CNC process understanding through CAVE-based immersive VR in CAD/CAM education

This article examines the integration of a CAVE-based immersive virtual reality (VR) environment and CNC process simulation into industrial engineering education through a pilot case study in the course Computer-Aided Manufacturing at the Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Trakia University–Stara Zagora. The study is situated in an authentic educational environment that combines CAD/CAM tools, the 3DEXPERIENCE platform used for engineering project management, and the PolyVR Design Review application for collaborative visualization and analysis of engineering models. Using a qualitative case study approach based on directed observation, post-session student discussions and analysis of student-developed engineering solutions, the study explores the perceived educational value and pedagogical feasibility of the intervention. The qualitative findings suggest that the immersive environment created conditions for more explicit discussion of spatial characteristics of engineering models, supported students in interpreting the relationship between the CAD/CAM model and the machining process, and encouraged collaborative analysis and discussion of engineering decisions. The intervention is interpreted through the SAMR (Substitution, Augmentation, Modification, and Redefinition) framework, with the findings indicating movement towards the Modification level, while claims about Redefinition remain premature and require longer-term and more rigorous evaluation. The article contributes an exploratory and pedagogically grounded pilot case study demonstrating how CAD/CAM training, immersive visualization, CNC process interpretation, and collaborative engineering reasoning can be integrated within the context of higher engineering education.