Recipient Organization
TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY
601 UNIVERSITY DRIVE
SAN MARCOS,TX 78666
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
This project improves the welding equipment through the purchase of eight Lincoln Electric C300 Multiprocess welders. The C300 allows our students to learn how to complete the following welding processes: Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW), Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW), Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) and Flux core welding from one machine. The C300 would replace outdated equipment and offer four different processes in one station. Additionally, this project would include the purchase of two Torchmate 4400 plasma cutting tables. The TXST DAS currently does not have an operational CNC plasma cutting table in the welding laboratory. The Torchmate 4400 allows students to learn how to use Computer Aided Design (CAD) software to design items to be cut using a CNC plasma cutting table. The purchase of these machines would also include the educational software packages for Computer Aided Design (CAD) and Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM). Students will use CAD/CAM software, which is widely utilized in industry to design and draw parts. They will gain experience in creating parts in a CAD environment, entering specifications, setting tolerances, and checking tool paths. The purpose of this proposal is to update the welding laboratory at the TXST DAS for the agricultural education students and the newly transitioned agricultural mechanics students. The purpose will be fulfilled by the following objectives: 1) Provide welding training using processes that meet industry standards, 2) Prepare students to use product design and rapid production fabrication, and 3) Purchase equipment needed to conduct virtual reality sequencing research.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
(N/A)
Goals / Objectives
The agricultural mechanics course taught by the DAS at TXST utilize a teaching strategy called Team Based Learning in their courses. Students are placed into teams for the duration of the semester based off a pre-determined questionnaire. During one lecture period, students are assessed as an individual and as a team to ensure they have completed the necessary requirements outside of class. During the other lecture period, students participate in team-based activities. The Torchmate 4400 plasma table is a great tool for these team-based activities. Curriculum will be developed around the measurement, design, and fabrication of projects using the plasma table. Students would be able to be engaged in experiential learning opportunities that would meet industry standards.Furthermore, the TXST DAS has recently purchased a virtual reality welder (VRTEX 360) and virtual-assisted welder (REALWELD) that are to be used in the agricultural mechanics courses. Stone, Watts, Zhong, and Wei (2011) evaluated the integration of virtual reality (VR) training methods into a welding program to determine the transferability of skills from VR simulations to physical applications. They reported that those who trained with a VR-integrated program had superior training outcomes than those who trained using traditional learning approaches (Stone et al., 2011), which suggests that VR technology could be a practical method to address workforce needs. This use of technology is in line with Wells (2019), who recently recommended agricultural education practitioners continue to examine educational technology-based practices that can assist in the acquisition of welding-related psychomotor skills.The VRTEX 360 allows individuals to practice welding techniques in a safe VR environment. The VRTEX 360 is equipped with tools, settings, materials, and sounds associated with the welding process. Furthermore, this machine provides visual cues that coach individuals through the VR welding process. There is no physical welding associated with use of the VRTEX 360 and this equipment is housed in environmentally controlled locations.The REALWELD virtual-assisted guidance system is a unit that provides individuals an opportunity to practice both virtual and real welding techniques in a controlled environment with the aid of an audio coach for guidance. Unlike the VRTEX 360, there are no visual cues nor do users see a virtual environment; rather, users see their physical location and receive real-time audio feedback to correct their welding techniques. The REALWELD allows individuals to practice virtual welding techniques in a safe VR environment when the machine is in the "Arc off mode" and allows individuals to complete live welds with virtual assistance (audio coaching) in the "Arc on mode".A combination of the VRTEX 360, REALWELD, and C-300 welding machines would be used to study the importance and effective of VR sequencing in welding training. This research could improve how welding instruction is taught around the world. The purpose of this proposal is to update the welding laboratory at the TXST DAS for the agricultural education students and the newly transitioned agricultural mechanics students. The purpose will be fulfilled by the following objectives:Provide welding training using processes that meet industry standardsPrepare students to use product design and rapid production fabricationPurchase equipment needed to conduct virtual reality sequencing research
Project Methods
METHODSStockholders needs will be identified via a volunteer advisory committee assembled for this project. The advisory committee will include the following: Teacher-Educator (1), High School Agricultural Educators (3) and Industry Experts (3). The advisory committee will assist in problem identification, planning, implementation, and evaluation.The activities of the project will bePurchase equipmentTrain faculty members and install equipmentImplement equipment into coursework throughout semesterEvaluate the effectiveness of new equipment implementation.The equipment will replace the existing out-of-date machines in the welding laboratories. Students will have the opportunity to work with industry standard equipment that they would experience in the real-world setting. Normal course sizes are capped at 15 students, with the purchase of eight new welding machines, students would be able to partner to complete the welding assignments. The two Torchmate 4400 would be used in team-based activities during course time.Expected results of this project include:Improved instruction on welding fundamentals for various welding processes (SMAW, GMAW, GTAW, and Flux core).Increased student knowledge in CAD/CAM software development and fabrication practices using CNC plasma cutting tablesDevelopment of welding VR sequencing curriculumThe advisory committee will assist in the evaluation of extension and educational activities. Students will be asked to report their perceptions of using new state of the art equipment as compared to the old machines. Student success in the acquisition of new skills will evaluate the effectiveness of the new equipment purchased.Data attained by this project will be analyzed according to the most appropriate method for the peer review process. Data may be, however not limited to, student perceptions of new equipment and/or curriculum, welding VR sequencing success rates and student success in demonstrating understating of welding skill.The project seeks to communicate results through the presentation of research posters, research papers and published manuscripts pending data collected. The advisory committee will guide the distribution of information.Pitfalls that might be encountered through this project include the breakdown of the machines. These machines include an expensive motherboard that if crashes, could present challenges to replace. Also, consumable material for welding and CAD instruction could present difficulty attaining.Limitations to this project include the use of only eight total welding machines and two plasma tables. Each laboratory section of the agricultural mechanics course has a maximum of 15 seats. Students would need to partner to complete welding assignments, which could lead to unequal time using the machines. There would also be a need to share the plasma tables during team and laboratory activities.