Defining a Placement Candidate

You can define a placement candidate to position an antenna on the platform.

You must define at least one placement candidate for each antenna that you plan to simulate.

This task shows you how to:

Before you begin:
See Also
About Placement Candidates

Define a Placement Candidate by Selecting Two Axis Systems

You can define a placement candidate by aligning an axis system on the antenna with an axis system on the platform.

Before you begin: If required, create an axis system on both the antenna and the platform. For information about automatically generated antenna axis systems using CST Studio Suite, see CST Studio Suite Antenna Projects.
  1. From the Antenna Placement section of the action bar, click Placement Candidate .
  2. Optional: Enter a descriptive Name.
  3. From the Placement method options, click Two Axis Systems .

    If you switch placement methods, the dialog box preserves any information that you entered in case you switch back.

  4. From the Antenna options, select an antenna from the list.

    Tip: You can also click to select an antenna from the tree or in the 3D area.

  5. From the Antenna axis options, select an antenna axis from the list.

    Tip: You can also click to select an antenna axis system from the tree or in the 3D area. For information about axis system selection and geometry loading, see About Placement Candidates.

  6. In the 3D area, select a platform axis system.
    A green antenna glyph appears at the selected location, such that the two axis systems align.
  7. Check the antenna's position in the 3D area to verify proper antenna orientation on the platform.

    Tip: You can use the Robot to further adjust the antenna's position after initializing its position using the two-axis-systems method. Click Interactive to display the Robot. The Robot is particularly useful for rotating antennas.

  8. Optional: If required, modify your axis selections.
  9. Click OK.
    The placement candidate appears in the tree, under Model > Physical Product > Electromagnetics > Antenna Placement > Antenna.

Define a Placement Candidate by Selecting an Engineering Connection

You can define a placement candidate by selecting an existing engineering connection, which positions the antenna at the site of the engineering connection. When you activate the placement candidate, Antenna Placement deactivates all other engineering connections and placement candidates.

Before you begin: Create one or more engineering connections on your platform. Ensure that only one of the engineering connections is active. For more information, see 3D Modeling | Mechanical Systems | Assembly Design | Engineering Connections.
  1. From the Antenna Placement section of the action bar, click Placement Candidate .
  2. Optional: Enter a descriptive Name.
  3. From the Placement method options, click Engineering Connection .

    If you switch placement methods, the dialog box preserves any information that you entered in case you switch back.

  4. From the tree, select an engineering connection.
  5. Optional: Click Preview to activate the selected engineering connection and to perform a geometry update that repositions the antenna to the site of the engineering connection.

    Conflicting engineering connections are automatically and temporarily deactivated.

  6. Click OK.
    The engineering connection activates, and Antenna Placement repositions the antenna to the site of the engineering connection.

    The placement candidate appears in the tree, under Model > Physical Product > Electromagnetics > Antenna Placement > Antenna.

Define a Placement Candidate Interactively

You can define a placement candidate by attaching a Robot to the antenna and then interacting with the Robot to position the placement candidate on the platform.

Before you begin: If required, create an axis system on the antenna at the location where it attaches to the platform. For information about automatically generated antenna axis systems using CST Studio Suite, see CST Studio Suite Antenna Projects.
  1. From the Antenna Placement section of the action bar, click Placement Candidate .
  2. Optional: Enter a descriptive Name.
  3. From the Placement method options, click Interactive .

    If you switch placement methods, the dialog box preserves any information that you entered in case you switch back.

  4. From the Antenna options, select an antenna from the list.

    Tip: You can also click to select an antenna from the tree or in the 3D area.

  5. From the Antenna axis options, select an antenna axis from the list.

    Tip: You can also click to select an antenna axis system from the tree or in the 3D area. For information about axis system selection and geometry loading, see About Placement Candidates.

    The app colors the antenna yellow. A Robot appears, attached to the antenna at the selected axis system. For example, the image below shows a Robot attached to a horn antenna.

  6. Interact with the Robot to position the antenna on the platform.
    1. Drag the Robot's origin to the platform, and slide it along the platform's surface.
      The origin moves conformally on the platform's surface and briefly sticks to nearby features, such as edges, points, and axis systems.
    2. Drag the Robot's curved segments to rotate the antenna.
    3. Drag the Robot's axes to translate the antenna.

      Warning: Translating the antenna on a curved surface might dislocate the antenna from the platform.

    Tip: You can also double-click the Robot to open a dialog box that allows you to precisely place the antenna by entering numeric values.

  7. Click OK.
    The Robot disappears. A green antenna glyph appears at the selected location.

    The placement candidate appears in the tree, under Model > Physical Product > Electromagnetics > Antenna Placement > Antenna.