SIMetrix/SIMPLIS 8.4 beta SIMPLIS Magnetics Design Module (MDM) Beta Version Release Notes October 2019 Dear Beta User, Please note that as this is an MDM beta version, some functionality that will be available in the first commercial release is not yet (fully) implemented, some features that are still a work in progress are disabled, and the program is generally not yet fully polished. What follows below is a list of limitations, so please read it carefully. You may also encounter bugs or errors while using the program. Please send all bug reports to astupar@simplis.com. In your user directory (e.g. C:\Users\) you should find a log file called MDM-log.0.txt. In a bug report, please include this log file, any screenshots if you can, and describe how the bug can be reproduced. When reproducing a bug, open the MDM Status Window and also send its contents along with the bug report (you can just highlight the text and copy using Ctrl+C). Thank you. SIMPLIS MDM Beta Limitations and Known Issues 1. GUI-Related 1.1. MDM windows flashing in taskbar Generally, MDM windows (whether the main MDM GUI for component design, or the results windows) should appear in the foreground when created. However, if you already have an MDM window (e.g. a Results window and/or the Status window), any newly opened or created MDM windows might not appear in the foreground, but will appear minimized or in the background and will flash in the taskbar (in the group with all the other MDM windows). Ultimately, this behaviour is controlled by the operating system, so what exactly happens may vary based on the version of Windows you are running. 1.2. Window sizing Windows may appear too small for their content, or could be too large for your screen. This behaviour will depend on your screen resolution. You can easily resize all windows, as well as resize the different parts (divisions) within in each window (e.g. the component cross-section drawing vs. the drop-down menus for selecting standard parts, etc.) with your mouse. 1.3. Manufacturing View for inductors not available Displaying the Manufacturing View is disabled for inductors, and may be used only with transformers. 1.4. Inductor cross-sectional drawing rotation Rotating the inductor drawing does not move it around its centre (like with the transformer), but around the upper right corner. After rotation, move the drawing with your mouse or press the "1" button to re-zoom and re-center. 1.5. Jumbled labels and text fields In certain cases some labels or text fields may appear corrupted or on top of one another. This is a rendering bug, just switch tabs or scroll up and down, and the everything will go back to normal. 1.6. MDM Status Window Some debugging messages are still being printed to the Status window. These have been left there as they may be useful in bug reports. 1.7. Zoom level not set properly for existing components Sometimes, when an existing design is loaded into MDM, the cross-sectional drawing of the component may appear too zoomed-in or zoomed-out. Click the "1" button to reset the view to the proper default zoom level. 1.8. Bobbin pin labels in Transformer Manufacturing View Depending on the size of the core, the bobbin pin labels entered for the Manufacturing View of transformers may appear too small. Zoom in (using the "+" button or the wheel of your mouse) to see them better. Similarly, the arrows pointing to and from the labels may appear too thin when zoomed out significantly, depending on the core size. 2. Transformer Design 2.1. No foils and rectangular conductors Do not attempt to use foil or rectangular windings for transformer design (you may use them without any problems for inductor design). Leakage inductance calculation for these types of windings has not been implemented yet, and therefore your designs will behave improperly in the simulation. 2.2. Winding placement methods The default placement method for transformers is "Simple". DO NOT use the "Legacy" method with transformers, as you will not be able to place more than one winding. The "Scripting" placement method for precisely placing each turn should work, but has not been thoroughly tested and is not covered in the MDM Beta tutorials. 2.3. Manufacturing View cannot be saved In the beta version the Manufacturing View parameters (i.e. the bobbin pin information) is not saved when the geometry is saved to a .gmd file or to the transformer schematic symbol. 2.4. Tape (horizontal spacing) Currently, if horizontal spacing - i.e. tape (drawn as a gray rectangle) is added to a winding, it is automatically added between all of the layers of that winding and in between that winding and the previous winding (or the bobbin, if that is the first winding wound around the core). It is not currently possible to add tape just between different windings but not between the different layers of the same winding. 3. Parts Database (MagDB) 3.1. Be careful In the MDM Beta there is not yet the possibility to restore the database to its initial state. Therefore any modifications you make to it are are permanent. Feel free to add new entries and modify or delete them as you please. However, do note that any change or deletion you make to the existing, default, entries will be permanent unless you reinstall the entire program.