Importing and analyzing external data using a virtual reality welding system

A method comprising:

• importing a first data set of measured welding parameters, generated during a real-world welding activity corresponding to a defined welding process performed by an expert welder using a real-world welding machine, into a virtual reality welding system having a mock welding tool and a mock welding coupon;
• storing a second data set of simulated welding parameters, generated during a simulated welding activity corresponding to the defined welding process as performed by a student welder using the virtual reality welding system, on the virtual reality welding system;
• calculating a plurality of expert welding quality parameters based on the first data set using a programmable processor-based subsystem of the virtual reality welding system;
• and
• calculating a plurality of student welding quality parameters based on the second data set using the programmable processor-based subsystem of the virtual reality welding system.

A method comprising:

• storing a first data set of simulated welding parameters, generated during a first simulated welding activity corresponding to a defined welding process performed by an expert welder using a virtual reality welding system, on the virtual reality welding system that includes a mock welding tool and a mock welding coupon;
• storing a second data set of simulated welding parameters, generated during a second simulated welding activity corresponding to the defined welding process as performed by a student welder using the virtual reality welding system, on the virtual reality welding system;
• calculating a plurality of expert welding quality parameters based on the first data set using a programmable processor-based subsystem of the virtual reality welding system;
• and
• calculating a plurality of student welding quality parameters based on the second data set using the programmable processor-based subsystem of the virtual reality welding system.

A method comprising:

• importing a digital model representative of a welded custom assembly into a virtual reality welding system having a mock welding tool and a mock welding coupon;
• analyzing the digital model to segment the digital model into a plurality of sections using a programmable processor-based subsystem of the virtual reality welding system, wherein each section of the plurality of sections corresponds to a single weld joint type of the welded custom assembly;
• and
• matching each section of the plurality of sections to a virtual welding coupon of a plurality of virtual welding coupons modeled in the virtual reality welding system using the programmable processor-based subsystem of the virtual reality welding system.