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Metal Fabrication & Joining Technologies

Summary

Student Metal Fabrication and Joining Technologies Program

The Northeast Metal Fabrication program is registered with the AWS as an Educational Institution Member and participates in the AWS S.E.N.S.E (Schools Excelling through National Skill Standards Education) program. Students will learn a variety of welding and cutting processes including: Shielded Metal Arc; Gas Tungsten Arc; Flux Cored Arc; standard and dual shield; Gas Metal Arc; Gas Welding. Cutting processes that are taught include: Carbon Arc; Plasma Arc; Flame cutting. As part of the program, students will learn to use state-of-the-art power equipment: shears; bending brakes; rollers; saws; a variety of bench and hand tools. Shop-related classroom activities include, but are not limited to safe practices; shop math; basic electricity; blueprint reading; weld-symbol identification; and weld theory; as well as career-related writing and communication skills. Additionally, students are given 10 hours of OSHA training and receive an OSHA safety certificate upon successful completion of the exam. The shop and related curriculum are correlated and exceed AWS recommendations. Students who complete the training program pass seven workmanship qualification tests using a variety of welding and cutting processes, pass two welder certification tests, and achieve a minimum score of 70 on the written examination, will be issued a national certificate from the AWS.

Opportunities

Upon graduation, students are employable as:

  • Body Welder
  • Spot Welder
  • Structural Steel Welder
  • Underwater Welder
  • Metal Fabricator
  • Pipefitter
  • Welder

Technical, Apprentice and Higher Education Majors

  • Welding Engineering Technology
  • Welding Engineer Advanced Welders, Cutters and Welder Fitters
  • Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters
  • Pipefitters and Steamfitters
  • Sheet Metal Fabricator

Certifications

The Certified Welder (CW) program tests welders in procedures used in the structural steel, petroleum pipelines, sheet metal, and chemical refinery welding industries. There is a provision to test to a company-supplied or non-code welding specification.  Sheet Metal Workers: Certifications related to sheet metal specialties are offered by a wide variety of associations, some of which are listed in the sources of more information at the end of this statement. Those that complete registered apprenticeships are certified as journey workers, which can help to prove their skills to employers.  Sheet metal workers can choose one of many specialties. Workers can specialize in commercial and residential HVAC installation and maintenance, industrial welding and fabrication, exterior or architectural sheet metal installation, sign fabrication, and testing and balancing of building systems. Welders can advance to more skilled welding jobs with additional training and experience. For example, they may become welding technicians, supervisors, inspectors, or instructors. Some experienced welders open their own repair shops. Other welders, especially those who obtain a bachelor’s degree, become welding engineers.

Connection to Work and Higher Education

Training Programs and Technical Colleges:

  • Hobart Institute of Welding Technology, Troy, OH
  • Lincoln Electric Welding School, Cleveland, OH
  • Ferris State University, Big Rapids, MI
  • Lorain County Community College, Elria, OH
  • Ohio State University
  • Pennsylvania College of Technology, Williamsport, PA
  • Texas State Technical College, Waco, Harlingen, Fort Bend, North Texas, Abilene, TX

Industry Affiliations: SKILLS USA

Industry Certifications Available in High School

  • OSHA 10 hour Construction, Safety & Health
  • Hot Work Safety Certification
  • American Welding Society (AWS) Welder Certificate (can earn hours toward certification)
  • Local 7 Iron Workers
  • Local 537 Pipefitters
  • Construction Craft Laborers Apprenticeship Program
  • Sheet Metal Workers Local 17

Courses

  • Grade 9 exploratory students will be introduced to trade orientation; personal and shop safety; basic shielded metal arc welding; and ornamental fabrication.

  • Students will continue to study personal and shop safety; basic shielded metal arc welding and ornamental fabrication. The students will also be introduced to shop math, the ruler, basic metal arc welding and oxyacetylene welding and cutting.

  • Grade 10 students learn welding shop safety as it relates to newly introduced topics and competencies including but not limited to oxyacetylene (welding ,brazing and cutting ), shielded metal arc welding, layout and fixtures, hand rolling, hand tools, material handling, power shear, powered ironworker, and gas metal arc welding.

  • During the Grade 10 related course, students continue to study Oxyacetylene Welding and Shielded Metal Arc with nationally recognized Hobart materials including safety precautions for oxyacetylene welding and cutting and shield metal arc, in conjunction with AWS ​SENSE ​Workmanship Qualification standards, Destructive testing using AWS standard bend testing, and Destructive testing using AWS standard brake testing. The students will also prepare for successful completion of the OSHA 10 hour construction program certification.

  • Grade 11 students will continue to learn welding shop safety as they experience lessons in Gas tungsten arc welding (steel, stainless and aluminum). Students will develop skills with Basic and CNC brake operations, powered rollers, cut off milling, plasma arc cutting, carbon arc cutting, advance metal forming, metal finishing, OSHA certification, and fabricating projects from blueprints. Understanding and compliance with welding code is emphasized.

  • Grade 11 students study: Shielded Metal Arc Welding Advanced #2 and continue all position welding. Instruction in surfacing of steel, macro etching welds, guided bend-testing welds, Gas Tungsten Arc Welding is provided. Fundamentals of application, all position welding practice on mild steel, all position welding practice on aluminum is also addressed. The students will also be introduced to the plasma cam and will begin their work on the Junior/Senior Project.

  • Grade 12 students will learn flux core arc welding, dual shield welding, basic metallurgy; testing and inspecting methods and procedures, hard facing, pipe welding (up and down), pipe fitting layout, CNC plasma cutting, portable welding, and structural and maintenance welding. Grade 12 students will strive for completion of the AWS S.E.N.S.E. program requirements.

  • Highlights of the Grade 12 related curriculum includes a review and expansion of safety procedures and health precautions, as well as information on all position welding using dual shield, Air Carbon Arc Cutting and Gouging, The students complete work on their Junior/Senior Projects culminating in an oral presentation.