Weld training simulations using mobile devices, modular workpieces, and simulated welding equipment
Systems for simulating joining operations, such as welding, are disclosed. In some examples, a system may use a mobile device for conducting welding simulations, such as for purposes of training. In some examples, the system may additionally, or alternatively, use modular workpieces. In some examples, the system may additionally, or alternatively, conduct the welding simulation based on one or more selected pieces of welding equipment.
1. A weld training system, comprising:
a mobile electronic device configured to conduct a weld training simulation, the mobile electronic device comprising:
a display screen,
processing circuitry, and
memory circuitry comprising computer readable instructions which, when executed by the processing circuitry, cause the processing circuitry to:
select a piece of welding-type equipment from several pieces of welding-type equipment,
select one or more simulation parameters, and
simulate a welding arc, a weld puddle, a weld bead, a welding sound, or a welding fume via the weld training simulation based on the piece of welding-type equipment that was selected and the one or more simulation parameters that were selected,
the welding arc, the weld puddle, the weld bead, the welding sound, or the welding fume being simulated differently than if a different piece of welding-type equipment had been selected and an identical set of the one or more simulation parameters had been selected.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the memory circuitry comprises computer readable instructions which, when executed by the processing circuitry, cause the processing circuitry to display, on the display screen, a simulated welding-type equipment interface based on the piece of welding-type equipment that was selected, wherein the simulated welding-type equipment interface replicates an appearance of an actual equipment interface of the piece of welding-type equipment.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more simulation parameters comprise one or more of a welding process, a welding current, a welding voltage, a pulse frequency, a gas type, a gas pressure, a wire type, wire diameter, a wire feed speed, a workpiece material type, or a workpiece material thickness, and the piece of welding-type equipment comprises a welding-type power supply, a gas supply, or a wire feeder, or a welding tool.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the memory circuitry comprises computer readable instructions which, when executed by the processing circuitry, cause the processing circuitry to:
select the piece of welding-type equipment based on machine-readable indicia encoding equipment identifying information, the machine-readable indicia comprising graphical indicia encoding equipment identifying information, or
select the piece of welding-type equipment based on an image of the piece of welding-type equipment captured by a camera of the mobile electronic device.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the memory circuitry comprises computer readable instructions which, when executed by the processing circuitry, further cause the processing circuitry to provide a recommendation of a welding consumable or complementary welding-type equipment based on the piece of welding-type equipment that was selected or a simulation parameter of the one or more simulation parameters, the simulation parameter comprising a realism setting of the weld training simulation, a difficulty setting of the weld training simulation, or a simulation goal.
6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the memory circuitry comprises computer readable instructions which, when executed by the processing circuitry, further cause the processing circuitry to display, on the display screen, an option to purchase the piece of welding-type equipment, welding consumable, or complementary welding-type equipment, and the option to purchase comprises a link to a purchase page where the piece of welding-type equipment, welding consumable, or complementary welding-type equipment can be purchased.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the memory circuitry comprises computer readable instructions which, when executed by the processing circuitry, cause the processing circuitry to simulate an intensity of the welding arc, the weld puddle, the weld bead, the welding sound, or the welding fume based on the piece of welding-type equipment and the one or more simulation parameters that were selected, the intensity of the welding arc, the weld puddle, the weld bead, the welding sound, or the welding fume being simulated differently than if the different piece of welding-type equipment had been selected and the identical set of the one or more simulation parameters had been selected.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the memory circuitry comprises computer readable instructions which, when executed by the processing circuitry, further cause the processing circuitry to:
identify one or more available pieces of welding-type equipment that are available for selection, or one or more unavailable pieces of welding-type equipment that are unavailable for selection, based on a simulation exercise assigned to the user, one or more simulation exercises previously completed by the user, one or more scores previously achieved by the user, a dominant hand of the user, a height of the user, a realism setting of the weld training simulation, or a difficulty setting of the weld training simulation, and
prohibit selection of a prohibited piece of welding-type equipment in response to the one or more unavailable pieces of welding-type equipment including the prohibited piece of welding-type equipment, or the one or more available pieces of welding-type equipment not including the prohibited piece of welding-type equipment.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the welding simulation simulates the welding arc, the weld puddle, the weld bead, the welding sound, or the welding fume based on that which would occur in the real world when welding using the piece of welding-type equipment that was selected.
10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the memory circuitry comprises computer readable instructions which, when executed by the processing circuitry, further cause the processing circuitry to:
identify one or more available pieces of welding-type equipment that are available for selection, or one or more unavailable pieces of welding-type equipment that are unavailable for selection, based on what equipment a user currently uses, what equipment the user has previously purchased, or what equipment the user is authorized to use for the welding simulation, and
prohibit selection of a prohibited piece of welding-type equipment in response to the one or more unavailable pieces of welding-type equipment including the prohibited piece of welding-type equipment, or the one or more available pieces of welding-type equipment not including the prohibited piece of welding-type equipment.
11. A mobile electronic device configured to conduct a weld training simulation, the mobile electronic device comprising:
a display screen;
processing circuitry; and
memory circuitry comprising computer readable instructions which, when executed by the processing circuitry, cause the processing circuitry to:
select a piece of welding-type equipment from several pieces of welding-type equipment,
select one or more simulation parameters, and
simulate a welding arc, a weld puddle, a weld bead, a welding sound, or a welding fume via the weld training simulation based on the piece of welding-type equipment that was selected and the one or more simulation parameters that were selected,
the welding arc, the weld puddle, the weld bead, the welding sound, or the welding fume being simulated differently than if a different piece of welding-type equipment had been selected and an identical set of the one or more simulation parameters had been selected.
12. The mobile electronic device of claim 11 , wherein the memory circuitry comprises computer readable instructions which, when executed by the processing circuitry, cause the processing circuitry to display, on the display screen, a simulated welding-type equipment interface based on the piece of welding-type equipment that was selected, wherein the simulated welding-type equipment interface replicates an appearance of an actual equipment interface of the piece of welding-type equipment.
13. The mobile electronic device of claim 11 , wherein the one or more simulation parameters comprise one or more of a welding process, a welding current, a welding voltage, a pulse frequency, a gas type, a gas pressure, a wire type, wire diameter, a wire feed speed, a workpiece material type, or a workpiece material thickness, and the piece of welding-type equipment comprises a welding-type power supply, a gas supply, or a wire feeder, or a welding tool.
14. The mobile electronic device of claim 11 , wherein the memory circuitry comprises computer readable instructions which, when executed by the processing circuitry, cause the processing circuitry to:
select the piece of welding-type equipment based on machine-readable indicia encoding equipment identifying information, the machine-readable indicia comprising graphical indicia, or
select the piece of welding-type equipment based on an image of the piece of welding-type equipment captured by a camera of the mobile electronic device.
15. The mobile electronic device of claim 11 , wherein the memory circuitry comprises computer readable instructions which, when executed by the processing circuitry, further cause the processing circuitry to provide a recommendation of a welding consumable or complementary welding-type equipment based on the piece of welding-type equipment that was selected and a simulation parameter of the one or more simulation parameters, the simulation parameter comprising a realism setting of the weld training simulation, a difficulty setting of the weld training simulation, or a simulation goal.
16. The mobile electronic device of claim 11 , wherein the weld training simulation simulates the welding sound or the welding fume based on the piece of welding-type equipment that was selected.
17. The mobile electronic device of claim 11 , wherein the memory circuitry comprises computer readable instructions which, when executed by the processing circuitry, cause the processing circuitry to simulate an intensity of the welding arc, the weld puddle, the weld bead, the welding sound, or the welding fume based on the piece of welding-type equipment and the one or more simulation parameters that were selected, the intensity of the welding arc, the weld puddle, the weld bead, the welding sound, or the welding fume being simulated differently than if the different piece of welding-type equipment had been selected and the identical set of the one or more simulation parameters had been selected.
18. The mobile electronic device of claim 11 , wherein the memory circuitry comprises computer readable instructions which, when executed by the processing circuitry, further cause the processing circuitry to:
identify one or more available pieces of welding-type equipment that are available for selection, or one or more unavailable pieces of welding-type equipment that are unavailable for selection, based on a simulation exercise assigned to the user, one or more simulation exercises previously completed by the user, one or more scores previously achieved by the user, a dominant hand of the user, a height of the user, a realism setting of the weld training simulation, or a difficulty setting of the weld training simulation, and
prohibit selection of a prohibited piece of welding-type equipment in response to the one or more unavailable pieces of welding-type equipment including the prohibited piece of welding-type equipment, or the one or more available pieces of welding-type equipment not including the prohibited piece of welding-type equipment.
19. The mobile electronic device of claim 11 , wherein the welding simulation simulates the welding arc, the weld puddle, the weld bead, the welding sound, or the welding fume based on that which would occur in the real world when welding using the piece of welding-type equipment that was selected.
20. The mobile electronic device of claim 11 , wherein the memory circuitry comprises computer readable instructions which, when executed by the processing circuitry, further cause the processing circuitry to:
identify one or more available pieces of welding-type equipment that are available for selection, or one or more unavailable pieces of welding-type equipment that are unavailable for selection, based on what equipment a user currently uses, what equipment the user has previously purchased, or what equipment the user is authorized to use for the welding simulation, and
prohibit selection of a prohibited piece of welding-type equipment in response to the one or more unavailable pieces of welding-type equipment including the prohibited piece of welding-type equipment, or the one or more available pieces of welding-type equipment not including the prohibited piece of welding-type equipment.