Virtual Reality Training Program Readies Molders for Real-World Process Setup

Kruse Training Inc. (Naples, Fl.), a developer of interactive online training programs for injection molded parts and tool designers, as well as processing engineers, will introduce an injection molding virtual reality training program at the Plastics Technology Expo 2022 (PTXPO), to be held March 29-31, in Chicago at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center.

Torsten Kruse, president of Kruse Training, said the goal is to create virtual reality classes for injection molding processors, teaching users to become VR Molding Experts and prepare to work on an actual shop floor. Kruse said the VR molding classes are being developed to support, not replace, hands-on process training initiatives.

The new virtual reality program will become a component of Kruse’s Molding Process Development training section. This series lets process engineers work through individual molding set-ups and processing tasks. Kruse’s new Molding Process Development section, scheduled for launch in early February 2022, will train process engineers in how to prepare and set up a molding cell, including making pre-process development preparations and establishing a new molding process. The section, which provides a step-by-step guide that can be adapted to any new molding process development projects, consists of 10 lessons.

The new VR training will teach users how to establish a process from mold open to close, part ejection, and other optional mold functionalities. After preparing the molding machine and peripheral devices, as well as setting up the initial mold and ejector movements, users can create and execute a process development strategy.

Kruse VR technology provides “access” to a molding shop floor, allowing users to take a mold from storage by overhead crane to the machine and install it, hooking up water, installing other peripheral devices, preparing the material, setting up the mold mold, and developing the process.

As part of the program, Kruse is also developing a VR Training and Certification initiative whereby users will train within a molding shop floor consisting of eight to 10 molding machines, each with a different mold. As students develops new skills, they will progress from machine to machine, learning new and more complex process development sequences for each mold.

Students earn credits when they follow the set-up procedures correctly. Upon mastering the first process development task, they progress to the next one on the floor. Each new machine, peripheral device, and mold will become more complex to set up. Kruse Training will offer VR Molding Expert certification for successful completion of the VR training levels.