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Mining Simulator

In 2009 TAFE Western received funding through the Better TAFE Facilities program, and subsequently purchased a state of the art mining simulator to be used at the Orange Rural Skills Centre for the mining section. 

The simulator purchase includes one fixed base system to be installed at a classroom at the Orange Rural Skills Centre and a portable base to be  installed in a mobile trailer/classroom currently being built by G  & C Manufacturing in Orange. There have been six different consoles purchased which replicate mining equipment. The consoles purchased include Haul Truck, Shovel Excavator, Wheel Front End Loader, Dozer, Drill Rig and Load Haul Dump.

Training simulators like this have a seat (for the trainee operator), a sound system and controls (like real equipment) with monitors to provide visual images depicting normal and extreme operating environments.  They have sophisticated computer software to enable the training simulator to be adapted to emulate different machines and relevant environmental conditions for the chosen machines.The mining simulator will enable many operations to be practised safely and economically and a number of complex tasks that may normally be considered too dangerous or expensive to simulate in a real workplace can be covered in training programs.The mining simulator at TAFE Western will be used to simulate heavy vehicles for both surface and underground mining. It has mechanical features which simulate the following situations:

• Surface and terrain conditions from rough to corrugation
• Cabin tilting and rocking in up/down hill or uneven surfaces
• Loading and unloading sensations
• Braking and acceleration

Benefits of a Training Simulator

• The training of new operators is systematically developed in a controlled and safe environment and overall, an increase in safety awareness for all involved.
• New employees can be screened with the simulator to determine whether they are optimally suited to the task. This ensures that unsuitable people are not trained at a high cost. Potential employees also have the ability to see what their future career is really like before they make key decisions about their career.
• The simulator provides a constructive tool to evaluate existing employees skills. All actions are able to be evaluated and recorded by the simulator and analysed in detail. It allows employees to update their skills or receive re-training or corrective training as necessary.
• Greater training flexibility such as change of weather or conditions and other operational factors may be changed with just mouse-clicks. This provides an increase in employee knowledge and awareness enabling them to react correctly whatever the situation.
• Training simulators may be used to trial a new procedure or process in the 'virtual world' first before validating in reality. It is a platform for the creation of new practices or processes leading to increased best practice overall.

Stay tuned for more information about the simulator once it arrives. In the meantime, if you would like more information about the Mining Simulator, please contact the Mining Team on 02 6393 2602 or email mining@tafensw.edu.au