# Portable VR Welding Simulator
## 2 VR Welding Simulators
In many VR welding simulators, there is a component that looks like an imitation of a welding machine or resembles it; however, the setting-up operations are usually carried out on a dedicated screen in the simulator software tool. A component directly related to weld creation is a welding torch (one or more, depending on the simulator), which is usuallya replica. In many solutions, a trainee wears VR goggles through which they can see the working environment and the welding process being carried out (its simulation), as well as additional information regarding the correctness of the operation. This content may also be displayed on a screen, either in addition to viewing it through VR goggles or instead. VR goggles may be a built-in element of a welding helmet. They can also be wireless or connected to a computer with a cable. Welding coupons are another physical component of VR welding simulators. Usually, in VR welding simulators, there is a stand on which to place the welding coupons (on a flat surface or in other positions). Three-dimensional printing is among the methods used for the manufacturing of simulator's welding torches and welding coupons [44; 45]. In the simulator software tool, the main functions are as follows:  
* Selection of a welding task to be carried out. * Showing--in real-time mode--the VR environment in which the welding task is being performed; in the VR scene, a simulation of the weld creation is shown along with immediate feedback on how efficiently the trainee met the required welding parameters and a summing-up report on the trainee's performance in the task. There might also be an option to select a virtual environment in which the task is carried out, e.g., a construction area, a welding workshop, etc. In the simulator software tool, there might also be functionalities that expand the simulator into a database training system in which the data regarding trainers, trainees, carried-out tasks, scores obtained, and other factors are collected. Additionally, training materials can be shared through this system. Developers of VR welding simulators tend to also offer their solutions in portable versions, i.e., simulators that are easy to transport. To present the possible configurations of VR welding simulators, three examples of real simulators are described below in a concise way, taking into account their main components and functionality. A GuideWELD(r) VR welding simulator [6; 10; 46] (provided by Realityworks, Inc., Eau Claire, WI, USA) can be used for learning to create welds with MIG and SMAW methods. It consists of the following components: a computer on which the simulator software tool is run and a workstation on which welding coupons are placed and to which a welding torch is connected with a wire. The trainee does not wear VR goggles. Observation of the VR environment is made on the computer monitor. The computer (the unit and the monitor) is organized by the user, meeting the requirements defined by the simulator developer. Before starting a welding task, the users can select between three levels of task difficulty and switch between left-hand mode and right-hand mode. The simulator software tool includes functionalities of a database learning system. Three types of joints are covered by the welding tasks: butt, tee, and lap. The searched resources do not indicate whether (1) the welding coupons can be located in a different way than flat on the workstation or whether (2) a working environment to be displayed in the VR scene can be selected. A VRTEX(r) 360(r) Single User Virtual Reality Welding Training Simulator [11; 47] (provided by Lincoln Electric, Cleveland, OH, USA) can be used for learning MIG, SMAW, and TIG welding methods. Both the creation of a weld and the setting-up of a weld machine are included. Its components include VR goggles, a touchscreen monitor, welding torches, a computer unit that looks like a replica of a welding machine, welding coupons, and a stand to mount them on. Both the VR goggles and the welding torches are connected to the computer unit.