#!/usr/bin/env python3 """Packs molecules into a cubic simulation cell with Packmol. Feed it PDB files (from Avogadro or wherever you got them) and it packs them into a periodic cubic box, either at explicit counts or a target molarity. Needs the `packmol` binary on PATH. Install: conda install -c conda-forge packmol or: sudo apt install packmol Examples -------- python pack_cell.py \ -m Na:inputs/Na.pdb:0.5M \ -m PF6:inputs/PF6.pdb:0.5M \ -m DME:inputs/DME.pdb:200 \ --box-size 30 \ --output packed/system.pdb python pack_cell.py --project ./my-project \ -m Na:inputs/Na.pdb:0.5M \ -m PF6:inputs/PF6.pdb:0.5M \ -m DME:inputs/DME.pdb:200 \ --box-size 30 """ import argparse import os import shutil import subprocess import sys import tempfile from utils import parse_molecule_spec, add_cryst1_to_pdb, ProjectLayout def write_packmol_input(molecules, box_size, output_path, tolerance, seed): """Builds the packmol input as a string, ready to pipe in. Doesn't touch disk.""" lines = [ f"tolerance {tolerance}", "filetype pdb", f"output {output_path}", ] if seed is not None: lines.append(f"seed {seed}") lines.append("") for name, path, count in molecules: lines.append(f"structure {path}") lines.append(f" number {count}") lines.append(f" inside box 0. 0. 0. {box_size} {box_size} {box_size}") lines.append("end structure") lines.append("") return "\n".join(lines) def main(): parser = argparse.ArgumentParser( description="Pack molecules into a cubic simulation cell.", formatter_class=argparse.RawDescriptionHelpFormatter, ) parser.add_argument("--project", help="Project root, output defaults to /packed/system.pdb.") parser.add_argument("-m", "--molecule", action="append", required=True, metavar="NAME:PATH:AMOUNT", help="'name:path:amount' (amount is an int or float+M, e.g. 1.0M).") parser.add_argument("-b", "--box-size", type=float, required=True, help="Cubic box edge length in angstroms.") parser.add_argument("-o", "--output", help="Output PDB file path.") parser.add_argument("--tolerance", type=float, default=2.0, help="Min distance between atoms in Å (default: 2.0).") parser.add_argument("--seed", type=int, default=None, help="Random seed for reproducibility.") parser.add_argument("--dry-run", action="store_true", help="Print the Packmol input without executing.") args = parser.parse_args() if args.project: layout = ProjectLayout(args.project) args.output = args.output or layout.packed_pdb if not args.output: parser.error("Provide --project or --output.") if shutil.which("packmol") is None: print("ERROR: 'packmol' not found on PATH.") print(" Install: conda install -c conda-forge packmol") sys.exit(1) os.makedirs(os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(args.output)), exist_ok=True) molecules = [] print(f"Box size: {args.box_size:.1f} Å ({args.box_size**3:.0f} Å^3)") print(f"Volume: {args.box_size**3 * 1e-27:.4e} L\n") for spec in args.molecule: name, path, count = parse_molecule_spec(spec, args.box_size) if not os.path.isfile(path): print(f"ERROR: File not found: {path}") sys.exit(1) molecules.append((name, path, count)) print(f" {name:>10s}: {count:>5d} molecules ({path})") total_molecules = sum(c for _, _, c in molecules) print(f"\n {'Total':>10s}: {total_molecules:>5d} molecules") inp_content = write_packmol_input( molecules, args.box_size, os.path.abspath(args.output), args.tolerance, args.seed, ) if args.dry_run: print("\n--- Packmol input ---") print(inp_content) return print("\nRunning packmol...") result = subprocess.run( ["packmol"], input=inp_content, capture_output=True, text=True, ) if result.returncode != 0 or not os.path.exists(args.output): print(f"ERROR: Packmol failed (exit code {result.returncode})") print(result.stdout[-500:] if result.stdout else "") print(result.stderr[-500:] if result.stderr else "") sys.exit(1) for line in result.stdout.strip().split("\n")[-3:]: print(f" {line}") print(f"\nAdding CRYST1 record ({args.box_size:.3f} Å cubic cell)...") add_cryst1_to_pdb(args.output, args.box_size) print(f"Packed cell written to: {args.output}") if __name__ == "__main__": main()