ATHENA 2023ATHENA is the leading AutoCAD based design software for curtain wall design and facade engineering on the market – and not without reason. Our software has been subject to consistent on-going development since 1989 and is used in metal construction companies, design offices and universities – in 12 languages and in more than 70 countries.
ATHENA 2022 matched exactly to our users’ requirements, ATHENA is a complete CAD software package, offering practically everything to simplify the daily design tasks which confront the designer:
2D design: a 2D drawing environment with practical routines and libraries for producing elevations, cross-sections and workshop drawings.
3D design: a versatile 3D design section with the possibility of generating parts lists and production drawings automatically from a 3D design.
Engeneering: powerful computational tools for structural analysis and building physics.
Sheet editing: a sheet editing program for sheet design and development.
In addition, ATHENA is independent of profile systems and can be matched to individual needs. Ideal for international design: ATHENA labels all the customer objects fully automatically and is able to translate a drawing into each of the 10 languages currently contained in ATHENA on the press of a key.
Interfaces
ATHENA is fully BIM-enabled via the IFC interface. Using the interface it is possible to transfer ATHENA 3D facade models to so-called BIM programs, such as for example, Autodesk Revit, and, say, to carry out collision checks with other project subsections. Also, objects can be transferred from Revit to ATHENA and then be fitted with profiles, infills, sheets, etc. These can then be returned afterwards.
Interfaces to the programs LogiKal (Orgadata) and ERPlus (T.A. Project) are also available.
Functional Group 1: 2D design
2D drawing functions are tuned for the rapid production of section and elevation drawings, plan views and production drawings. Numerous little helpers particularly promote productivity.
For example, routines for semi-finished products, membranes, thermal insulation, welded seams or panels or the very extensive standard parts library which, apart from the illustration and labeling of the parts, also provides information on approvals and installation hints. Or the tools for the management of materials, layers and blocks. Particularly, advantageous – all ATHENA objects are intelligent ARX objects and can be labeled and edited with a double click!
The powerful 2D tools of ATHENA increase productivity, save work time and costs plus also help the designer to concentrate on the essential aspects of his work.
Functional Group 2: 3D design
The 3D design is used for the free planning of complicated geometries, such as, sloping polygon façades, pyramids, glazed roofs and bays. To achieve this, profiles or profile groups are placed over the axes of a wire model. Cut parts can be automatically computed and the components (e.g. profiles) are output with the cut parts in a parts list or in a workshop drawing.
Dedicated master data can be created, containing the profile geometries, material properties, design rules or requirements from production. Based on this master data, as well as spatial elements you can design flat elements, such as windows and doors.
The 3D design takes into account profile groups, cut parts, processes, sheet metal, glazing and also hardware. It can be displayed as a 3D view, 2D view and through any sections. The extracts can be output as parts lists or as production drawings. Optionally, an NC-X generator is available with which the NC data for profile-processing centers can be generated.
Functional Group 3: Sheet editing
ATHENA now contains a complete sheet editing program for the quicker design of sheets with the associated developments. Increased productivity during sheet design comprises of clearly laid-out dialog boxes for the input of basic sheet data and processes, a 3D viewer for continuous visual checks and versatile options for the import and export of drawing data.
Functional Group 4: Engineering
Always on the safe side. ATHENA’s computational functions for structural analysis and building physics are well-developed tools for the exact determination of, for example, centers of gravity and moments, thermal resistances or sound insulation dimensions. You can conveniently compute the required moments of inertia or maximum deflections. You can also carry out thermal bridge analyses (isothermal calculations). In this way thermal bridges can be eliminated during the design stage.
To work more efficiently – that was the main focus during the development of ATHENA. The 2D area benefits from improved intelligence and new features for more comfortable and faster drawing. 3D design is much easier with the new bar assembly editor. The export functions have been further improved, especially with SAT, BIM and ERP formats. The icons have been optimized for use on the dark background, making them more appealing to the eye, and, as always, many of our customers’ wishes have been incorporated into the further development of ATHENA.
Simplified version of the bar assembly manager
For particularly intuitive and fast working with bar assemblies, a new bar assembly editor has been created – a streamlined version of the former bar assembly manager. Simplification to only the most important functions and an optimized dialog box allow for easy and intuitive assembly of bar assemblies.
For example, dimensions for moving and rotation angles can now be taken from the drawing, with full access to auxiliary functions such as OFNAP and track tracing.
The familiar bar assembly manager is supplemented by the editor and is still available for more complex bar assemblies.
Project browser – additional functionality
The project browser has been updated with some time-saving additional functions:
- Within the project browser, AutoCAD solids can be assigned various properties, such as designation, material or part number. In this way, components designed with AutoCAD on-board tools can be evaluated and used as counted parts in parts lists or for an ERPlus material request.
- The “Change Objects” command can now be started from the project browser and is no longer limited to direct invocation of the command or double-clicking on an object within the drawing. The objects are clearly listed and can be scrolled through and adjusted if necessary, eliminating the need to search for objects in the drawing.
- Connected components can be output together (structured). This results in a structured parts list, e.g. for a “T-connector” assembly with its associated bar assembly “latch”, or for the profiles of a glazing, e.g. insulator, seals, clamping profile and cover shell.
“Leader” dialog box revised
The dialog box for the “Leader” command has been revised with a focus on convenience and speed. Within the dialog box, a mini-editor enables multi-line editing of the leader texts and text additions at any position. AutoCAD title blocks can now also be inserted into the leader texts, e.g. the total length of a polyline or the area of a closed polyline.
Change membranes to delivery length
If a membrane inserted during drawing is initially of any length, it can now be subsequently changed to a delivery length. To do this, simply enter a length and specify the end of the membrane to be lengthened or shortened.
New grips for many ATHENA objects
The ATHENA sheet metal, membrane and insulation objects are now equipped with the comfortable grips that were previously reserved for polylines. Therefore, objects can be edited faster and easier, and outline changes can be made even more easily via mouseover: add/remove vertex, stretch, convert into arc.
Extended ERP export
Previously, only 3D bars and infills could be exported for ERP programs, but this is now possible with all ATHENA objects. The objects are conveniently collected in the project browser and then transferred to E-R-Plus e.g. for a material requisition.
Sheet processing
ATHENA sheet processing has been revised:
- Edges can be set laterally on existing edges and the joints to adjacent surfaces of other edges are set automatically.
- SAT output has been revised (important for machine output).
Sheet metal section as 2D+ object
The family of 2D+ objects has grown with the sheet metal section. Processing operations can now also be assigned to sheet metal sections and then evaluated. Furthermore, they can now also be projected using the “Projection Object” command.
Projections of sheet metal sections
A new feature is the creation of intelligent projections of sheet metal sections. Similar to the previous projection options for standard parts or semi-finished products, the sheet metal section projections can be assigned to processing operations and can be stretched or cut. It is now also possible to manage sheet metal sections in libraries.
Bar projection
The representation of the projection of machined bars has been enhanced. For example, if a bar is cut, the newly created outline is automatically displayed in the other projected views.
Bar projections with extrusions
Just like processing operations, ATHENA extrusions can now also be applied to bar projections.
Break bar
The new function “Break bar” has been added for splitting bars. By specifying points and optionally a gap dimension, breaks can be applied to bars and connecting assemblies can be placed at the joints.
Sealing tape
The sealing tape has been added as a new sealing method.
Increased speed through simplified outlines
To increase 3D performance, an automatically generated simplified outline can be activated for sheets, semi-finished products and standard profiles. Outlines with curves are very CPU intensive and can cause speed problems when navigating in shaded modes. The new feature displays curves as corners and provides a smoother work flow thanks to the resulting increase in speed.
Extract from assembly group
With this new command, two-dimensional component drawings of assemblies can be generated fully automatically, including labeling and complete dimensioning. The command works in the same way as the well-known commands “Bar diagram” and “Infill diagram”.
Infill overview
Several infills can be saved as 2D drawings in an overview as separate DWG.
The 2D drawing functions are tuned for the rapid production of section and elevation drawings, plan views and production drawings. Features particularly promoting productivity are the numerous small aids, such as for example, routines for semi-finished items, membranes, thermal insulation, panels or welded seams and the comprehensive standard parts library with 82,000 parts or the tools for managing materials, layers and blocks. A special advantage is that all ATHENA objects are intelligent ARX objects and can be edited with a double click!
The powerful 2D tools of ATHENA increase productivity, save working time and costs and also help the designer to concentrate on the essential aspects of his work.
Sectional drawing
Refined routines simplify the insertion of standard parts, sheet metal sections, sealing material or thermal insulation. Infills such as glazing or panels can be conveniently inserted. The parts labeling is adapted when making changes.
Screwed joint
Program for generating screwed joints. Using this routine, screwed joints consisting of a number of ATHENA parts (screw, washer, nut, hole), can be generated and also edited. Frequently required screwed joints can be saved in libraries for rapid recall.
Profiled sheet
The profiled sheet generator facilitates the fast insertion of trapezoidal or corrugated sheets from various manufacturers. The sheet parameters are defined in a dialog box.
View
ATHENA offers a number of commands for creating views. Facade and element views can be easily created and modified later.
3D design is used for the free planning of complicated geometries, such as, sloping polygon facades, pyramids, glazed roofs and bays. To achieve this, profiles or profile groups are placed over the axes of a wire model. Cut parts can be automatically computed and the components (e.g., profiles) are output with the cut parts in a parts list or in a drawing. Dedicated master data can be created, containing the profile geometries, material properties, design rules and requirements from production. Based on this master data as well as spatial elements you can design flat elements, such as windows and doors. The 3D design takes into account profile groups, cut parts, processes, sheet metal, glazing and also hardware. It can be displayed as a 3D view, 2D view and through any sections. The extracts can be output as parts lists or as production drawings. An interface to PPC/ERP is available.
Create and edit Assembly
The Bar Assemblies Manager facilitates the grouping of a number of profiles to form an assembly, e.g., a transom with sealing strips, insulator and cover section. Within an assembly, the components can be modified or reassigned. Also, the components can be rotated and mirrored, and the insertion points can be displaced.
Infills
You can create infills, e.g., panels that can make up several layers. The infills are assigned to boundary objects, for instance mullions and transoms. When an infill is assigned, the insets are quickly and easily defined. The inset can be different for each edge, and also different for each layer. In this way, notched glazing can be created.
Bar diagram
After the automatic profile joints (cuttings) routine has been run, bar diagrams can be produced. A 2D bar diagram of the profile with lengths, angles and part numbers is automatically created.
A constituent part of ATHENA is the complete sheet editing program for the quicker design of sheets with the associated developments. Basic data, such as for example, sheet thickness and bending radius, form the basis of the sheet to be designed. The basic shape is applied to the sheet via a dialog box or from a free ATHENA sheet contour.
Then, the various edges are set and copied in the easiest way to adjacent or opposite sides. Many different types of joint are available for the folds. Folds appended to a primary surface can be cropped and beveled with an angle.
Visual checks of the sheet shape via the dynamic 3D viewer ensure error-free working.
Holes or punch-outs can be set in the sheet body at any time. There are basic shapes such as circles, rectangles or free contours available for this purpose. Customized contours can be generated and saved in a library for reuse. The editing processes can be set absolute or associative and rows of punch outs are also possible.
The description of the joint formation, which is important for the development, is easily entered in a dialog box, e.g., the gap dimension and nature of the corners of the fold. The computation of the development occurs according to the factor tables normally used in metal construction and can be saved as required.
The produced sheet can be inserted into ATHENA as a development or 3D model. The development can also be saved as a DXF file or transferred to MS Excel.
Apart from normal sheets, composite panels can be processed, e.g., Alucobond and Reynobond. Various types of joint are also available.
Always on the safe side. ATHENA’s computational functions for structural analysis and building physics are well-developed tools for the exact determination of, for example, centers of gravity and moments, thermal resistances or sound insulation dimensions. You can conveniently compute the required moments of inertia or maximum deflections.
The Revit app “Family/DWG Exporter Importer” was developed to facilitate an easier and faster BIM data interchange between ATHENA and Revit. This plugin is used when, for example, in the Revit architect’s plan, the window/façade elements are already available as “dummies” (rectangular frames). They are then transferred to ATHENA in a type-oriented manner, where they are converted to “real” smart façade elements and then transferred back to Revit according to their type. Here, types are exchanged for the same type. The “transformed” elements are evaluated in ATHENA.
“ATHENA Exchange for Revit” is available in the Autodesk App Store