. This feature, which directly
computes the magnetic field (H) and
current distribution (J), derives the
magnetic flux density (B) from the H
field. It automatically calculates force,
torque, inductances, and saturation in
devices containing linear, nonlinear,
and anisotropic materials. The post-
processor provides plots of flux lines,
B and H fields, energy densities,
saturation, and more.
Magnetic felds produced by the current in a
torroidal transformer.
3D DC Magnetic
Maxwell

is the worlds leading software for the simulation of electromagnetic fields.

Designers of electromagnetic and electromechanical components depend on Maxwells
unsurpassed accuracy and ease of use to achieve design objectives, reduce risk, and
bring products to market quickly.
Maxwell

3Ds AC Magnetic analyzes

systems that have significant effects due
to eddy currents, displacement currents,
skin effect, and proximity effects. The
software can simulate the full range
of eddy-current behavior in bus bars,
transformers, coils, and nondestructive
evaluation systems. It automatically
calculates quantities, including power
and core loss, impedance at a frequency,
force, torque, inductance, and stored
energy. The power and core loss may be
directly exported to Thermal for static
thermal analysis. Additionally, plots of
flux lines, B and H fields, and energy
Currents induced in copper traces of a
printed circuit.
densities over the entire phase cycle
are available.
Using the absorbing boundary condition
in this module, designers can simulate
fields radiating from a device. This full-
wave capability focuses on applications
such as remote-keyless-entry systems in
automobiles and low-frequency antennas
used in down-hole oil-exploration
applications to test soil properties.
3D AC Magnetic
Overview
Electromagnetic components, such as
sensors, actuators, motors, transformers,
and industrial control systems are
used more than ever in a broad range
of industries. As designers push the
envelope of performance and size,
the need for advanced, easy-to-use,
numerical field simulation techniques
significantly grows. Maxwell

delivers
an unequaled level of usability and
numerical power required by engineers
in todays leading-edge companies.
Maxwell 3D includes AC/DC
magnetic, electrostatic, and transient
electromagnetic fields; thermal analysis;
parametric modeling; and optimization.
Additionally, Maxwell 3D produces
highly accurate equivalent circuits for
inclusion within Ansofts SIMPLORER

and other circuit tools.
Maxwell

3Ds Electrostatic Field

computes static electric fields due to
stationary charge distributions and
applied potentials. Solving directly
for the electric scalar potential, the
simulator automatically calculates the
electrostatic and electric-flux density.
Designers can derive force, torque,
energy, and capacitance from these basic
field quantities. The Electrostatic Field
capability is particularly useful
for the design of high-voltage
insulators, bushings, and electrostatic
discharge devices.
Maxwell

3Ds Transient capability

easily solves applications that involve
voltage or current sources with arbitrary
waveforms. It includes an external
circuit coupling feature, complete with
schematic capture and an embedded
circuit simulator to support arbitrary
topology of power-electronic drive
circuits and winding connections. The
graphical schematic capture allows easy
access to components, such as linear
and nonlinear resistances, capacitances,
inductances, various diodes,
controlled switches, independent
sources, and voltage and current
probes. The output includes current,
induced voltage, and flux linkage
at every time step. Additionally, the
dynamic force and torque response,
loss, and core loss, including
eddy, excess, and hysteresis loss
(including the minor loop), are available
outputs. Applications include NDE,
shielding, and power transformers.
The Maxwell

3D Thermal feature
provides steady-state thermal analysis
capability, including convection and
radiation and one-way coupling between
AC Magnetic and Thermal. Designers
may use power-loss and core-loss
information obtained in the AC Magnetic
solver as an input source for Thermal
to obtain a complete thermal profile of
a device. This capability is especially
important for designing todays
electronic products, where physical
size is decreasing and frequency is
increasing, causing temperatures to rise
beyond expectations.
3D Electrostatic Field
Temperature associated with current losses.
Electric potential distribution produced
by two pair of saddle coils.
Transient
3D Thermal
3D AC
Magnetic
3D
Thermal
power
loss
Eddy currents induced in a cylinder by a
high-amplitude current pulse.
Ansofts Optimetrics is a powerful
capability that allows designers
to perform detailed optimization,
parametric, and sensitivity-analysis
studies. With Optimetrics, designers can
evaluate the sensitivity of parameters
critical to the success of a devices
operation and ensure that parameters
are within a given manufacturing
tolerance range. Using the macro feature,
designers can parametrically set up
shape, position, material properties,
source/boundary assignments, and
frequency within a simulation.
As an alternative to traditional transient
analysis, Maxwell

3D has the unique

ability to automatically generate an
equivalent circuit model directly from
the 3D DC Magnetic and 3D Electrostatic
Field. Equivalent circuit generation is
an efficient and fast way to simulate the
dynamic response of electromechanical
components, such as sensors and
actuators where the effects of transient
eddy currents are second-order effects or
lower and may be ignored.
The first step in the simulation process
is to use Maxwell 3D DC Magnetic and
the parametric capability of Optimetrics
to produce a precise model of the device
over the expected range of operation.
For example, it is possible to define a
solenoid gap and coil current as variable
parameters and to solve the design for
the entire operating range of the current
and gap without user intervention. The
result is a multidimensional set of force-
Equivalent Circuit Generation
Electrical
Terminals
Equivalent
Circuit
Model
Mechanical
Terminals
Optimetrics
Parametric Field
Solution
Equivalent
Circuit Model
Generation
SIMPLORER

versus-gap characteristics for different

coil currents.
After completing the simulation, an
equivalent circuit model of the device
is automatically created from the
parametric data. The model, which
completely describes the inductance,
resistance, force, torque, and flux
linkage of the device through the
range of operating conditions, may be
used within Ansofts SIMPLORER

or
Maxwell

SPICE where components

may be added to describe the
electrical and mechanical inputs/outputs,
including drive currents, masses, and
springs of the system.
Parametric study results of a MEMS device.
Equivalent circuit model of an electric
motor generated from Maxwell

and
exported to SIMPLORER

.
Optimized MEMS device. The feld profle
is a function of the faps rotation angle.
Drawing Capabilities
Features of the fully integrated ACIS

solid modeler
include:
Unlimited undo/redo
Multiple objects unite, subtract, intersect
Dynamic geometry rotation
Point-and-click object selection/shading
2D object sweep along 3D polylines
Macro recording and scripting
Parameterized macros
Optional true-surface geometry
Online context-sensitive help
Optional IGES and STEP file format import
Advanced Material Library
Over 80 commonly used materials
Completely customizable library
Point-and-click or tabular BH curve entry
Linear and nonlinear materials
Intelligent Mesh Generation
Automatic, adaptive, and manual meshing
Skin-depth seeding
Powerful Macros
Macro control throughout entire solution process
Easy-to-record and -replay macro capability
Standard ASCII text file environment
Customized geometry libraries
Field Post-Processor
Animated vector, contour, or shaded contour plots
Dynamic surface animation of fields with rotation
and displacement variables
Static and animated plots on any surface,
including multiple faces of objects and arbitrary
cut-planes
Animated vector fields, scalar fields, or any
derived quantity using the field calculator
Real-time plot rotation
Field Calculator
Flexible and user-controlled customization
to the field post processor
Complex algebraic, trigonometric, and vector
calculus functions
Surface and volume integration
Compute tangents to curved lines
Compute normals to curved surfaces
Maxwell

3D operates within an executive-level user interface designed for easy

navigation, project setup, and management. The interface includes:
Useability Features
Ansofts automatic, adaptive mesh capability enhances
productivity and makes Maxwell

3D user friendly, yet

highly accurate and powerful.
3D AC Magnetic DC Magnetic
3D DC Magnetic
3D Electric Fields
3D Transient
3D Thermal
3D Equivalent Circuit Generator
Optimetrics*
2D AC Magnetic
2D DC Magnetic
2D Electric Fields
2D Transient
2D Thermal
2D Equivalent Circuit Generator
2D Parametrics
Schematic Capture
Maxwell

SPICE
*Optional Module
Maxwel l

3D i ncl udes al l modul es of

Maxwel l

2D. Pl ease consul t your l ocal sal es

represent at i ve f or pri ci ng and i nf ormat i on
on ot her powerf ul product opt i ons t hat wi l l
enhance your engi neeri ng product i vi t y.
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For a full listing of offices and
contact details, visit:
www.ansoft.com/contact.cfm
Maxwell

3D Capabilities
Maxwell 3D, Maxwell 2D, SIMPLORER, RMxprt, Maxwell SPICE, and Optimetrics are trademarks
of Ansoft Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
We would like to thank Siemens for allowing us to use one
of their press pictures on the cover of this document.