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Overview

WELDING TECHNOLOGY

Here's a career where the sparks fly! Welding is used to join beams and plating for constructing buildings, bridges, and other structures. Venango Technology's welding classes help open your career up to these exciting opportunities.
 
Students will learn to use gas and electric arc metal cutting equipment and to read and interpret welding symbols on blueprints.
 
You will learn Shelded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) which will help you develop skills in operating electric arc welding equipment and learn to weld weave and overlapping beads in the horizontal, vertical and overhead fillet positions. SMAW, also known as Stick welding is used for almost all types of welding jobs in outdoor environments, from pipe welding to working in shipyards.

You will learn Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW), sometimes referred to by its sub-types metal inert gas (MIG) welding or metal active gas (MAG) welding, is a welding process in which an electric arc forms between a consumable wire electrode and the workpiece metal(s), which heats the workpiece metal(s), causing them to melt, and join. Along with the wire electrode, a shielding gas feeds through the welding gun, which shields the process from contaminants in the air. The process can be semi-automatic or automatic. A constant voltage, direct current power source is most commonly used with GMAW, but constant current systems, as well as alternating current, can be used. There are four primary methods of metal transfer in GMAW, called globular, short-circuiting, spray, and pulsed-spray, each of which has distinct properties and corresponding advantages and limitations.used in many fabrication projects. 
 
You will learn FCAW - Flux-cored arc welding is a semi-automatic or automatic arc welding process. FCAW requires a continuously-fed consumable tubular electrode containing a flux and a constant-voltage or, less commonly, a constant-current welding power supply. An externally supplied shielding gas is sometimes used, but often the flux itself is relied upon to generate the necessary protection from the atmosphere. The process is widely used in construction because of its high welding speed and portability.  FCAW was first developed in the early 1950s as an alternative to shielded metal arc welding (SMAW).  The advantage of FCAW over SMAW is that the use of the stick electrodes used in SMAW is unnecessary. This helped FCAW to overcome many of the restrictions associated with SMAW. 
 

You will learn Gas Metal Arc Welding (GTAW),"TIG",  is most commonly used to weld thin sections of stainless steel and non-ferrous metals such as aluminum, magnesium, and copper alloys. The process grants the operator greater control over the weld than competing processes such as shielded metal arc welding and gas metal arc welding, allowing for stronger, higher quality welds. However, GTAW is comparatively more complex and difficult to master, and furthermore, it is significantly slower than most other welding techniques. A related process, plasma arc welding, uses a slightly different welding torch to create a more focused welding arc and, as a result, is often automated.

Our welding programs get hotter with the training you'll receive using Plasma arc cutting techniques. You will learn to make precision cuts in steel plate and pipe using superheated gases produced by this process. Some of these processes are completed by hand while others are performed using special mechanical tracking devices. You will also learn to properly align and fit-up plate and pipe prior to welding in place. This will require using precision alignment tools and devices as well as reading and interpreting welding symbols on construction drawings.
 

Skills Taught:

  • Introduction/Orientation of Welding
  • Occupational Orientation & Safety Principles of Welding
  • Welding, Drawing, & Weld Symbol Interpretation
  • Visual Examination, Inspection, & Testing
  • Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW)
  • Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW)
  • Flux Core Arc Welding (FCAW)
  • Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW)
  • Manual Oxyfuel Gas Cutting (OFC)
  • Mechanized Oxyfuel Gas Cutting (OFC)
  • Manual Plasma Arc Cutting (PAC)
  • Manual Air Carbon Arc Cutting (CAC-A)

Related Careers:

  • Combination Welder
  • Arc Welder
  • Tack Welder
  • Welder's Helper
  • Assembler Welder
  • Sheet Metal Worker
  • Thermal -Cutter Machine Operator
  • Supervisor/Foreman
  • Welder Inspector
  • Pipeliner
  • Steamfitter Apprentice
  • Iron Worker Apprentice
  • Welding Engineer
  • Pipefitter Apprentice
  • Boilermaker Apprentice

Teacher Information:
Mr. Travis Crate
(814) 677-3097 x1132
tcrate@vtc1.org

Industry Recognized Certifications Available: 

American Society of Mechanical Engineers - Single Process 1G Plate P1 Section IX BPV Code, Single Process 2G Plate P1 Section IX BPV Code, Single Process 3G Plate P1 Section IX BPV Code, Single Process 4G Plate P1 Section IX BPV Code, Single Process 6G Plate P1 Section IX BPV Code

American Welding Society - FCAW 1G D1.1 Code, FCAW 2G D1.1 Code, FCAW 3G D1.1 Code, FCAW 4G D1.1 Code, Level 1 Entry Welder, SMAW 1G 7018 D1.1 Code, SMAW 2G 7018 D1.1 Code, SMAW 3G 7018 D1.1 Code, SMAW 4G 7018 D1.1 Code

CareerSafe - OSHA Certification

More Information:
Competency Task Grid

SOAR Articulations site Look for 48.0508 Welding Technology/Welder in the dropdown menu