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Simulation Workbench

Use the Simulation Workbench to check how a schematic behaves before you move on to PCB layout. You can view voltage waveforms, measure signals, and verify that important outputs stay within your chosen limits.

Open a schematic, then select Simulation → SPICE Simulation Panel or press F5.

Available in the upcoming release

This guide describes WireFrame 1.5.47. The simulator included with WireFrame is ready to use after installation.

Quick start

Diagram — Multi-engine simulation workflow

Diagram replacement needed

Create a polished release diagram showing: schematic/block scope → preflight → selected simulation engine → analysis run → signals and measurements → assertions and review. The previous ngspice-only pipeline does not represent the current multi-engine workbench.

  1. Open a schematic that contains a GND connection and named signal nets.
  2. Click Preflight.
  3. Resolve any item marked as blocking.
  4. Choose the type of analysis you need.
  5. Click Run.
  6. Open Signals and enable the nets you want to view.

Workbench tabs

Tab What you do there
Setup Check readiness, choose a simulator, add sources, and adjust the graph display
Blocks Run the whole schematic or only the circuit section you are working on
Testbench Add loads and define the results that count as acceptable
Signals Show, hide, and measure voltage waveforms
Models Find components that need a simulation model
AI Ask Copilot to explain a signal or failed check

Choose an analysis

Analysis Choose it when you want to check
Transient Startup, switching, timing, oscillation, or ripple over time
AC Sweep Gain and phase across a frequency range
DC Bias Steady DC voltage at each node
DC Sweep How an output changes while an input voltage is varied

The controls below the toolbar change with the selected analysis. Hover a disabled option to see why it is unavailable for the current circuit.

Add power and input signals

Open Setup, choose a named net, and click Add under Sources. Select the source type that matches your circuit:

  • DC for a fixed supply or input;
  • AC for small-signal frequency analysis;
  • Sine for a repeating analog input;
  • Pulse for clocks and switching inputs;
  • PWL for a custom sequence of time and voltage points.

Tip

Give important nets clear names such as VIN, VOUT, SDA, or CLK. Named nets are easier to select and understand in the results.

Run Preflight

Preflight checks whether the selected circuit is ready to simulate. Common issues include:

  • the circuit has no GND reference;
  • components are not connected;
  • a resistor, capacitor, or source has no usable value;
  • a component needs a simulation model;
  • the selected simulator is unavailable.

Double-check the indicated component, correct the issue, then run Preflight again.

If an unrelated section is not ready, open Blocks and select only the section you want to test.

Read the waveform

In Signals, enable the nets you want to plot. Use the graph controls to:

  • zoom and pan;
  • fit all active signals automatically;
  • show or hide the grid and legend;
  • enable A/B cursors for interval measurements;
  • display the latest simulated values on the schematic.

Use More → Export waveform CSV to save the plotted data. If a run fails, use More → Export simulation log when reporting the problem.

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