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Maxwell® 3D
Field Simulator
NSOFT
Getting Started:
A 3D Magnetic Force Problem
February 2002
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Notice
The information contained in this document is subject to change without
notice.
Ansoft makes no warranty of any kind with regard to this material, including,
but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a
particular purpose. Ansoft shall not be liable for errors contained herein or for
incidental or consequential damages in connection with the furnishing,
performance, or use of this material.
This document contains proprietary information which is protected by
copyright. All rights are reserved.
Ansoft Corporation
Four Station Square
Suite 200
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
(412) 261 - 3200
UNIX is a registered trademark of UNIX Systems Laboratories, Inc.
Windows is a trademark of Microsoft® Corporation.
© Copyright 2002 Ansoft Corporation
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Printing History
New editions of this manual include material updated since the
previous edition. The manual printing date, indicating the manual’s
current edition, changes when a new edition is printed. Minor
corrections and updates incorporated at reprint do not cause the date
to change.
Update packages may be issued between editions and contain
additional and/or replacement pages to be merged into the manual
by the user. Pages which are rearranged because of changes on a
previous page are not considered to be revised.
Edition
Date
Software
Revision
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
February 1991
1.0
April 1992
December 1993
October 1996
September 1999
December 2000
February 2002
1.2
3.0
4.1
5.0
6.0
9.0
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Typeface Conventions
Computer
Computer type is used for on-screen prompts
and messages, for field names, and for key-
board entries that must be typed in their
entirety exactly as shown. For example, the
instruction “copy file1” means to type the word
copy, to type a space, and then to type file1.
Menu/Command Computer type is also used to display the com-
mands that are needed to perform a specific
task. Menu levels are separated by forward
slashes (/). For example, the instruction
“Choose File/Open” means to choose the Open
command under the File menu.
Italic type is used for emphasis and for the
titles of manuals and other publications. Italic
type is also used for keyboard entries when a
name or a variable must be typed in place of
the words in italics. For example, the instruc-
tion “copy filename” means to type the word
copy, to type a space, and then to type the
name of a file, such as file1.
Helvetica type is used for labeled keys on the
computer keyboard. For example, the instruc-
tion “Press Return” means to press the key on
the computer that is labeled Return.
Italics
Keys
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Installation
Before you use Maxwell 3D, you must:
1.
2.
Set up your system’s graphical windowing system.
Install the Maxwell software, using the directions in the
Ansoft PC or UNIX Installation Guide.
If you have not yet done these steps, refer to the Ansoft Installation
guides and the documentation that came with your computer system,
or ask your system administrator for help.
Using a Graphical User Interface
If you are familiar with the concepts of using a mouse, menus, and
other graphical user interface (GUI) tools, skip to Chapter 1,
“Introduction.”
If you have not used GUI systems before, this section will help you
understand some of the terminology used in this guide. Since GUIs
are basically visual, the best way to learn to use them is by practicing
on your system.
Most GUI systems use a mouse
as a pointing device, with which
you can select areas on the screen
for command execution and
moving from one program to
another. Your mouse may have 2
or 3 buttons; Maxwell 3D ignores
the middle button on 3-button
models, since Ansoft products do
not use this button. You can
program mouse buttons to work in non-standard ways, as you might
want to if you are left-handed. For simplicity, the left-hand button
(under your forefinger if you are right-handed) is called the left
button, and the one on far right is the right mouse button. You will
probably find the terms intuitive once you use these buttons a few
times.
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Point and Click; Right Click
To choose an item with the mouse, first move it on your desk until the
arrow cursor is on that item; you are now “pointing” at the item. Next,
press and release the left button; this is called “clicking.” Point-and-
click is the most common action you will make with your mouse.
Generally, “click” refers to a left mouse button click.
You can sometimes use your right mouse button to access or enter
commands. In the 3D Modeler for instance, a right mouse button
click causes a short menu of commands to appear at the mouse
cursor. Generally, “right click” refers to a right mouse button click.
Double-Click
Occasionally you may want to select all of the text in a box, or
perform a special task (such as indicating the end of drawing a line)
while you are using Maxwell 3D. You can do this efficiently by
quickly clicking twice with your left mouse button — a “double-
click”.
Dragging Objects; Click and Hold
When you are drawing in the 3D Modeler, you can often use your
mouse to enter objects and move around the screen. Frequently, you
will click the mouse button and hold it down until the next part of the
command is reached (the object is moved, the next point is entered,
and so forth). If you click and hold on the edge of a window, you can
position, or drag, the window on your screen. You can often drag
objects in Maxwell; experiment to see what will move.
Tool bars are shortcut methods for entering commands. There is a
tool bar in the 3D Modeler and most of the setup modules for several
commands. To use a tool bar, click the mouse cursor on the button
you want to use. Here is an example of a tool bar:
Tool Bars
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Menus
Within each screen of Maxwell 3D are areas which list subsets, or
menus, of commands. You can access a menu by clicking your mouse
on the word or button that indicates the menu. The menu is pulled
down, listing the commands available on that menu. (For example,
the New command is available on the File menu.) Usually, the menu
will remain displayed until you choose a command, or click on the
desktop to exit. If the menu does not remain displayed, click and hold
the mouse button, then release the button to make your choice.
An arrow on the right side of a command indicates that there is a
submenu for that command. An ellipsis (. . .) indicates that a pop-up
window appears after choosing this command.
When you are asked to use a menu command, each level is separated
by a “/”. Thus, to zoom in on a drawing, you would choose the View/
Zoom In menu command. To open a new file, you would choose File/
New.
There are also pop-up menus, which appear when you right-click on
a Maxwell modeler window. Choose commands from these menus in
the same way as from menu bars.
For more information on using GUIs, refer to “User Interface” in the
Maxwell Control Panel’s online help system.
Other References
For detailed information on Maxwell 3D commands, refer to the
online documentation for the Maxwell 3D Field Simulator.
To start Maxwell 3D, you must first access the Maxwell Control
Panel. For more detailed information on the Maxwell Control Panel
commands, refer to the Maxwell Control Panel’s online help system.
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