This course introduces the fundamentals of arc welding with a strong emphasis on safety and proper equipment operation. Students learn essential arc‑welding concepts, practice equipment setup and adjustment, and develop basic skills for striking and maintaining a stable arc. Training includes safe oxyfuel and arc‑cutting procedures, hazard recognition, and entry‑level GTAW techniques.
An additional fee is required.
Prerequisites
None
1. Apply industry safety practices per shop policy (PPE, ventilation, fire prevention, electrical safety, SDS) and operate arc welding and thermal cutting equipment in compliance with ANSI Z49.1–style guidelines.
2. Describe and outline procedures for the safe operation and shutdown of SMAW, GTAW, and oxyfuel cutting (OFC) equipment, including leak checks, regulator/settings verification, and post use securing.
3. Identify hazardous substances and conditions common to welding (UV/IR radiation, fumes, compressed gases, hot work) and select appropriate controls (respiratory protection, screens/curtains, fire watch).
4. Demonstrate required safety protocols for oxyfuel gas cutting (OFC) and arc cutting, including correct tip selection, pressures, lighting/extinguishing procedures, and hot work area preparation.
5. Strike and maintain a stable welding arc and control arc length, travel speed, electrode/work angles, and manipulation to produce sound SMAW beads (stringer/weave) with acceptable bead shape and fusion.
6. Inspect, set up, and adjust power sources and accessories (polarity DCEP/DCEN, amperage, shielding gas, flow rate, torch/cable setup) to meet specified WPS parameters for base metal and filler classification.
7. Explain essential arc welding concepts—current, voltage, polarity, heat input, deposition, penetration—and recognize common weld discontinuities (porosity, undercut, overlap, incomplete fusion) and their likely causes.
8. Perform entry level GTAW operations (torch angle, arc length, filler addition, heat control) on suitable base metals to produce clean, controlled welds that meet visual acceptance criteria.