Utilizing VR Technology in Foundational Welding Skill Development

Traditional approaches to welder training demand substantial investments in equipment, consumable materials, and workshop facilities, while also exposing novice learners to considerable safety risks. This study investigates the effectiveness of a virtual reality (VR)-based welding training system developed with Unity for the Meta Quest 2 platform, designed to deliver safe and immersive instruction in fundamental welding techniques. A total of twenty participants with no prior welding experience completed structured VR training sessions over two weeks. The program focused on developing competencies in welding machine operation (including start-up procedures and parameter adjustments), controlling shielding gas flow, and accurately regulating torch-to-workpiece distance, torch angle, and travel speed. Real-time feedback was integrated into the system to support accurate control and positioning of the welding torch. Quantitative assessments demonstrated significant improvements in both technical proficiency and trainee confidence and anxiety levels. Knowledge test scores increased from 45.3 to 85.1, while machine adjustment accuracy rose from 28.7 to 92.3. In parallel, participant confidence levels increased substantially, and anxiety scores decreased from 4.0–4.5 to 1.1–1.5 on standardized scales. These findings provide experimental evidence that VR-based training can enhance fundamental welding education by offering a safe, repeatable, and effective practice environment that simultaneously improves technical performance, strengthens learner confidence, and reduces training-related anxiety.