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Welding Technology

person weldingWelding is the most common way of permanently joining metal parts. Welding also is used to join beams when constructing buildings, bridges, and other structures and to join pipes in pipelines, power plants, and refineries. Skilled welders plan work from blueprints and determine how best to join the parts. Welders select and set up welding equipment, execute the planned welds, and examine welds to ensure that they meet standards or specifications. At Salina Tech welders learn to perform many different types of welds commonly used in various manufacturing industries in Kansas as well as across the nation. Students learn industry standards from our experienced instructor and hands-on practice with customer projects. Sign up today for our nine-month welding program and advance your career with valuable training and experience. 

Career Opportunities: General Welders, Maintenance Welders, Production Welders, General Layout Technicians, Cutters, Burners

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Video Overview - Welding Technology Program

Welding Technology Certificate
First Semester Credits   Second Semester Credits
WEL 105 Welding Theory 2   WEL 223 Core Wire Welding 2
WEL 150 Welding Blueprint Reading 4 WEL 116 Gas Tungsten Arc Welding I 2
WEL 110 Oxy-Fuel Welding 2 WEL 216 Gas Tungsten Arc Welding II 3
WEL 106A Cutting Processes 2 WEL 120 Fabrication and Production 5
WEL 111 Shielded Metal Arc Welding I 3 WEL 106B Cutting Processes 1
WEL 115 Gas Metal Arc Welding I 3 WEL 121 Welding Specialization 3
WEL 112 Shielded Metal Arc Welding II 3 WEL 215 Gas Metal Arc Welding II 3
WEL 101 Welding  Math 2    
TOTAL CREDITS: 21   TOTAL CREDITS: 19
      TOTAL CERTIFICATE CREDITS: 40

Associate of Applied Science Degree: 60 Credits. To complete the Associate of Applied Science Degree, select 15 more credits from the General Education requirements found in the Degree and Certification Information section plus 5 additional electives.  Visit with your instructor or the Director of Student Services for possible options.

First Semester

WEL 105 Welding Theory, 2 credits.
This course prepares students to work in industrial welding shop settings. Students study the cause and prevention of accidents in shop and industry. First aid and emergency procedures are covered. Safety, housekeeping, proper use and maintenance of tools and equipment are emphasized.

WEL 101 Welding Math, 2 credits.
The course covers basic mathematical skills common related to welding content areas. Mathematical applications of the skills will be a focus in this course.

WEL 150 Welding Blueprint Reading, 4 credits.
This course is an introduction to blueprint reading and drawing procedures used in the production and fabrication areas of the welding industry. This course involves shape description, size description, and freehand sketching. It incorporates the reading and drawing of welding symbols as well as interpretation of industrial drawings used in the welding industry. The course includes applied math for welders, consisting of a review of fractions, decimals, percentages, ratio/proportion calculations, and tape measure reading. This course also includes applications to live welding projects.

WEL 110 Oxy-Fuel Welding, 2 credits.
This course introduces the basic principles and fundamentals of the oxy-fuel welding. Oxy-fuel processes, equipment, and safety is addressed along with the appropriate and safe methods of producing and handling industrial gasses. Students develop the skills needed to produce acceptable basic oxy-fuel welds.

WEL 106A Cutting Processes, 2 credits.
This course introduces metal cutting and includes cutting of ferrous and nonferrous materials with manual, motor driven, and oxy-fuel shape cutting equipment. Also included are plasma-arc cutting (PAC) and carbon arc cutting (CAC-A). Safety, equipment and the basic fundamentals of cutting processes are introduced.

WEL 111 Shielded Metal Arc Welding I, 3 credits.
This course includes hands on application of industrial welding components including safety, identification, set up, and use of shielded metal arc welding (SMAW) equipment. Students perform a variety of welds in the flat and horizontal positions with various electrodes.

WEL 115 Gas Metal Arc Welding I, 3 credits. Prerequisite: WEL 105
This course includes instruction on proper equipment set up, the development of technical and manipulative skills, and performance of correct safety precautions and techniques utilized in gas metal arc welding (GMAW).

WEL 112 Shielded Metal Arc Welding II, 3 credits.  Prerequisite: WEL 105 and WEL 111
This course continues the study of shielded metal arc welding providing more in-depth instruction on the identification, set up, and use of shielded metal arc welding in an industrial setting. The course reviews safety and equipment maintenance.

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Second Semester

WEL 215 Gas Metal Arc Welding II, 3 credits.
This course continues the development of skills and knowledge of gas metal arc welding. It includes a review of safety precautions and procedures and proper equipment set up. Advanced techniques on joint preparation and welding in all positions are emphasized. Prerequisites for this course:  Welding Theory (WELD 105) and Gas Metal Arc Welding I (WELD 115).

WEL 223 Core Wire Welding, 2 credits.
This course provides instruction in the use of a variety of core wire electrodes. The student develops skills and knowledge in using various metals and joints and in performing various welds in all positions. Prerequisites for this course: Welding Theory (WELD105) and Gas Metal Arc Welding I (WELD 115).

WEL 116 Gas Tungsten Arc Welding I, 2 credits.
This course introduces the basic principles and fundamentals of gas tungsten arc welding. Students learn to safely set the power source of Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) equipment to the correct parameters. Students perform GTAW welds on various metals, and in multiple positions, meeting industry standards. Prerequisite for this course: Welding Theory (WELD 105).

WEL 216 Gas Tungsten Arc Welding II, 3 credits.
This course continues the study of the principles and fundamentals of gas tungsten arc welding. Students review procedures to safely set the power source of a Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) to the correct parameters. Students continue to develop their skills in performing GTAW welds on various metals, and in multiple positions, meeting industry standards. Prerequisites for this course: Welding Theory (WELD 105) and Gas Tungsten Arc Welding I (WELD 116).

WEL 120 Fabrication and Production, 5 credits.
This course covers welding processes used in industry, including arc, oxyacetylene, MIG, soldering, brazing, fabrication, and spot welding Testing, safety procedures and robotic equipment are also covered in the course.

WEL 106B Cutting Processes, 1 credit.
This course continues the development of skills and knowledge of cutting processes used in the welding industry. It includes metal cutting of both ferrous and nonferrous materials, and operation of manual, motor driven, and oxy-fuel shape cutting equipment. Also included are plasma-arc cutting (PAC) and carbon arc cutting (CAC-A). This course also focuses on equipment maintenance and safety, and continued development of cutting technique skills. Prerequisite for this course: Cutting Processes  (WELD 106A).

WEL 121 Welding Specialization, 3 credits.
This course offers experience in all subjects included in the Welding Technology curriculum. Students work with inter-shield welding processes, aluminum spool gun, plasma arc cutting, arc air cutting and leveling, hard surfacing and buildup, pipe welding, cutting and fit up. Previously learned skills are applied to fabrication of individual student projects. Prerequisite for this course: Fabrication and Production (WELD 120).

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