Hi Rothstein!
First of all "Weldcome" to the forum!!! ;)
There is a system already being used by General Dynamics Electric Boat Division as is the US army @ the Aberdeen Proving Grounds...
Here's some links:
http://www.sgi.com/company_info/newsroom/press_releases/2005/april/vrsim.htmlhttp://www.simwelder.com/index.htmlhttp://www.sgi.com/pdfs/3714.pdfhttp://www.simwelder.com/docs/summaryreport.pdfhttp://www.onr.navy.mil/media/extra/fact_sheets/0705_virtual_reality_welder_training.pdfhttp://www.eweek.com/slideshow_viewer/0,1205,l=&s=25932&a=208357&po=5,00.asphttp://nnapprentice.com/sname/letter/Virtual%20Reality%20Welder%20Training.pdfhttp://www.virtualworldlets.net/Shop/ProductsDisplay/VRInterface.php?ID=16http://www.alaska.edu/swacad/wp/docs/NewTechnology.pdfhttp://www.cvtc.edu/Apps/News/news.asp?Article=222&y=2006Here's a community college that's using the VRSim system as part of their overall training... In other words fbreiden, using the system as part of an arsenal of tools to use in training students how to weld better... Embrace technology is what I say as long as it is helpful towards achieving the ultimate goal/objective:
http://www.tncc.edu/wtce/welding_flier_12-06.pdfI like these folks:
http://www.jcvr.org/index.phphttp://www.jcvr.org/products/products_immersive_simulation.phpHere's the French system:
http://wave.c-s.fr/http://istresults.cordis.lu/index.cfm/section/news/tpl/article/BrowsingType/Features/ID/69636This one is from the Temple University website referring to the CS Wave system... Did'nt you go to Temple fbreiden?:
http://www.temple.edu/ispr/examples/ex04_08_27.htmlhttp://trolltech.com/customers/casestories/stories/cs-wavehttp://dsd.sztaki.hu/conferences/eutistami/eloadasok/wave_2004_02_09.pdfHere's a Canadian system that seems like something most schools could adapt to more easily at least from an economic standpoint, and is the only one I noticed that offers GTAW in the 1F position with the ARC+ welding simulator system:
http://www.123arc.com/en/https://www.123arc.com/en/ARC.htmhttp://www.123certification.com/depliant/tous/ENG_depliant.pdfhttps://www.123arc.com/en/eduwelding.htmhttp://www.123arc.com/en/eduwelding_plus.htmHere some more interesting articles:
http://www.dm-dh.com/FichiersPdf/2002_Mellet-dHuart@SanSebastian_ITS.pdfhttp://www.dm-dh.com/FichiersPdf/2001_Mellet-dHuart@Vienna_NTCS.pdfhttp://www.deed.state.mn.us/news/release/2004/wd02Sep04.htmhttp://www.isense.com/markets.aspx?id=147&http://www.isense.com/news.aspx?id=177&http://www.actapress.com/PaperInfo.aspx?PaperID=27985I do'nt know about anyone else but, if I were an educational facility that is seeking to reduce consumables and operational costs so that the bottom line for the institution improves, or the purchase of these systems will in the long term improve overall operational costs so that an institution can remain in the black so to speak, or justify it's own self sufficiency, then this is the future and it is now!!! Of course, the addition of solar power and wind turbine generation will also cut costs, but the combination of the three cost cutting systems will dramatically improve one's bottom line and justify continuing a facility that's being considered for closing to the powers that be... Especially if grant money can be secured to implement these systems into the educational sysytem - IMHO... ;)
There's a ton of info on google so have fun discovering more!!! Hope this helps ;)
Respectfully,
Henry