FEMM — The Complete Guide: 2D Finite Elements for Magnetics, Motors and Coils
FEMM is a finite element program for Windows, written by David Meeker, for 2D planar and axisymmetric problems. It is widely used in the design of motors, actuators, coils and transformers.
FEMM
David Meeker
2D finite element solver for magnetic, electrostatic, heat flow and current flow problems — motors, coils and inductors.
Get it from the vendorWhat you get
- Four problem types — low-frequency magnetics, electrostatics, heat flow and current flow.
- Drawing interface — draw the geometry directly in the program.
- Mesh generator — automatic generation of the element mesh.
- Graphical post-processing — fields and results shown on the model.
- Automation — Lua scripting, and control from MATLAB, Octave and Scilab.
Licence and limitations
FEMM is distributed free under the Aladdin Free Public License, which is not an OSI-approved open-source licence. Use is free, but the licence forbids commercial distribution of the software. The bundled Triangle and Lua components carry their own licences. Technically it is limited to 2D and does not solve 3D models.
Related tools
For electromagnetics and multiphysics in 3D as well — Elmer FEM. For solving finite element equations in a script — FreeFEM. For fields at RF frequencies — openEMS.
Elmer FEM
CSC — IT Center for Science, Finland
Multiphysics FEA — solids, flow, heat and electromagnetics — with its own graphical interface.
Get it from the vendor
FreeFEM
Sorbonne Université / Inria
Solves partial differential equations in a language close to the mathematical formulation.
Get it from the vendoropenEMS
Thorsten Liebig and contributors
A 3D FDTD electromagnetic field solver — antennas, RF filters and PCB structures, scripted in Octave, MATLAB or Python.
Get it from the vendor
Gmsh
Gmsh Project
FEA mesh generator with built-in geometry and scripting — standard infrastructure for open numerical work.
Get it from the vendorThe bottom line
FEMM is a free, long-established and focused tool for 2D magnetic design — quick to learn and well suited to the design stages of motors and coils.