Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

This is an outcome based course utilizing a lecture format. This course includes, but is not limited to: classroom discussions, multimedia presentations, and lab demonstrations covering technical skills. Course outcomes will include: technical concepts, safety and fundamentals of operation.

Upon completion of the course students will be able to:

• Function safely in the PCC Welding Lab.
• Operate the oxy-fuel welding and cutting systems in accordance with industry standards.
• Understand and apply fundamentals of SMAW Operations.
• Understand and apply fundamentals of GTAW Operations.
• Understand and apply fundamentals of GMAW Operations.
• Understand and apply code requirements for FCAW.
• Operate the Plasma Arc Cutting (PAC) hand held system in accordance to industry standards.
• Operate the Carbon Arc Cutting - Air (CAC-A) system in accordance to industry standards.

The course syllabus will identify the methods used to assess student progress and the criteria for assigning a course grade. 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 and written assignments.

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

Demonstrate the operation of the oxy-fuel welding and  cutting systems in accordance with industry standards.

• Understand theory of operation

• Demonstrate correct setup, operation and shutdown procedures for oxy-fuel system

• Discuss care, storage, and handling of cylinders.

• Compare and contrast cylinder construction of acetylene and oxygen cylinders               

• Interpret oxygen fuel gas cutting chart to adjust pressures.

• Identify flame types.

Understand and apply fundamentals of SMAW Operations.

• Describe and demonstrate equipment setup, shut down, and operation

• Identify  electrode types and characteristics

• Describe electrical characteristics of a welding power source

• List common causes of arc blow.

• Define American Welding Society's electrode classification system.

• Explain the importance of matching alloyed electrodes to the base metal to be welded.

Understand and apply fundamentals of GTAW Operations

• Describe Fundamentals of operation

• Describe and demonstrate equipment setup, shut down, and operation

• Identify  electrode types

• Describe electrical characteristics of a welding power source

• Analyze the control board to determine the function of all the controls.

• Identify the different types of GTAW welding torches and components .

• List the types of tungsten used as electrodes and explain the AWS classification system.

• List the methods by which the tungsten is prepared.

Understand and apply fundamentals of GMAW Operations

• Describe the fundamentals of Operation

• Describe and demonstrate equipment setup, shut down, and operation

• Identify  electrode types

• Describe typical applications for GMAW welding.

• Explain the term constant-voltage and constant current as related to GMAW welding.

• Define GMAW Metal Transfer modes

• Explain the AWS classification system.

Understand and apply code requirements for FCAW

• Describe the fundamentals of Operation.

• Describe typical applications for FCAW welding.

• List the equipment which is needed for FCAW welding

• List the similarities between GMAW and FCAW.

• Explain the AWS classification system for FCAW electrodes.

• List the polarity needed for common electrodes.

• Describe the function of the flux.

Demonstrate the operation of 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

  • Amperage setting

  • Air pressure

  • Travel speed.

•  Demonstrate correct PAC cutting techniques on steel 

Demonstrate the operation of 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

• Identify electrodes and describe their arc characteristics and use

• Explain process variables and demonstrate the effects of:

  • Current

  • Travel speed  

  • Electrode angle

  • Arc length