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This got gears turning in my head. What if we could simulate a woodworking or metalworking shop in VR and people could do virtual projects? I think most people

This got gears turning in my head. What if we could simulate a woodworking or metalworking shop in VR and people could do virtual projects? I think most people reading this will feel a visceral sense of disgust, but I think this idea is just early.

krisoft 2y ago
> I think most people reading this will feel a visceral sense of disgust Not disgust at all. More like a sense of pointlesness. You can't sit on a stool made out of virtual wood in a virtual workshop. So what is the point of "making" it? And if the point is to 3d model objects then why constrain yourself to the skeuomorphism of a virtual woodworking/metal working?
- markisus 2y ago
  It could be like how people enjoy assembling Gundam models. Sometimes it’s fun just watching something beautiful emerge from many separate components. People also enjoy the “how stuff is made” type videos. Simulating a manufacturing process in VR could scratch the same itch.
- usui 2y ago
  I have no experience in woodworking and metalworking, but I would love for there to be a low-cost way I can start learning or familiarizing routines and techniques. I currently don't even know where to start because I don't have anyone in-person to learn from. I could watch a bunch of YouTube videos, but that sounds less fun than a set of guides or tutorials in VR.
  - dmbche 2y ago
    Why not take a class?
- jve 2y ago
  > So what is the point of "making" it? Perhaps the point is greater than building something in minecraft.
- yungporko 2y ago
  lots of people play games about making virtual stuff like gmod, gearblocks, minecraft creative mode etc. i'd probably play a woodworking sim to be honest.
markisus 2y ago
I like this idea. The machine shop can be quite intimidating. It could be a fun little experience to get people exposed to heavy equipment in a safe environment.
- 0_____0 2y ago
  There's a lot of feel involved with tools. A bandsaw or a drill or a bridgeport gives you a ton of feedback. Something as simple as torquing a fastener will tell you tons about the alignment of the fastener, the surface roughness, thread quality and tolerances, whether there's swarf at the bottom of the hole, whether you're about to tear threads out... For macro workflows it could be useful, but on the same level as a non-VR Machine Shop Simulator. 2¢
- deleted 2y ago
  [deleted]
rendall 2y ago
Teleworking, or robotics training? Using a workshop on the moon, for instance, to repair broken remote equipment.
- nisegami 2y ago
  Nah, more like just a video game.
MisterTea 2y ago
VR isn't even a toy compared to the real thing. You cant feel the process. When milling you're turning the hand cranks to move the table so you will feel chatter and vibration along with the resistance so you can feel the quality of the cut. You also have to compensate for backlash in the lead screw which is another game of feel.
tlarkworthy 2y ago
I had this idea too, imaging creating 3d assets using a virtual lathe

krisoft 2y ago

> I think most people reading this will feel a visceral sense of disgust Not disgust at all. More like a sense of pointlesness. You can't sit on a stool made out of virtual wood in a virtual workshop. So what is the point of "making" it? And if the point is to 3d model objects then why constrain yourself to the skeuomorphism of a virtual woodworking/metal working?

markisus 2y ago
It could be like how people enjoy assembling Gundam models. Sometimes it’s fun just watching something beautiful emerge from many separate components. People also enjoy the “how stuff is made” type videos. Simulating a manufacturing process in VR could scratch the same itch.
usui 2y ago
I have no experience in woodworking and metalworking, but I would love for there to be a low-cost way I can start learning or familiarizing routines and techniques. I currently don't even know where to start because I don't have anyone in-person to learn from. I could watch a bunch of YouTube videos, but that sounds less fun than a set of guides or tutorials in VR.
- dmbche 2y ago
  Why not take a class?
jve 2y ago
> So what is the point of "making" it? Perhaps the point is greater than building something in minecraft.
yungporko 2y ago
lots of people play games about making virtual stuff like gmod, gearblocks, minecraft creative mode etc. i'd probably play a woodworking sim to be honest.

markisus 2y ago

I like this idea. The machine shop can be quite intimidating. It could be a fun little experience to get people exposed to heavy equipment in a safe environment.

0_____0 2y ago
There's a lot of feel involved with tools. A bandsaw or a drill or a bridgeport gives you a ton of feedback. Something as simple as torquing a fastener will tell you tons about the alignment of the fastener, the surface roughness, thread quality and tolerances, whether there's swarf at the bottom of the hole, whether you're about to tear threads out... For macro workflows it could be useful, but on the same level as a non-VR Machine Shop Simulator. 2¢
deleted 2y ago
[deleted]

rendall 2y ago

Teleworking, or robotics training? Using a workshop on the moon, for instance, to repair broken remote equipment.

nisegami 2y ago
Nah, more like just a video game.

MisterTea 2y ago

VR isn't even a toy compared to the real thing. You cant feel the process. When milling you're turning the hand cranks to move the table so you will feel chatter and vibration along with the resistance so you can feel the quality of the cut. You also have to compensate for backlash in the lead screw which is another game of feel.

tlarkworthy 2y ago

I had this idea too, imaging creating 3d assets using a virtual lathe