gerber2ems - openEMS simulation based on Gerber files

Copyright (c) 2023 Antmicro

Modified (c) 2025 williamyang98

This project aims to streamline signal integrity simulations using open source tools. It takes PCB production files as input (Gerber, drill files, stackup information) and simulates trace SI performance using openEMS - a free and open electromagnetic field solver that uses the FDTD method.

This has been forked from antmicro/gerber2ems to add:

• Comprehensive documentation.
• Configuration of nanomesh.
• Fixes to nanomesh which resulted in missing or merged copper traces.
• Control over input and output directories.
• Correction of xy offset in simulation port and vias via configuration file.
• Embedding of copper layers into dielectric for better modelling of edge side coupling in differential pairs.

Documentation

Documentation can be found here.

1. Installation
2. Exporting files
3. Configuration
4. Running simulation
5. Visualise results
6. Visualise geometry
7. Visualise fields
8. Bugs
9. Tips

Gallery

Smith chart

Differential impedance

Visualising geometry

Visualising E-fields with Paraview

paraview_differential.mp4

Simulation of differential pair

paraview_differential_hatched.mp4

Simulation of differential pair over hatched ground plane

Useful links

• Original project: antmicro/gerber2ems
• Youtube tutorial for openEMS and KiCAD: youtube/panire