Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

This is an outcome based course utilizing a lecture/lab format. This course includes classroom discussions, videotapes, and lab demonstrations of technical skills.  Course outcomes will include: theoretical concepts, layout, fabrication, welding, oxy-fuel cutting and safety. 

Upon completion of the course students should be able to:

• Function safely in the PCC Welding lab.
• Operate oxy-fuel welding and cutting systems in accordance to industry standards.
• Operate a Plasma Arc Cutting (PAC) hand held system in accordance to industry standards.
• Operate a Carbon Arc Cutting - Air (CAC-A) system in accordance to industry standards.
• Weld common joints using SMAW, GMAW, FCAW processes to industry standards.
• Apply visual examination principles and practices in accordance to industry standards

The student will be assessed on his/her ability to demonstrate the development of course outcomes. The methods of assessment may include one or more of the following: oral or written examinations, quizzes, written assignments, visual inspection and welding tests.

Function safely in the PCC Welding lab.

• Understand and practice personal safety by using proper protective gear
• Understand and practice power tool safety
• Understand and practice equipment safety for welding and oxy-fuel cutting systems
• Understand and maintain a safe work area
  • Recognize and report dangerous electrical and air/gas hose connections
  • Understand and practice fire prevention

Operate oxy-fuel welding and cutting systems in accordance to industry standards.

• Demonstrate correct setup and shutdown procedures
• Adjust gas pressures in accordance with pressure chart recommendations.
• Demonstrate welds on 16 gauge mild steel in the following positions:
  •     Flat position bead plate without filler metal.
  •     Flat position bead plate with filler metal.
  •     Horizontal position Lap joint  
• Oxy-fuel hand held cutting torch
  •  Demonstrate correct setup and shutdown procedures
  •  Adjust gas pressures in accordance with pressure chart recommendations
  •  Demonstrate straight cuts in cutting plate to nominal size
• Oxy-fuel semiautomatic track torch
  •  Demonstrate correct setup and shutdown procedures
  •  Adjust gas pressures in accordance with pressure chart recommendations    
  •  Demonstrate bevel and straight cuts        

Operate a Plasma Arc Cutting (PAC) hand held system in accordance to industry standards.

• Demonstrate correct setup and shutdown procedures
• Explain how safety interlocks function as they relate to associated tip parts
• Adjust current and air pressure for material being cut 
• Demonstrate the effects of the following variables:
  • Stand Off
  • Torch angle
  • Amperage setting
  • Air pressure
  • Travel speed.
• Demonstrate correct PAC cutting techniques on steel 

Operate an Carbon Arc Cutting - Air (CAC-A) system in accordance to industry standards.

• Demonstrate correct setup and shutdown procedures
• Adjust current and air pressure for size of electrode being used 
• Explain CAC-A electrode shapes and their uses
• Demonstrate the effects of the following variables: electrode angle, amperage setting, air pressure, and travel speed
• Demonstrate correct CAC-A gouging techniques on steel

Weld common joints using SMAW, GMAW, FCAW processes to industry standards.

• Define common terms
• Identify equipment and components
• Demonstrate setup, machine adjustments and shut down procedures
• Describe the importance of welding leads and their connections and inspection techniques
• Identify electrodes and describe their arc characteristics and use
• Explain process variables and demonstrate the effects of:
  • Current
  • Travel speed  
  • Electrode angle
  • Arc length

• Demonstrate correct starting and stopping techniques with E7018 electrodes
• Demonstrate welds in the following positions:
  • Surfacing beads in the flat position with E7018
  • Tee joint in the horizontal position with E7018
• GMAW
  • Define common terms
  • Identify equipment and components
  • Demonstrate setup, machine adjustments and shut down procedures
  • Describe the importance of welding leads and their connections and inspection techniques

• Identify electrodes and describe their arc characteristics, and use
• Explain process variables and demonstrate the effects of:
  • Voltage
  • Wire feed speed (WFS)
  • Travel speed  
  • Gun angle
  • Stick out
  • Shielding Gas

• Demonstrate correct starting and stopping techniques with short arc
• Demonstrate welds in the following positions using GMAW short arc:
  • Flat position Bead Plate with short arc
  • Horizontal position Lap Joint with short arc
• Demonstrate correct starting and stopping techniques with FCAW     
• Demonstrate welds in the following positions using FCAW (E71T-1 and E71T-8):
  • Flat position Bead Plate.
  • Horizontal position T-Joint

Apply visual examination principles and practices in accordance to industry standards.

• Evaluate welds using appropriate welding inspection tools
• Assess weld discontinuities causes and corrections