- Introduction to CADFEKO
Use CADFEKO to configure a solver-ready input file for Solver simulations.
- Quick Tour of the CADFEKO Interface
View the main elements and terminology in the CADFEKO application window.
- Preferences
CADFEKO has various default settings that you can configure to customise it to your preference.
- Saving a Model
Store a CADFEKO model and calculation requests to a .cfx file to reopen later.
- 3D View
3D views are used to display and interact with the model. You can zoom, rotate and pan around a 3D model using the keyboard, mouse or a combination of both. You can use a 3D mouse, specify a view or select specific parts of a model. Multiple 3D views are supported.
- Model Protection
Protect a model with a password.
- Model Definitions
Define the model unit, variables, named points, workplanes and the model extents for the model.
- Constructing Geometry
Create fully parametric and complex CAD geometry using canonical structures and perform Boolean operations on these.
- Component Library
The component library contains an extensive list of common components, such as antennas and platforms.
- Groups
Organise geometry and mesh parts by grouping geometry and mesh in the model tree.
- Repairing Geometry
- Repairing Mesh Parts
Mesh parts can be manipulated in CADFEKO. Basic mesh editing and fixing capabilities allow triangles to be added, removed and mesh parts to be merged.
- Importing Models into CADFEKO
Import a CAD (geometry) model or mesh model from a wide range of industry formats into CADFEKO to save time and development costs.
- Exporting Models from CADFEKO
A CADFEKO model can be exported to a variety of industry standard geometry and mesh formats to be used in other applications.
- Field/Current Data
Define field or current data using either far field data, near field data, spherical mode data or PCB current data. Use the field/current definition when defining an equivalent source or a receiving antenna.
- Defining Media
Define a medium with specific material properties, import a predefined medium from the media library or add a medium from your model to the media library.
- Applying Media Settings
Defined media can be applied to the model in various ways. Some media settings are applied to regions, others on faces and wires. The rules for defining media varies between the different solution methods.
- Periodic Boundary Condition (PBC)
Use a periodic boundary condition (PBC) to analyse infinite periodic structures. A typical application of PBC is to analyse frequency selective surface (FSS) structures.
- Finite Antenna Arrays
Create an arbitrary finite antenna array that consists of an array of contributing elements, either with direct feeds for each element or via indirect coupling, and solve with the efficient domain Green's function method (DGFM).
- Windscreen Tools
Use the windscreen tools to define a curved reference surface constrained by a cloud of points, normals and optional U′V′ parameters. The constrained surface is then used as a reference to create a work surface where windscreen layers and curved parameterised windscreen antenna elements can be created.
- Cables
Many electromagnetic compatibility and interference problems involve cables that either radiate, are irradiated or cause coupling into other cables, devices or antennas. Use the cable modelling tool and solver to analyse the coupling and radiation.
- Solution Frequency
For a frequency domain result, the electromagnetic fields and currents are calculated at a single frequency or frequency range. When the finite difference time domain (FDTD) solver is used, the frequency must be specified to convert the native time domain results to the frequency domain.
- Power
The excitation of an antenna is normally specified as a complex voltage, but it may be useful to specify the total radiated or source power instead. The result is then scaled to yield the desired source power level.
- Ports
A port is a mathematical representation of where energy can enter (source) or leave a model (sink). Use a port to add sources and discrete loads to a model.
- Sources
A source is used to excite or illuminate the model and cause current to flow.
- Loads and Non-Radiating Networks
Complex feed networks can be simplified by including them as a circuit representation using general network blocks.
- Multiple Configurations
Perform multiple solutions for a single model using multiple configurations. Multiple configurations remove the requirement to create multiple models with different solution requests.
- Requesting Calculations
Before running the Solver, define the output requests and view in the model tree (Configuration tab).
- Infinite Planes and Half-Spaces
Use an infinite plane or half-space to model a ground plane efficiently. The number of triangles in the model is reduced as the ground plane is not discretised into triangles.
- Meshing the Geometry / Model Mesh
- Domain Connectivity
Domain connectivity approach allows meshes of specific parts to be treated as if connected
during MoM and MoM/MLFMM solutions in places where the borders of the meshes are close together, even if the mesh vertices on those borders are not coincident.
- Working with CADFEKO Models in EDITFEKO
A CADFEKO.cfm file can be imported into EDITFEKO to make use of more advanced features available in EDITFEKO and to directly edit the .pre file for more flexible solution configurations.
- Validating the CADFEKO Model
During the design process, the development of a model can introduce a range of issues that can lead to a non-simulation-ready model. Use the validation toolset to verify that the model is simulation-ready or to search, detect and flag discrepancies.
- Solver Settings
The default solver used in Feko is the method of moments (MoM) - surface equivalence principle (SEP). A solver is specified per model, per face or per region, and depends on the solver in question.
- Component Launch Options
Specify the command-line parameters for the Feko components.
- Tools
CADFEKO has a collection of tools that allows you to quickly validate the model, for example, perform calculations using a calculator, measure distances, measure angles and export images.
- Model Tree Icons
View the list of icons that may be found in the model tree.
- Details Tree Icons
View the list of icons that may be found in the details tree.
- Math Functions in CADFEKO
View the list of supported math functions.
- Files Generated by CADFEKO
View the files associated and generated by CADFEKO.
- Default Shortcut Keys
View the default shortcut keys available for CADFEKO for faster and easier operation of CADFEKO.
