Virtual reality GTAW and pipe welding simulator and setup

A system for facilitating virtual welding activity, comprising:

• a mock welding coupon represented in virtual reality space by a virtual welding coupon;
• a mock welding tool represented in virtual reality space by a virtual welding tool;
• a logic processor based subsystem operable to execute coded instructions for generating an interactive welding environment in virtual reality space that emulates welding activity on the virtual welding coupon by the virtual welding tool, wherein the interactive welding environment simulates a virtual weld puddle on the virtual welding coupon, having dynamic real time molten metal fluidity and heat dissipation characteristics, responsive to performing the virtual welding activity in real time;
• a spatial tracking subsystem operatively connected to the logic processor based subsystem;
• and
• one or more first sensors configured to facilitate tracking movement of at least a tip of the mock welding tool in real time by communicating data about a temporally changing position of the mock welding tool to the spatial tracking subsystem,
• wherein the logic processor based subsystem is configured to accept tracking information from the spatial tracking subsystem and determine when the tip of the virtual welding tool, corresponding to the tip of the mock welding tool, intersects a surface of the virtual weld puddle in virtual reality space during the virtual welding activity, and wherein the logic processor based subsystem is further configured to generate an indication, to be provided to a user, that the virtual welding tool has become contaminated due to the intersecting.