Sauna Evaluation V5.6 Exercises

This webpage provides tutorial exercises for learning about the Sauna software.

All of the exercises available on this page can be worked with the free Sauna V5.6 Evaluation Package. If you have not already done so, please use Sauna V5.6 Evaluation Package download, then follow the instructions to install. (If you have an older version of the Sauna Evaluation Package installed, please uninstall and get the V5.6 version.)

Sauna Quick Tours

If you are reasonably familiar with CAD or analysis software, you should start with the Sauna Quick Tours. There are six Sauna Quick Tours covering these subjects: (1) heat sinks and chip stackups, (2) circuit boards, (3) complete box models, (4) LED boards, (5) liquid cooled cold plate and (6) exporting to SPICE for co-simulation. Each of the quick tours takes 20-30 minutes to complete. If you are pressed for time, just work the first part of each quick tour. You can get a good feel for Sauna's capabilities after just 5 or 10 minutes.

You do not have to complete the Sauna Quick Tours in any particular order. For example, if you're only interested in circuit boards, start with Sauna Quick Tour #2.

Please be aware that the Sauna Quick Tours only provide an overview of the software features. For a detailed introduction, see the User Manual Exercises below. Also, if you find that the Sauna Quick Tours move too quickly, the user manual exercises go at a slower pace and provide numerous "hands-on" opportunities.

Quick Tour Links
Heat Sinks, Duty Cycles and Stackups Circuit Boards Finned Box, Box With Board
LED Boards Tubes and Cold Plates Exporting to SPICE, Co-simulation

Sauna Quick Tour #1: Heat Sinks, Duty Cycles And Stackup Models (pdf file)

In the first Sauna Quick Tour, you will model these configurations:

Heat sink with standard device

Duty cycle analysis

Heat sink with custom stackups

Sauna Quick Tour #2: Circuit Board Modeling (pdf file)

In the second Sauna Quick Tour, you will see how Sauna can be used for both quick models and detailed studies of circuit boards:

Simple DPAK device model

DPAK device what-ifs

Four layer board with multiple components

Sauna Quick Tour #3: Basic Finned Box, Box With Board (pdf file)

With Sauna you can do a quick analysis of a box, or you can model in detail (including internal convection and gray radiation analysis with automatic view factor calculation). These boxes are modeled:

Basic finned box

Box with internal board

Sauna Quick Tour #4: Modeling LED Boards

Sauna's library includes 40 standard LED packages, covering a wide range of automotive, industrial and consumer lighting applications (user-defined packages are also possible). You can easily experiment with different pad sizes, add or remove internal copper planes, test different via densities, and model boards bonded to heat sinks.

Sauna Quick Tour #5: Tubes and Cold Plates

Sauna is not just for air cooling. You can also handle liquid cooling with water, antifreeze mixtures, and more. In the fifth Sauna Quick Tour, you will start with a simple tube model. Then you will model a full cold plate, including heat sources.

cold plate modeling
Tubes and cold plates with liquid cooling

Sauna Quick Tour #6: Exporting to SPICE for electrical/thermal co-simulation

In the sixth Sauna Quick Tour, you will create and export a Sauna model to the LTspice circuit analysis program for co-simulation. When an LTspice circuit includes a Sauna model, there are surprising insights about circuit performance. Thermal changes everything.

SPICE co-simulation with Sauna model
LTspice model incorporating Sauna thermal model

User Manual Exercises

You can use the Sauna Evaluation Package to work a number of the tutorials in the Sauna User Manual. The material is presented at a slower and more detailed pace than the Sauna Quick Tours. There are ample opportunities for you to enter commands on your own and test your knowledge.

In general, you should work the introductory exercises in order. There is just one exception. If you completed Sauna Quick Tour #1 (heat sinks) and are comfortable with the material, you can start with Introductory Exercise 2: Heat Sink What-If Modifications. Otherwise, start at the beginning with Introductory Exercise 1: A Simple Finned Heat Sink.

Here are the links to the introductory exercises:

Using Sauna's Menus (optional) ("v55_sauna_menus.pdf"). If you would like a detailed discussion of Sauna's user interface, work through this brief exercise. If you have already been through one of the Sauna Quick Tours and found the menu system easy to understand, there is no need to work this exercise.
Introductory Exercise 1: A Simple Finned Heat Sink ("v55_basic_sink.pdf"). This tutorial shows how to model a simple finned heat sink. If you completed Sauna Quick Tour #1 (heat sinks), you can skip this exercise.
Introductory Exercise 2: Heat Sink What-If Modifications ("v55_more_sink.pdf"). In this exercise you will run through a series of design modifications, such as changing fin length, material, cooling mode, etc.
Introductory Exercise 3: A Non-Uniform Heat Sink ("v55_nonunif_sink.pdf"). A non-uniform heat sink is constructed from a series of plates. Edge joins are used for the first time.
Introductory Exercise 4: Multi-Plates Boxes ("v55_finned_box.pdf"). A finned box is created and modified.
Introductory Exercise 5: Basics Of Circuit Board Modeling ("v55_basic_board.pdf"). This exercise shows how to create both "planar" and "layer by layer" models of circuit boards, including "trace by trace" analysis. There is some similarity to Sauna Quick Tour #2: Circuit Board Modeling, but this exercise is more detailed.
Introductory Exercise 6: Multi-Plate Box With Internal Board ("v55_board_in_box.pdf"). This exercise covers the creation of a comprehensive box model, including internal convection and gray radiation.

Uninstall Software

When you have finished evaluating Sauna, the software can be removed in the usual way with the "Add or remove programs" control panel.

Note that the uninstall program does not remove any model files (.smf files) or transient result files (.srf files). These must be removed manually.

If you have any questions about Sauna, please contact Technical Support (734-761-1956 or support@thermalsoftware.com).

Thank you for your interest in our products.