Ever heard of simulated welding? Thanks to some new equipment, it’s now possible at Northview Next Career Center, where students can step into the simulation to learn how to weld. Sophomore Genevieve Sutherby tested it out and wrote the following about the experience.
In the book “Ready Player One” by Ernest Cline, popular in most classroom libraries, the characters live a dystopian life. They wear certain clothing and use specific equipment to operate in their virtual world. The perspective they see through the virtual screen isn’t how the world is in reality. In this virtual world, they work to complete games and missions. While the characters feel like they are working in reality, it’s all just a simulation.
Recently, the manufacturing lab at Northview Next Career Center received some virtual reality welding equipment from our longtime partner, Amway. Now our students can explore a career in welding right here on our campus.
Although the welding simulation is used for educational purposes, it gives users the same feel as a video game. This concept drastically engages students because it presents welding in such a fun way.
I decided to step into the simulation and give it a try.
To start my experience with testing out the welding equipment I put on a large headset specialized for welding. A rectangular shaped window on the mask allowed me to see out of it. The physical welding wand I held is very similar to the physical controllers used for gaming in virtual reality. They both have triggers to have more control in the simulation.
As I looked out of the little window in the mask and down at a small metal slate attached to this equipment, a virtual line appeared on the screen. I had to make sure that my body was physically close enough to the slate and that the welding gun was as well. When I got closer, a green circle appeared inside my field of vision to show where I had to cast the line and to let me know that everything was now positioned correctly. That confirmation led me to pull the trigger of the welding gun to simulate an accurate welded line.
After I was done, my score appeared on the screen. On my first try I didn’t score well, considering I didn’t have any practice. But once I knew how to do it, I was motivated to get a better score. I learned to position the welding gun closer and in a more efficient spot. This improved my score: up 79%. Only from a little bit of practice, I learned how to operate welding machinery!
The virtual equipment is such a great way to explore a future career in welding. Northview Next Career Center student Owen Dewald plans to pursue a career in welding. He is currently enrolled at Grand Rapids Community College in the MTECFriday welding program. In the hands-on training at MTEC he has experienced authentic welding on actual equipment. Having used both, Owen said the virtual welding simulator here “gives kids the feeling of what it would be like to really weld. It’s the closest thing you’re going to get without actually welding.”
The new simulator can also inspire students who never even thought about entering the profession. Students like Luke are not interested in welding for a career, but as a self-proclaimed “car guy” he says the simulator “would be helpful for a new life skill, especially in mechanics.” And frankly, even though I don’t plan on going into this field of work myself, I’m still glad that I used the welding simulator and got a new experience out of it.
The technology we received from Amway improved not only our ways of learning, but will provide career exploration and practical hands-on experience for NNCC students for years to come.
Quelle:
Foto: Parker was the first NNCC student to earn certification from Miller Welding (courtesy)
