Experiencing the structure and features of a machine tool with mixed reality

Abstract

Augmented and mixed reality (AR/MR) enable a completely new way of visualizing the connections between components and assemblies of a complex machine tool. By means of AR/MR, users can immerse themselves in areas of interest of a machine or an assembly process and not only observe the connections from outside a real machine or a process. Experiencing virtual contents in the real surroundings is completely different from virtually seeing a design or an assembly process on a screen by means of a conventional CAD application or a simulation. Therefore, this paper presents a mixed reality app for the visualization of information about components and assemblies in the holograms of a complex machine tool.Within a research project on the improvement of teaching methods by augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR) and mixed reality (MR), it is planned to concept, develop and test teaching units in studies. At the Institute for Machine Tools (IfW) of the University of Stuttgart, the Index R200 high-end turning/milling centre has been chosen as demonstration model for an MR app. It is a 10-axis machining centre with several driven spindles and tool holders in the working space. It can be used both as real machine tool for complex experiments and as virtual machine for simulations or visualizations of CNC programs, among other things for developing new teaching methods and contents.