CAD Import - Simulation object

A variety of CAD file formats can be imported directly as “CAD Solid” type objects into Ansys Lumerical FDTD™, Ansys Lumerical MODE™, and Ansys Lumerical Multiphysics™ software.
This page describes the import procedures for these files, except for STL files. For STL files, see the Knowledge Base article on STL import.

Import Procedures

FDTD and MODE

CAD files are imported using the stepimport or cadimport commands through scripting in FDTD and MODE. CAD files are visible only in the Modern view.

Multiphysics (CHARGE, HEAT, DGTD, and FEEM)

CAD files are imported using the “STEP Import” button under the “Design” Tab.

The same functionality can also be achieved using the stepimport or cadimport commands through scripting.

Supported Formats

The following file formats are supported:

• STEP (Standard for the Exchange of Product model data) files [AP 203 Ed1, Ed2, AP214, or AP 242 Ed1, Ed2, Ed3]  – *.stp, *.step, *.STP, *.STEP
• ACIS files [up to 2023] – *.sat (Standard ACIS Text), *.sab (Standard ACIS Binary)
• Parasolid files [Up to 37.1] – *.x_t, *.x_b
• SolidWorks Part [From 97 up to 2025] – *.sldprt
• CATIA V5 Part [Up to V5_6R2024] – *.CATpart
• Autodesk Inventor Part [Up to 2025] – *.ipt, *.iam

Geometry tab

• X, Y, Z: The relative position of imported object from the origin of the layout editor.
• USE RELATIVE COORDINATES: If selected the specified position of the object will be relative to the parent object.

Material tab

The material options are as follows:

 MATERIAL: This field can be set to any material included in the material database. It is possible to include new materials in the database, or edit the materials already included. See the material database section for more information.

• OVERRIDE MESH ORDER FROM MATERIAL DATABASE: Select to override the mesh order from the material database and manually set a mesh order. The mesh order is used by the simulation engine to select which material to use when two materials overlap. See the mesh order (optical) or mesh order (electrical) section for more details.
• MESH ORDER: Set the mesh order in this field if the OVERRIDE MESH ORDER FROM MATERIAL DATABASE option is selected. If the option is not selected, the field displays the material's default mesh order from the database. For example, a material of mesh order 1 will take precedence over a material of mesh order 2.

The following only applies to MODE and FDTD:

If <Object defined dielectric> is selected, then the INDEX property must be set.

• INDEX: The refractive index of the structure, when the material type is <Object defined dielectric>. The index must be greater than one.

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    • Anisotropic index: To specify an anisotropic refractive index, use a semicolon to separate the diagonal xx,yy,zz indices. Eg. 1;1.5;1
    • Spatially varying index: It is possible to specify a spatially varying refractive index by entering an equation of the variables x,y,z in this field. Eg. 2+0.1*x will create an object where the refractive index increases in the X direction. The units of the spatial variables (x,y,z) must be set with the 'INDEX UNITS' property described below. The variables x,y,z will be zero in the center of the object. When using an equation in this field, consider using a mesh override region to control the simulation mesh size. For more information on entering equations, see the Equation interpreter section.

• INDEX UNITS: Only relevant when specifying a spatially varying equation in the INDEX properly described above. Specify the units (nm, um, m) of the x,y,z position variables.
• GRID ATTRIBUTE NAME: Enter the name of the grid attribute that applies to this object, see the grid attribute section

The following only applies to CHARGE, HEAT, FEEM, DGTD:

If the material chosen from the drop down menu is a binary alloy consisting of two semiconductors, then there will be an additional property, namely, the "composition fraction" to set as well.

• COMPOSITION FRACTION: This is x, the fraction of the semiconductor in the alloy. x can either take a fixed value or vary.

The user can see which semiconductor has fraction x and which has fraction (1-x) shown in a line above this drop down menu.

• FIXED: This means that fraction x will be a constant value between 0 and 1.
• LINEAR X/Y/Z: This means that the composition fraction x will vary as a function x or y or z. In this case, user can specify the min and max fraction values for the min and max spatial points and the fraction will be interpolated linearly in between. x,y,z here are those of the unrotated object. x,y,z are local to the object.
• EQUATION: The user can enter an equation for the fraction that varies with u,v and w. u is (x-x0), v is (y-y0) and w is (z-z0) where x0, y0 and z0 are the center coordinates of the object. This means that u,v and w are local to the object.

Rotations tab

Rotate objects by setting the following variables:

• FIRST, SECOND, THIRD AXES: Select rotation axis. Up to three different rotations can be applied.
• ROTATION 1,2,3: The rotation of the object in a clockwise direction about each axis, measured in degrees.

Graphical Rendering tab

The graphical rendering tab is used to change how objects are drawn in the layout editor. The options are:

• RENDER TYPE: The options for drawing the objects are detailed or wireframe. Detailed objects are shaded and their transparency can be set using OVERRIDE COLOR OPACITY FROM MATERIAL DATABASE.
• DETAIL: This is a slider which takes values between 0 and 1. By default it is set to 0.5. Higher detail shows more detail, but increases the time required to draw objects. This setting has no effect on the simulation.
• OVERRIDE COLOR OPACITY FROM MATERIAL DATABASE: When unselected the opacity is determined from the material database. When selected, you can specify a value for ALPHA between 0 (transparent) and 1 (opaque) for the object, depending on how transparent you want the object to be.
• Deflection tolerance (um): In FDTD and MODE, the "Graphical rendering" tab of the CAD solids created using stepimport consists of an additional property called "Deflection tolerance (um)". This field controls how curved surfaces are broken up into multiple linear segments. A smaller deflection tolerance will force the geometry builder to break up a curved surface into smaller segments.