diff --git a/.github/workflows/tidy3d-python-client-tests.yml b/.github/workflows/tidy3d-python-client-tests.yml
index 010e0fb1b6..eb08db9930 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/tidy3d-python-client-tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/tidy3d-python-client-tests.yml
@@ -262,7 +262,7 @@ jobs:
           BRANCH_NAME="${STEPS_EXTRACT_BRANCH_NAME_OUTPUTS_BRANCH_NAME}"
           echo $BRANCH_NAME
           # Allow only Jira keys from known projects, even if the branch has an author prefix
-          ALLOWED_JIRA_PROJECTS=("FXC" "SCEM")
+          ALLOWED_JIRA_PROJECTS=("FXC" "SCEM" "SCRF")
           JIRA_PROJECT_PATTERN=$(IFS='|'; echo "${ALLOWED_JIRA_PROJECTS[*]}")
           JIRA_PATTERN="(${JIRA_PROJECT_PATTERN})-[0-9]+"
 
diff --git a/tests/test_plugins/test_array_factor.py b/tests/test_plugins/test_array_factor.py
index 2ffe92afee..959e1dc7b0 100644
--- a/tests/test_plugins/test_array_factor.py
+++ b/tests/test_plugins/test_array_factor.py
@@ -363,16 +363,15 @@ def make_antenna_sim():
         remove_dc_component=False,  # Include DC component for more accuracy at low frequencies
     )
 
-    sim_unit = list(modeler.sim_dict.values())[0]
-
-    return sim_unit
+    return modeler
 
 
 def test_rectangular_array_calculator_array_make_antenna_array():
     """Test automatic antenna array creation."""
     freq0 = 10e9
     wavelength0 = td.C_0 / 10e9
-    sim_unit = make_antenna_sim()
+    modeler = make_antenna_sim()
+    sim_unit = list(modeler.sim_dict.values())[0]
     array_calculator = mw.RectangularAntennaArrayCalculator(
         array_size=(1, 2, 3),
         spacings=(0.5 * wavelength0, 0.6 * wavelength0, 0.4 * wavelength0),
@@ -437,8 +436,9 @@ def test_rectangular_array_calculator_array_make_antenna_array():
     assert len(sim_array.sources) == 6
 
     # check that override_structures are duplicated
-    assert len(sim_unit.grid_spec.override_structures) == 2
-    assert len(sim_array.grid_spec.override_structures) == 7
+    # assert len(sim_unit.grid_spec.override_structures) == 2
+    # assert len(sim_array.grid_spec.override_structures) == 7
+    assert sim_unit.grid.boundaries == modeler.base_sim.grid.boundaries
 
     # check that phase shifts are applied correctly
     phases_expected = array_calculator._antenna_phases
@@ -674,7 +674,8 @@ def test_rectangular_array_calculator_simulation_data_from_array_factor():
         phase_shifts=(np.pi / 3, np.pi / 4, np.pi / 5),
     )
 
-    sim_unit = make_antenna_sim()
+    modeler = make_antenna_sim()
+    sim_unit = list(modeler.sim_dict.values())[0]
 
     monitor = sim_unit.monitors[0]
     monitor_directivity = sim_unit.monitors[2]
diff --git a/tidy3d/plugins/smatrix/component_modelers/terminal.py b/tidy3d/plugins/smatrix/component_modelers/terminal.py
index f865286c4e..b06f0404c0 100644
--- a/tidy3d/plugins/smatrix/component_modelers/terminal.py
+++ b/tidy3d/plugins/smatrix/component_modelers/terminal.py
@@ -223,7 +223,7 @@ def _warn_refactor_2_10(cls, values):
 
     @property
     def _sim_with_sources(self) -> Simulation:
-        """Instance of :class:`.Simulation` with all sources and absorbers added for each port, for troubleshooting."""
+        """Instance of :class:`.Simulation` with all sources and absorbers added for each port, for plotting."""
 
         sources = [port.to_source(self._source_time) for port in self.ports]
         absorbers = [
@@ -231,7 +231,9 @@ def _sim_with_sources(self) -> Simulation:
             for port in self.ports
             if isinstance(port, WavePort) and port.absorber
         ]
-        return self.simulation.updated_copy(sources=sources, internal_absorbers=absorbers)
+        return self.simulation.updated_copy(
+            sources=sources, internal_absorbers=absorbers, validate=False
+        )
 
     @equal_aspect
     @add_ax_if_none
@@ -382,6 +384,10 @@ def matrix_indices_run_sim(self) -> tuple[NetworkIndex, ...]:
     def sim_dict(self) -> SimulationMap:
         """Generate all the :class:`.Simulation` objects for the port parameter calculation."""
 
+        # Check base simulation for grid size at ports
+        TerminalComponentModeler._check_grid_size_at_ports(self.base_sim, self._lumped_ports)
+        TerminalComponentModeler._check_grid_size_at_wave_ports(self.base_sim, self._wave_ports)
+
         sim_dict = {}
         # Now, create simulations with wave port sources and mode solver monitors for computing port modes
         for network_index in self.matrix_indices_run_sim:
@@ -389,11 +395,6 @@ def sim_dict(self) -> SimulationMap:
             # update simulation
             sim_dict[task_name] = sim_with_src
 
-        # Check final simulations for grid size at ports
-        for _, sim in sim_dict.items():
-            TerminalComponentModeler._check_grid_size_at_ports(sim, self._lumped_ports)
-            TerminalComponentModeler._check_grid_size_at_wave_ports(sim, self._wave_ports)
-
         return SimulationMap(keys=tuple(sim_dict.keys()), values=tuple(sim_dict.values()))
 
     @cached_property
@@ -414,7 +415,10 @@ def _base_sim_no_radiation_monitors(self) -> Simulation:
 
         # Make an initial simulation with new grid_spec to determine where LumpedPorts are snapped
         sim_wo_source = self.simulation.updated_copy(
-            grid_spec=grid_spec, lumped_elements=lumped_resistors
+            grid_spec=grid_spec,
+            lumped_elements=lumped_resistors,
+            validate=False,
+            deep=False,
         )
         snap_centers = {}
         for port in self._lumped_ports:
@@ -480,7 +484,11 @@ def _base_sim_no_radiation_monitors(self) -> Simulation:
             )
 
         # update base simulation with updated set of shared components
-        sim_wo_source = sim_wo_source.copy(update=update_dict)
+        sim_wo_source = sim_wo_source.updated_copy(
+            **update_dict,
+            validate=False,
+            deep=False,
+        )
 
         # extrude port structures
         sim_wo_source = self._extrude_port_structures(sim=sim_wo_source)
@@ -527,7 +535,10 @@ def base_sim(self) -> Simulation:
         """The base simulation with all components added, including radiation monitors."""
         base_sim_tmp = self._base_sim_no_radiation_monitors
         mnts_with_radiation = list(base_sim_tmp.monitors) + list(self._finalized_radiation_monitors)
-        return base_sim_tmp.updated_copy(monitors=mnts_with_radiation)
+        grid_spec = GridSpec.from_grid(base_sim_tmp.grid)
+        grid_spec.attrs["from_grid_spec"] = base_sim_tmp.grid_spec
+        # We skipped validations up to now, here we finally validate the base sim
+        return base_sim_tmp.updated_copy(monitors=mnts_with_radiation, grid_spec=grid_spec)
 
     def _generate_radiation_monitor(
         self, simulation: Simulation, auto_spec: DirectivityMonitorSpec
@@ -712,7 +723,10 @@ def _add_source_to_sim(self, source_index: NetworkIndex) -> tuple[str, Simulatio
             )
         task_name = self.get_task_name(port=port, mode_index=mode_index)
 
-        return (task_name, self.base_sim.updated_copy(sources=[port_source]))
+        return (
+            task_name,
+            self.base_sim.updated_copy(sources=[port_source], validate=False, deep=False),
+        )
 
     @cached_property
     def _source_time(self):
@@ -983,6 +997,8 @@ def _extrude_port_structures(self, sim: Simulation) -> Simulation:
             sim = sim.updated_copy(
                 grid_spec=GridSpec.from_grid(sim.grid),
                 structures=[*sim.structures, *all_new_structures],
+                validate=False,
+                deep=False,
             )
 
         return sim