ForgingSimulation

Thank you all for leading me to the next step of my research. I definitely have some planning ahead of me over this semester. I will touch back here around the end of winter to share what I've learned. I will also present the initial designs for some feedback and critique.

Best of luck,
-Tom

Once you experience hammering hot iron and enjoying the fruits of your labors and growing skills the addiction will pretty much shelve the software development.

I designed and wrote software as a profession for over 19 years.

Beginner classes are offered frequently by the Blacksmith Guild of Central Maryland, about 2.5 hours from Philadelphia. I highly recommend taking a beginner's class. Blacksmith Guild of Central Maryland

One method of modeling blacksmithing is through the use of modeling-clay. Iron bars when heated behave very much like modeling-clay. For example, if you stick you finger in the center of the bar it, clay will move away from your finger in all directions. If you press the side of a pencil against the top of a bar of clay, more clay will move perpendicular to the bar than parallel to the bar.

Taking a blacksmithing class is very highly recommended, and a lot easier than writing simulation software.

Your planned program would be a great programming experiment, but I would be very surprised if there was a market for computer-simulated blacksmithing.

Heat the bar in the forge. The intensity of the heat in the forge could be controlled by a cranking movement of the hand with the right handed controller (assuming it will be a coal forge)

Bring it to the anvil and adjust your angle. I would say raise the left controller to about 15 degrees from level and then with the right controller which would represent a hammer at an angle and swing down with the hammer angled at about 15 degrees the other way.

I do have to admit that you should attend a blacksmithing class or watch a smith in action as part of your research. Seeing and hands on experience with hot steel will help you to understand more than just words on a computer screen.

Thank you for the quick responses!!!

I am located in Philadelphia, PA. I would be more than willing to travel anywhere in the north east part of the US if of course someone would have me. I am also no stranger to shops and job sites, incase your worrying about having a computer nerd around your work area .


I will definitely be hopping on chat throughout the next few weeks to get some time to speak with you guys.

Hello Smithies,

I am currently working on a Design Manual for a forging simulator. However, being that I am not a smith myself, I could use input from your community. The general outline is as follows.


Input / Output - How the user will manipulate the tools and items in his virtual metal working shop.
- A Nintendo Wii controller will be used for the manipulation of the hammer and other various tools as well as the rotation of the ingots.
- Multi-Touch Screen will be used for both viewing and selecting the various points of manipulation.

It is intended so that an average person could pick this up and start working while still having a steep learning curve based off of motor skills. Or also so that a smith with little computer experience could pick this up and still be able to showcase his own abilities.



Without going too far into detail. (Although I am more than willing to if I happen to strike some interest among the community). I am currently trying to decide what information MUST be displayed to the user and its importance level.

Example- A potential virtual BlackSmith would need to constantly monitor the heat of the metal he is striking. So on screen a virtual thermometer would need to be implemented.

Beyond this example I could use more input as to what kind of data and information a smith would need to keep track of on screen. If anyone has any ideas, I would greatly appreciate it. Also, if I am being vague at any point please let me know.

Thanks for your time,
Tom