With the paint spray gun in virtual reality

The world of vehicle painting at DB Fahrzeuginstandhaltung is becoming not only more efficient but also more attractive thanks to the use of virtual reality. Painting work is demanding and requires maximum precision. The VR paint shop makes it possible to learn and perfect these skills without losing material.

Painting requires care and a precise technique: the spray gun must be guided at the correct angle and at a distance of 15 to 20 centimetres from the surface. The strips must only overlap halfway - this ensures an even paint finish without streaks. In the real world, this means using a lot of material and having to put up with time-consuming reworking. Thanks to the VR paint shop, this is more efficient and environmentally friendly.

Learning with VR glasses

With the VR paint shop at the Nuremberg maintenance depot, trainees experience a new dimension in paint training. Using VR glasses and the real spray gun, they can work realistically in a simulated room. They can see the workpiece virtually as well as the angle and distance of the spray gun to the surface - and can correct immediately if they are not right. Noise from the spray gun is also realistically simulated, providing a comprehensive training experience. The system also analyses where too much or too little paint was applied, how evenly it was applied and how much paint was used.

“The VR paint shop conveys a realistic feeling for the work. It is ecological and economical because you don't waste any paint,” says Dieter Niebergall, foreman at the Nuremberg maintenance depot. Even experienced employees use the system to improve their technique, which leads to increased quality. Virtual training also has potential for other areas of work such as grinding or repairing components.

Four apprentices are currently training with the VR paint shop at the Nuremberg maintenance depot, the competence centre for vehicle painting. Apprentice coordinator Bjoern Reiss emphasises the increased self-confidence of the trainees: “Virtual painting makes the trainees less shy of the real thing on the train.” These statements are also confirmed by the trainees themselves, who appreciate the opportunity to make mistakes without fear and try again immediately.

The VR paint shop is also used in other maintenance depots. It has already been introduced in Kassel and Wittenberge, and the local trainee coordinators have been instructed. Virtual reality is therefore not only helping to improve training: “We are using it to make the painting profession more visible at trade fairs and similar events,” says Reiss.

In the future, the VR glasses could also be used in other training and further education programmes - also to make the trade even more versatile and attractive.