Cone

The Cone Command

The Cone command allows you to create conical metallic structures, which are frequently used in the design of wideband biconical antennas and horn antenna transitions.

To open the tool, navigate to Draw > Wire Grid / Solid Surface > Cone.

Defining the Geometry

In the Cone tab, you configure the physical dimensions and orientation of the structure using the following parameters:

• Vertex Coordinates (Vx, Vy, Vz): The precise point where the cone originates (the tip) (see Figs. 1 and 2).
• Aperture Angle: The full angular opening of the cone.
• Aperture Radius: The radius of the circular base of the cone.
• Orientation (Theta and Phi): These angles define the direction of the cone’s axis (the line passing through the vertex and the center of the base).

Curvature Options

You can choose how the software represents the circular base and the conical walls:

• Curved Segments: Uses exact mathematical curvature. This is preferred for high-precision simulations to avoid the artificial edge effects caused by polygonal approximations.
• Straight Segments: Models the cone as a series of flat triangular or trapezoidal facets using straight wires.

Faceting and Mesh Attributes

In the Attributes tab, you determine the density of the simulation mesh:

• Facets: Define the number of divisions along the Axis (from vertex to base) and Azimuthally (around the circumference).
• Wire Grid: Choosing a Circular cross-section creates a mesh of wires, often used to simulate “caged” biconical antennas.
• Solid Surface: Choosing Flat or Rectangular cross-sections creates a solid metal sheet. AN-SOF automatically adjusts the strip geometry to ensure the cone surface is completely covered without gaps.

Materials

The Materials tab allows you to set the resistivity (e.g., Copper, Aluminum, or Stainless Steel) and any optional dielectric coating for the cone.