Course Description:
Welding and metal fabrication is a two year or three year program beginning in the 10th and 11th grade and is designed to teach the basic skills of metal fabrication welding with the major emphasis on welding. Students will learn how to join metals by the use of Shielded metal arc welding, Gas Metal arc welding, Flux-core arc welding, and Gas tungsten arc welding. According to the layouts, blueprints, and specifications. Students will cut metal to a given shape and size using Oxyfuel, Plasma, and Air carbon arc cutting equipment.
Basic elements of the course include the recognition of welding symbols, familiarity with melting and welding characteristics of various types of metals, making different welds from all angles, selecting the proper materials and equipment for the proper and safe operation, and blueprint reading. Students are requires to take the National Occupational Competency Test for welding. If passed, the student will receive a certificate from the State of Pennsylvania for entry level welding, enabling them to make a choice of areas for future employment. Students are taught to make layouts, draft patterns, cut and form parts, weld and fabricate items according to specifications.
Skills Learned:
Some of the skills a student will be able to perform are safely operate welding equipment, Weld plate, Weld in flat, horizontal, vertical, and overhead portions, Fabricate items, Operate a power shear, Layout a template, Interpret lines, symbols, and views. Students will also learn to weld using steel, aluminum, and stainless steel, use oxyfuel, plasma, and air carbon cutting equipment.
Related Occupations and Earnings:
Related occupations include Welders and Metal Fabricators. Earnings range between $12-$60/hour.
Post-Secondary Opportunities:
Articulated credits can be earned toward an Associate’s Degree at Institutions such as Westmoreland County Community College, Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology and Pennsylvania College of Technology
Instructors:
Mr. Baur & Mr. Sidun – Welding Technology Instructor Phone Number – 724-925-3532 x. 1346 Office Hours: 7:15am to 7:45am 10:45am to 10:55am 2:30pm to 2:45pm Please leave a voicemail message outside of these times.