by Chris Gandee

The VRTEX® 360 has the ability to transmit the video output displayed on the monitor onto a large screen television or even a big screen from a projector. In this months tip we will walk through this connection in a step-by-step process.

Here’s how to hook your VRTEX® 360 up to an outside video source.

1. Obtain a standard VGA cable. Keep in mind the longer the cable is the higher the chance of interference. Generally anything less than a 25 foot cable will work fine. Anything over 25 feet can cause potential interference issues. 
2. Plug the male end of the VGA cable into the back of the VRTEX® 360 and secure it using the connection screws.
3. Plug the other end of the cable into the device you are planning to use. Projectors, plasma, LCD or any other viewing method you use should be ready to go with minimal additional adjustments needed.
4. If the large screen requires some adjusting, generally the optional resolution setting on the device.  1024 X 768 is recommended. In some cases, the image may be slightly stretched or skewed, but the image is still very viewable. There is nothing inside the VRTEX® 360 that needs to be or can be adjusted to fix the image. Keep in mind both the VRTEX® 360 monitor and the big screen will show the same views all the time.

Below are some of the valuable reasons one might want to project the VRTEX® 360 display onto a larger screen:

• To attract and engage people (students, parents, welders or not) at events to experience welding
Anytime an image of welding is placed where people can plainly see what is going on seems to act like a light has been turned on at night. It attracts people of all shapes and sizes. Onlookers will come from everywhere to see and hear what is going on. The VRTEX® 360 is a great tool to attract people to your location and get them interested in trying welding – how often can you say that?  I have seen lines of 15 to 20 people waiting for 8 hours at a time. It becomes a nonstop attraction that everyone wants to see and try.  What better tool for a job fair, a recruitment event, a technology day and more!

• To gain a training advantage in the classroom.
Putting the VRTEX® on the big screen allows several users to learn from it at one time. While one user is welding, the classroom can see what the user is doing, which allows them to not only see the weld but also to provide input to correct technique and make the user a better welder. The instant feedback from the Live Action Student Evaluation Report (LASER) screen provides the ability to see in real time, what the user is doing right or wrong. By viewing as a class on the video screen, the students learn from their peer’s performance, so when it is their turn they are less likely to make the same mistakes. Some schools have indicated that they allow as many as 8 students can effectively rotate using one VRTEX® 360 with a large screen. The ability to watch other welders before taking a shot can create a learning experience that traditional welding cannot.

• To provide the welding instructor with the ability to present and teach with a better welding demonstration
Generally, when giving a welding demonstration in traditional welding, the instructor has several students gather around the demo table as he or she begins to weld. The problem with that is that we are trying to get 5, 10 or even more students to see the ¼” diameter business end of our profession. We try to get several students to see the puddle and see what we are looking at underneath the hood. With the VRTEX® 360 on a big screen we can show them what we are looking at and what we want them to focus on when they are under the hood.. We can show them the proper angles and positioning along with body position and motion. Used in conjunction with the Welding Connects Your World DVD set, available for free, through your local Lincoln Electric sales rep, the VRTEX® 360 quickly becomes the best welding training tool available. This gives the instructor the ability to ensure every student is seeing what they want them to see and then allows the student to practice it before they start burning actual rod and using valuable materials.

NOW YOU ARE READY TO WELD ON THE BIG SCREEN!