High efficiency skill training of lathe boring operations by a virtual reality environment

In order to fabricate a machine part manually using a machine tool, special skills for its safe operation are necessary. Virtual reality (VR) technology is well known to provide novice operators with a safe and cost-effective performance training environment. Although an ordinary VR training environment simulates the actual environment as accurately as possible, more effective training environments can be built by taking advantage of the property that virtual reality can simulate even unrealistic situations. This paper deals with a high efficiency training of the boring skill using a manual lathe and a slender cutting tool where novice operators easily break the cutting tool because of its low stiffness. The research hypothesis is that if a stiff cutting tool is given in the beginning of the training and its stiffness is lowered gradually, novice operators will master the skill easily. The hypothesis was verified through trial tasks with novice operators. In conclusion, the proposed training method can reduce the amount of trial tasks and the fatigue of the operators.