Virtual reality welder training

Abstract

This document describes the Virtual Reality Simulated MIG Lab (sMIG), a system for Virtual Reality welder training. It is designed to reproduce the experience of metal inert gas (MIG) welding faithfully enough to be used as a teaching tool for beginning welding students. To make the experience as realistic as possible it employs physically accurate and tracked input devices, a real-time welding simulation, real-time sound generation and a 3D display for output. Thanks to being a fully digital system it can go beyond providing just a realistic welding experience by giving interactive and immediate feedback to the student to avoid learning wrong movements from day 1.

Integrating virtual reality technology into beginning welder training sequences

“…More specifically, VR welding training simulations have seen great benefits to training beginning welders (Byrd, et al, 2018). Users are immersed into a virtual welding environment through use of oculus headsets, real time audio generation, and threedimensional displays of the weld pool, metal workpiece, and weld gun (White, at al., 2010). While offering exposure to advanced technology and unique training methods, VR technology also yields several added benefits, four of which will be considered in this paper.…”

Virtual reality in welding training and education: A literature review

“…As countless economies and industries rely on welders to manufacture and fabricate products, welding industry leaders (e.g., Career and Technical Education [CTE] program directors, School-Based Agricultural Education [SBAE] instructors, and welding instructors) will need to train highly proficient welders at an expedited rate to address the projected workforce deficit (American Welding Society, 2022) In training highly proficient workers quickly, an obstacle that welding industry leaders and trainers will need to overcome is the inherently difficult nature of traditional welding training which first provides welding knowledge through lessons, typically in classroom settings, then introduces hands-on learning (Lincoln Electric, 2022). In the initial lessons, trainees learn about welding machines and equipment, proper personal protective equipment (PPE), safety protocols, welding processes and respective consumables, metallurgy concepts, welding techniques, and welding parameters (Lincoln Whitney & Traditional welding training has many challenges, particularly those related to economic, complexity, and intensive mentorship issues (White et al, 2010). Economic drawbacks are related to costly training.…”

Identifying the effects of human factors and training methods on a weld training program

“…Welding has continued to grow in importance since the Industrial Revolution (White, Reiners, Prachyabrued, Borst, & Chambers, 2010). "Thanks to a global boom in industrial manufacturing, skilled welders are in greater demand than ever" (Brat, 2006, p. 1).…”

“…"Thanks to a global boom in industrial manufacturing, skilled welders are in greater demand than ever" (Brat, 2006, p. 1). Today's construction practices demands high quality workers with the ability to join metals when creating most structures; this demand has made welding a highly sought after trade (White et al, 2010). According to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics (2013), the number of jobs for welders is expected to increase 15% between 2010 and 2020, which is more than the average for all other occupations reported.…”