Auto collision students use virtual spray paint technology
Technology is integrated in almost every career field, and now even more in education. With an entire generation of technical professionals beginning to retire, many company recruiters and workforce education programs have to find new, creative ways to attract potential employees.
In order to appeal to a younger workforce, programs like San Jacinto College’s automotive collision repair have added virtual training simulators that quickly draw interest to the skills and techniques being taught because of its video game-like format. Within the Gulf Coast region an average annual entry-level salary starts at $22,000 with experienced professionals earning upwards to $51,000 annually.
Recently, the San Jacinto College auto collision program introduced the VRSim, Inc. SimSpray training system. SimSpray provides a virtual paint booth environment where students learn spray-painting techniques with 3-D model automotive, industrial, and structural practice parts. Students put on a 3-D visor to view the object and are given a simulation spray paint gun, creating a realistic experience learning body positioning and how to maneuver with proper angles, coverage, and timing to create the ideal mil thickness on a finished piece. Using a digital touch screen, the instructor selects the part, equipment settings, paint color, and more. They can also view the student’s paint job with various real-time critiquing tools like graphs and image maps showing the travel angle, speed, standoff distance, and mil build.
“This is a great way to build your confidence doing auto body work,” said 39-year-old auto collision student, Jeff Collins. “It’s intimidating when you know someone is bringing his or her vehicle to you to work on, so this is a good way to get a lot of practice. Plus it’s fun, especially for the younger students, since it looks and feels like a video game.”
The SimSpray system is also an eco-friendly, money-saving teaching tool. A virtual paint booth eliminates volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions. It eliminates the expenses of having to buy paint, paint thinner, practice parts, air filters, cleaning fluids, and other equipment. For San Jacinto College auto collision instructor, David Baisden, SimSpray has also provided more collective training time. “In our regular paint booth, you really only have room for the instructor and one student,” he said. “The student needs his or her suit on with a mask, so there’s not enough equipment for several other students to observe inside the booth. With this new virtual system, we can show the whole classroom the proper techniques, and answer any questions they have as we go along,” said Baisden.
“This machine will pay for itself within a year,” said auto collision instructor Jake Stahl. “We spend about $100 a quart for paint, which turns into $400 per training demonstration. This system eliminates that cost, and with a touch of a button, we have a new part and new paint ready to go for the next student. The portability aspect also makes it possible for us to take it to recruiting events to give prospective students a fun, hands-on look at what they’ll learn in our program” said Stahl.
Virtual training systems have been used in military training for years. Within the last decade, the oil and gas, manufacturing, and medical industries have developed sophisticated virtual reality training modules to train a younger, tech-savvy workforce that allows them to safely practice skills without placing themselves or the environment at risk.
“We’re able to learn a lot faster no matter what the outside conditions are,” added Collins, who hopes to one day own his own body shop. “The environment affects what we’re able to work on sometimes. For instance, the regular paint booth needs to be at a certain constant temperature, and we have to wear our paint gear, which gets pretty hot when you’re moving around. Now we can practice despite the weather and without having to wear all that gear.”
The San Jacinto College automotive collision repair program offers two associate of applied science degrees in auto collision repair management and auto collision repair technician, in addition to five occupational certificate options. Career options include body or frame technician, insurance and estimation, paint retail, new and used parts, and custom bodywork. Within the Gulf Coast region an average annual entry-level salary starts at $22,000 with experienced professionals earning upwards to $51,000 annually.
