Animator4 is a postprocessor for a wide range of FEM-Applications.
The program is based on more than a decade of experience in project work for the automotive industry and its predecessor Animator3. Starting in the early 90s earlier versions of the program had been exclusively developed for the automobile manufacturers VOLKSWAGEN and AUDI.

Animator3 gained respect within a wide range of engineering companies. While some users still appreciate the minimalistic and mainly command line driven interface of Animator3, most users prefer a more capable and customizable user interface. Animator4 augments its predecessor's qualities with a modern graphical user interface, based on Qt©. At the same time it keeps the highly optimized OpenGL code from Animator3. Thus Animator4 has been well received and continues the success story of Animator3.

• Animator4 is the perfect animation tool for handling extremely large finite element models.

• Animator4 makes efficient use of system resources.

• Animator4 offers constantly extended functionality to easily and carefully verify and validate the results of even the most complex calculations.

• Curves of nodal and element time history data can be plotted while running the animation simply by picking them with the mouse.

• A curve calculator allows enhanced analysis of time history curves: from simple math via analysis to complex safety analysis functions for calculating HIC curves or neck injury criteria.

• Models can be animated using a variety of different rendering modes. The excellent animated graphics allow the efficient presentation of simulation results to designers or product managers.

• Cross section views can be animated, and cross sections of the undeformed geometry can be compared to any deformed state.

• Different stereoscopic 3D options are available, allowing the use of all the above features with stereoscopic 3D animation.

• Animator4 is a high performance and resource efficient FEA postprocessor for animating and analyzing extremely large finite element models.

• Animator4 can be controlled using the command language inherited from Animator3. So it is still possible to script large portions of recurring tasks. Animator4 additionally offers a TCL scripting interface allowing for even more automation.

• The reading and displaying of solver results is excellent. After initially loading the sequences, it is not necessary to reload anything.

• One of the most requested features is the overlaying of crash-test videos with simulated models. Animator4 can even calculate missing camera parameters using reference points selected by the user.

• The reading of more than 10 different formats is supported. This includes LS-Dyna, Pamcrash, Radioss, Nastran, Abaqus, Madymo and even preprocessor formats like Medina bif/bof or Pamcrash pc/inc.

• Animator offers a database format for saving and sharing results. These databases can be examined with the freely available Animator Viewer. GNS mbH offers a free ActiveX control for embedding a viewer in a Powerpoint Presentation.

• You can show animated cutting planes and clipped views, and you can toggle back to a complete model.

• Much thought has been spent on designing an interface that satisfies both the hands-on-keyboard user and those more visually oriented. It is possible to strip down Animator to a minimalistic Animator3-style interface or to spread docks and windows to wherever they are needed.

• The redesign of the interface is based on Qt. This allows for a common look and feel on all supported platforms.

• It is possible to assign scripts to keyboard shortcuts or user defined buttons.

• Curves can easily be extracted for nodes and elements. The import of plot files or time history files is supported for many formats. Curves can be exported as well.

• Animator4 includes the powerful Evaluator calculator. From basic math via filters and standard analysis functions and filters (SAE, CFC) to complex safety analysis algorithms (HIC, VCC, etc.), there is little left to be desired.

• Did we mention, Animator4 is really fast?

• You can get a printable brochure in pdf format listing all the features HERE