Importing and analyzing external data using a virtual reality welding system

摘要

A real-time virtual reality welding system including a programmable processor-based subsystem, a spatial tracker operatively connected to the programmable processor-based subsystem, at least one mock welding tool capable of being spatially tracked by the spatial tracker, and at least one display device operatively connected to the programmable processor-based subsystem. The system is capable of simulating, in virtual reality space, a weld puddle having real-time molten metal fluidity and heat dissipation characteristics. The system is further capable of importing data into the virtual reality welding system and analyzing the data to characterize a student welder's progress and to provide training.

主权项

1. A system for simulating welding activity; said system comprising:
a welding tool for a simulated welding operation; an optical tracker which tracks a movement and orientation of said welding tool using at least one optical sensor; a welding coupon; a helmet comprising a first display device to display a simulated welding operation to a user; a simulated welding console having a user input system and a second display device to display said simulated welding operation; and a processor based subsystem located within said simulated welding console which is operatively coupled to said optical tracker and receives information from said optical tracker related to said movement and orientation of said welding tool; wherein during said simulated welding operation, said processor based subsystem models a simulated welding surface for said welding coupon and displays said simulated welding surface on each of said first and second display devices; wherein during said simulated welding operation, said processor based subsystem creates a simulated welding arc between an emitting end of said welding tool and said simulated welding surface and simulates the creation of a weld puddle have real-time molten metal fluidity and real-time heat dissipation characteristics during said simulated welding operation; wherein said simulated weld puddle has a plurality of welding elements, where each of said welding elements has a first value representative of displacement and a second value representative of heat, where each of said first and second values change dynamically during said simulated welding operation to display on each of said first and second display devices the simulated deposition of material into said simulated weld puddle, and where said dynamic changes are based on said movement and orientation of said welding tool; and wherein said processor based subsystem displays a simulated completed weld bead on said first and second display devices which is based on said movement and orientation of said welding tool, and based on a cooling threshold value for a transition of said welding elements from a molten state to a solid state.