Nashoba Valley Tech Now Paints In 3-D

Students at are learning how to paint...without actually using paint.

Earlier this month, the school introduced the "SimSpray" machine from the VRSim Company to help teach their students the finer points of painting cars at a significantly lower cost.

“It allows us to train kids without spraying any paint,” said Matthew Kamfonik, a second-year Automotive Collision Repair & Refinishing instructor. “We’re not wasting any product, we’re not putting pollutants into the environment, and we’re not exposing freshmen to any chemicals that they’re not trained to deal with.”

The system allows students to apply primer, base coat and clear coat to a virtual car, with instructors recieving information that they can use on grading factors such as thickness, spray gun angle and transfer efficiency.

While newer students are getting used to the system, upper classmen used to being in the spray booth have had some trouble acclimating to the system.

"It's like being in another world," said Camaron Carter, a senior from Townsend.

The innovation echoes the school's implementation of more ecologically friendly waterborne paint three years ago.