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PCB AC analysis#

This example shows how to use PyAEDT to create a design in Q3D Extractor and run a simulation starting from an EDB project.

Keywords: Q3D, PCB.

Perform imports and define constants#

Perform required imports.

[1]:

import os
import tempfile
import time

import ansys.aedt.core
import pyedb
from ansys.aedt.core.examples.downloads import download_file

Define constants.

[2]:

AEDT_VERSION = "2026.1"
NUM_CORES = 4
NG_MODE = False  # Open AEDT UI when it is launched.

Create temporary directory#

Create a temporary directory where downloaded data or dumped data can be stored. If you’d like to retrieve the project data for subsequent use, the temporary folder name is given by temp_folder.name.

[3]:

temp_folder = tempfile.TemporaryDirectory(suffix=".ansys")

Set up project files and path#

Download needed project file and set up temporary project directory.

[4]:

project_dir = os.path.join(temp_folder.name, "edb")
aedb_project = download_file(source="edb/ANSYS-HSD_V1.aedb", local_path=project_dir)

project_name = os.path.join(temp_folder.name, "HSD")
output_edb = os.path.join(project_dir, project_name + ".aedb")
output_q3d = os.path.join(project_dir, project_name + "_q3d.aedt")

Open EDB and create cutout#

Open the EDB project and create a cutout on the selected nets before exporting to Q3D.

[5]:

edb = pyedb.Edb(edbpath=aedb_project, version=AEDT_VERSION)
cutout_points = edb.cutout(
    ["CLOCK_I2C_SCL", "CLOCK_I2C_SDA"],
    ["GND"],
    output_aedb_path=output_edb,
    use_pyaedt_extent_computing=True,
)

PyEDB INFO: gRPC mode enabled.
PyEDB INFO: Logger is initialized in EDB.
PyEDB INFO: legacy v0.77.0
PyEDB INFO: Python version 3.10.11 (tags/v3.10.11:7d4cc5a, Apr  5 2023, 00:38:17) [MSC v.1929 64 bit (AMD64)]
PyEDB INFO: Using PyEDB with gRPC as Beta until ANSYS 2027R1 official release.
PyEDB INFO: Logger is initialized in EDB.
PyEDB INFO: legacy v0.77.0
PyEDB INFO: Python version 3.10.11 (tags/v3.10.11:7d4cc5a, Apr  5 2023, 00:38:17) [MSC v.1929 64 bit (AMD64)]
PyEDB INFO: Grpc session started
PyEDB INFO: Grpc session started: pid=8952
PyEDB INFO: RPC session acquired (open databases: 1)
PyEDB INFO: Database ANSYS-HSD_V1.aedb Opened in 2026.1
PyEDB INFO: Cell main Opened
PyEDB INFO: Refreshing the Components dictionary.
PyEDB INFO: Builder was initialized.
PyEDB INFO: EDB initialized.
PyEDB INFO: -----------------------------------------
PyEDB INFO: Trying cutout with 2.0mm expansion size
PyEDB INFO: -----------------------------------------
PyEDB INFO: GRPC cut-out started
PyEDB INFO: [READ] Data collection finished in 3.028 s
PyEDB INFO: Nets:348, padstack_instances:5699, primitives:2107, components:509
PyEDB INFO: [EXTENT] Polygon created in 0.613 s
PyEDB INFO: [COMPUTE] Decision lists ready in 18.989 s
PyEDB INFO: Starting single write-pass
PyEDB INFO: Deleting 345 nets
PyEDB INFO: 5599 pad-stack instances deleted in 0.158 s
PyEDB INFO: 3810 primitives deleted in 0.111 s
PyEDB INFO: 9 primitives created in 0.190 s

C:\actions-runner\_work\pyaedt-examples\pyaedt-examples\.venv\lib\site-packages\pyedb\workflows\utilities\cutout.py:778: FutureWarning: Accessing deprecated property numpins. use num_pins property instead
  components_to_delete = [comp for comp in all_components if comp.numpins == 0]

PyEDB INFO: 497 components deleted in 0.769 s
PyEDB INFO: Refreshing the Components dictionary.
PyEDB INFO: [WRITE] All writes finished in 3.608 s
PyEDB INFO: GRPC-safe cut-out completed Elapsed time: 0m 26sec
PyEDB INFO: Cutout completed in 1 iterations with expansion size of 2.0mm Elapsed time: 0m 26sec

Identify locations of pins#

Identify \((x,y)\) pin locations on the components to define where to assign sources and sinks for Q3D.

[6]:

pin_u13_scl = [i for i in edb.components["U13"].pins.values() if i.net_name == "CLOCK_I2C_SCL"]
pin_u1_scl = [i for i in edb.components["U1"].pins.values() if i.net_name == "CLOCK_I2C_SCL"]
pin_u13_sda = [i for i in edb.components["U13"].pins.values() if i.net_name == "CLOCK_I2C_SDA"]
pin_u1_sda = [i for i in edb.components["U1"].pins.values() if i.net_name == "CLOCK_I2C_SDA"]

Append Z elevation positions#

Note: The factor 1000 converts from meters to millimeters.

[7]:

location_u13_scl = [i * 1000 for i in pin_u13_scl[0].position]
location_u13_scl.append(edb.components["U13"].upper_elevation * 1000)

location_u1_scl = [i * 1000 for i in pin_u1_scl[0].position]
location_u1_scl.append(edb.components["U1"].upper_elevation * 1000)

location_u13_sda = [i * 1000 for i in pin_u13_sda[0].position]
location_u13_sda.append(edb.components["U13"].upper_elevation * 1000)

location_u1_sda = [i * 1000 for i in pin_u1_sda[0].position]
location_u1_sda.append(edb.components["U1"].upper_elevation * 1000)

Save and close EDB#

Save and close EDB. Then, open the EDB project in HFSS 3D Layout to generate the 3D model.

[8]:

edb.save()
edb.close()

h3d = ansys.aedt.core.Hfss3dLayout(output_edb, version=AEDT_VERSION, non_graphical=NG_MODE, new_desktop=True)

PyEDB INFO: RPC session released (open databases: 0)
PyAEDT INFO: Python version 3.10.11 (tags/v3.10.11:7d4cc5a, Apr  5 2023, 00:38:17) [MSC v.1929 64 bit (AMD64)].
PyAEDT INFO: PyAEDT version 1.2.dev0.
PyAEDT INFO: Initializing new Desktop session.
PyAEDT INFO: AEDT version 2026.1.
PyAEDT INFO: New AEDT session is starting on gRPC port 59459.
PyAEDT INFO: Starting new AEDT gRPC session on port 59459.
PyAEDT INFO: Launching AEDT server with gRPC transport mode: wnua
PyAEDT INFO: Electronics Desktop started on gRPC port 59459 after 10.1 seconds.
PyAEDT INFO: AEDT installation Path C:\Program Files\ANSYS Inc\v261\AnsysEM
PyAEDT INFO: Connected to AEDT gRPC session on port 59459.
PyAEDT INFO: Non-graphical mode detected. Disabling Desktop logs.
PyAEDT INFO: EDB folder C:\Users\ansys\AppData\Local\Temp\tmp6refmde_.ansys\HSD.aedb has been imported to project HSD
PyAEDT INFO: Active Design set to 0;main
PyAEDT INFO: AEDT objects correctly read

Set up the Q3D Project#

Use HFSS 3D Layout to export the model to Q3D Extractor. The named parameter keep_net_name=True ensures that net names are retained when the model is exported from HFSS 3D Layout.

[9]:

setup = h3d.create_setup()
setup.export_to_q3d(output_q3d, keep_net_name=True)
h3d.close_project()
time.sleep(3)

PyAEDT INFO: Project: HSD, Design: main, [info]  Translation Info: Export complete (00:00:04). (07:40:57 AM  Jun 26, 2026)
PyAEDT INFO: Project: HSD, Design: main, [info]  File written to C:/Users/ansys/AppData/Local/Temp/tmp6refmde_.ansys/HSD_q3d.aedt. (07:40:57 AM  Jun 26, 2026)
PyAEDT INFO: Loading Modeler.
PyAEDT INFO: Modeler loaded.
PyAEDT INFO: Modeler class has been initialized! Elapsed time: 0m 0sec
PyAEDT INFO: No EDB gRPC setting provided. Enabling gRPC for EDB.
PyAEDT INFO: Loading EDB with Grpc enabled.
PyEDB INFO: gRPC mode enabled.
PyEDB INFO: Logger is initialized in EDB.
PyEDB INFO: legacy v0.77.0
PyEDB INFO: Python version 3.10.11 (tags/v3.10.11:7d4cc5a, Apr  5 2023, 00:38:17) [MSC v.1929 64 bit (AMD64)]
PyEDB INFO: Using PyEDB with gRPC as Beta until ANSYS 2027R1 official release.
PyEDB WARNING: AEDT project-related file C:\Users\ansys\AppData\Local\Temp\tmp6refmde_.ansys\HSD.aedt exists and may need to be deleted before opening the EDB in HFSS 3D Layout.
PyEDB WARNING: AEDT project-related file C:\Users\ansys\AppData\Local\Temp\tmp6refmde_.ansys\HSD.aedt.lock exists and may need to be deleted before opening the EDB in HFSS 3D Layout.
PyEDB INFO: Logger is initialized in EDB.
PyEDB INFO: legacy v0.77.0
PyEDB INFO: Python version 3.10.11 (tags/v3.10.11:7d4cc5a, Apr  5 2023, 00:38:17) [MSC v.1929 64 bit (AMD64)]
PyEDB INFO: Grpc session started
PyEDB INFO: Grpc session started: pid=5432
PyEDB INFO: RPC session acquired (open databases: 1)
PyEDB INFO: Database HSD.aedb Opened in 2026.1
PyEDB INFO: Cell main Opened
PyEDB INFO: Refreshing the Components dictionary.
PyEDB INFO: Builder was initialized.
PyEDB INFO: EDB initialized.
PyAEDT INFO: Processing net GND...
PyAEDT INFO: Processing net CLOCK_I2C_SDA...
PyAEDT INFO: Processing net CLOCK_I2C_SCL...
PyAEDT INFO: Net processing completed.
PyAEDT INFO: Processing vias...
PyAEDT INFO: Vias processing completed.
PyAEDT INFO: Python version 3.10.11 (tags/v3.10.11:7d4cc5a, Apr  5 2023, 00:38:17) [MSC v.1929 64 bit (AMD64)].
PyAEDT INFO: Parsing C:\Users\ansys\AppData\Local\Temp\tmp6refmde_.ansys\HSD_q3d.aedt.
PyAEDT INFO: PyAEDT version 1.2.dev0.
PyAEDT INFO: Returning found Desktop session with PID 3136!
PyAEDT INFO: File C:\Users\ansys\AppData\Local\Temp\tmp6refmde_.ansys\HSD_q3d.aedt correctly loaded. Elapsed time: 0m 0sec
PyAEDT INFO: Project HSD_q3d has been opened.
PyAEDT INFO: Active Design set to Q3DDesign1
PyAEDT INFO: AEDT objects correctly read
PyAEDT INFO: Modeler class has been initialized! Elapsed time: 0m 0sec
PyAEDT INFO: Materials class has been initialized! Elapsed time: 0m 0sec
PyAEDT INFO: Renaming primitives for net GND...
PyAEDT INFO: Parsing design objects. This operation can take time
PyAEDT INFO: Refreshing bodies from Object Info
PyAEDT INFO: Bodies Info Refreshed Elapsed time: 0m 0sec
PyAEDT INFO: 3D Modeler objects parsed. Elapsed time: 0m 0sec
PyAEDT INFO: Parsing design objects. This operation can take time
PyAEDT INFO: Refreshing bodies from Object Info
PyAEDT INFO: Bodies Info Refreshed Elapsed time: 0m 0sec
PyAEDT INFO: 3D Modeler objects parsed. Elapsed time: 0m 0sec
PyAEDT INFO: Union of 2 objects has been executed.
PyAEDT INFO: Renaming primitives for net CLOCK_I2C_SDA...
PyAEDT INFO: Parsing design objects. This operation can take time
PyAEDT INFO: Refreshing bodies from Object Info
PyAEDT INFO: Bodies Info Refreshed Elapsed time: 0m 0sec
PyAEDT INFO: 3D Modeler objects parsed. Elapsed time: 0m 0sec
PyAEDT INFO: Union of 5 objects has been executed.
PyAEDT INFO: Renaming primitives for net CLOCK_I2C_SCL...
PyAEDT INFO: Parsing design objects. This operation can take time
PyAEDT INFO: Refreshing bodies from Object Info
PyAEDT INFO: Bodies Info Refreshed Elapsed time: 0m 0sec
PyAEDT INFO: 3D Modeler objects parsed. Elapsed time: 0m 0sec
PyAEDT INFO: Union of 5 objects has been executed.
PyAEDT INFO: No new nets identified
PyAEDT INFO: Closing the AEDT Project HSD_q3d
PyAEDT INFO: Project HSD_q3d closed correctly
PyEDB INFO: RPC session released (open databases: 0)
PyAEDT INFO: Closing the AEDT Project HSD
PyAEDT INFO: Project HSD closed correctly

Open the newly created Q3D project and display the layout.

[10]:

q3d = ansys.aedt.core.Q3d(output_q3d, version=AEDT_VERSION)
q3d.plot(
    show=False,
    assignment=["CLOCK_I2C_SCL", "CLOCK_I2C_SDA"],
    output_file=os.path.join(temp_folder.name, "Q3D.jpg"),
    plot_air_objects=False,
)

PyAEDT INFO: Parsing C:\Users\ansys\AppData\Local\Temp\tmp6refmde_.ansys\HSD_q3d.aedt.
PyAEDT INFO: Python version 3.10.11 (tags/v3.10.11:7d4cc5a, Apr  5 2023, 00:38:17) [MSC v.1929 64 bit (AMD64)].
PyAEDT INFO: PyAEDT version 1.2.dev0.
PyAEDT INFO: Returning found Desktop session with PID 3136!
PyAEDT INFO: File C:\Users\ansys\AppData\Local\Temp\tmp6refmde_.ansys\HSD_q3d.aedt correctly loaded. Elapsed time: 0m 0sec
PyAEDT INFO: Project HSD_q3d has been opened.
PyAEDT INFO: Active Design set to Q3DDesign1
PyAEDT INFO: AEDT objects correctly read
PyAEDT INFO: PostProcessor class has been initialized! Elapsed time: 0m 0sec
PyAEDT INFO: Post class has been initialized! Elapsed time: 0m 0sec
PyAEDT INFO: Modeler class has been initialized! Elapsed time: 0m 0sec

C:\actions-runner\_work\pyaedt-examples\pyaedt-examples\.venv\lib\site-packages\ansys\aedt\core\visualization\plot\pyvista.py:1167: PyVistaDeprecationWarning: ``Plotter.button_widgets`` is deprecated; use ``Plotter.widgets.button_widgets`` instead.
  while len(self.plot.button_widgets) > 1:

[10]:

Class: ansys.aedt.core.visualization.plot.pyvista.ModelPlotter

Use the previously calculated positions to identify faces and assign sources and sinks on nets.

[11]:

f1 = q3d.modeler.get_faceid_from_position(location_u13_scl, assignment="CLOCK_I2C_SCL")
q3d.source(f1, net_name="CLOCK_I2C_SCL")
f1 = q3d.modeler.get_faceid_from_position(location_u13_sda, assignment="CLOCK_I2C_SDA")
q3d.source(f1, net_name="CLOCK_I2C_SDA")
f1 = q3d.modeler.get_faceid_from_position(location_u1_scl, assignment="CLOCK_I2C_SCL")
q3d.sink(f1, net_name="CLOCK_I2C_SCL")
f1 = q3d.modeler.get_faceid_from_position(location_u1_sda, assignment="CLOCK_I2C_SDA")
q3d.sink(f1, net_name="CLOCK_I2C_SDA")

PyAEDT INFO: Parsing design objects. This operation can take time
PyAEDT INFO: Refreshing bodies from Object Info
PyAEDT INFO: Bodies Info Refreshed Elapsed time: 0m 0sec
PyAEDT INFO: 3D Modeler objects parsed. Elapsed time: 0m 0sec
PyAEDT INFO: Boundary Source Source_HNBJ78 has been created.
PyAEDT INFO: Boundary Source Source_350TTV has been created.
PyAEDT INFO: Boundary Sink Sink_YFCKEL has been created.
PyAEDT INFO: Boundary Sink Sink_1VOXQI has been created.

[11]:

Sink_1VOXQI

Define the solution setup and the frequency sweep ranging from DC to 2GHz.

[12]:

setup = q3d.create_setup()
setup.dc_enabled = True
setup.capacitance_enabled = False
sweep = setup.add_sweep()
sweep.add_subrange("LinearStep", 0, end=2, count=0.05, unit="GHz", clear=True)
setup.analyze(cores=NUM_CORES)

PyAEDT INFO: Project HSD_q3d Saved correctly
PyAEDT INFO: Key Desktop/ActiveDSOConfigurations/Q3D Extractor correctly changed.
PyAEDT INFO: Solving design setup MySetupAuto
PyAEDT INFO: Design setup MySetupAuto solved correctly in 0.0h 4.0m 53.0s
PyAEDT INFO: Key Desktop/ActiveDSOConfigurations/Q3D Extractor correctly changed.

Solve#

Compute AC inductance and resistance.

[13]:

traces_acl = q3d.post.available_report_quantities(quantities_category="ACL Matrix")
solution = q3d.post.get_solution_data(traces_acl)

PyAEDT WARNING: No report category provided. Automatically identified Matrix
PyAEDT INFO: Solution Correctly loaded. Elapsed time: 0m 0sec
PyAEDT INFO: Solution Correctly parsed. Elapsed time: 0m 0sec

Postprocess#

Plot AC inductance and resistance.

[14]:

_ = solution.plot()
traces_acr = q3d.post.available_report_quantities(quantities_category="ACR Matrix")
solution2 = q3d.post.get_solution_data(traces_acr)
_ = solution2.plot()

PyAEDT WARNING: No report category provided. Automatically identified Matrix
PyAEDT INFO: Solution Correctly loaded. Elapsed time: 0m 0sec
PyAEDT INFO: Solution Correctly parsed. Elapsed time: 0m 0sec
../../../../_images/examples_high_frequency_layout_power_integrity_ac_q3d_29_1.png
../../../../_images/examples_high_frequency_layout_power_integrity_ac_q3d_29_2.png

Release AEDT#

[15]:

q3d.save_project()
q3d.release_desktop()
# Wait 3 seconds to allow AEDT to shut down before cleaning the temporary directory.
time.sleep(3)

PyAEDT INFO: Project HSD_q3d Saved correctly
PyAEDT INFO: Desktop has been released and closed.

Clean up#

All project files are saved in the folder temp_folder.name. If you’ve run this example as a Jupyter notebook, you can retrieve those project files. The following cell removes all temporary files, including the project folder.

[16]:

temp_folder.cleanup()

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