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Metal Fabrication & Welding

Metal Fabrication & Welding

CTE MA State Frameworks

Advisory Committees

Co-op

Career Tree

Program Description

The Welding Shop at Minuteman offers a dynamic, hands-on learning environment designed to prepare students for successful careers in metal fabrication and joining technologies. Aligned with the Massachusetts Chapter 74 Vocational Technical Education Frameworks, our program provides a comprehensive curriculum that integrates rigorous academic instruction with practical skill development in metalworking, welding, and fabrication processes.

Students will:

  • Gain hundreds of hours of directed practice in welding techniques, including Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW), Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW), Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW), and Flux-Cored Arc Welding (FCAW).
  • Develop proficiency in metal cutting and shaping techniques, including plasma arc cutting, oxy-fuel cutting, and CNC operation.
  • Study in blueprint reading, welding symbols, and fabrication design.
  • Learn critical safety standards and practices to ensure a secure working environment and long-term personal health.

Course Content 

  • 2D CAD/CAM Modeling
  • Carbon Arc Gouging and Cutting
  • CNC Plasma Cutter Setup and Operation
  • Fabrication Machinery Setup and Operation
  • Gas Metal Arc Welding/MIG Theory and Process
  • Gas Tungsten Arc Welding/TIG Theory and Process
  • Hand Tool and Machine Safety
  • Intro to Metals and Their Uses
  • Metal Fabrication Techniques

 

 

  • Oxy-fuel Gas Welding and Cutting
  • Plasma Arc Cutting
  • Resistance (Spot) Welding
  • Shielded Metal Arc Welding/Stick Theory and Process
  • Welding Electrode Care and Use
  • Welding Symbols and Blueprint Reading
  • Welding Joints and Positions
  • Welding Safety Practices

State-of-Art Equipment

Our facility is equipped with advanced tools and technology that reflect industry standards, ensuring students are prepared for modern workplaces. The shop includes:

  • Piranha CNC Plasma Cutting Machines for precise and efficient cutting of complex designs.
  • Miller MIG, TIG, and Stick Welding Stations, outfitted with personal exhaust hoods for superior safety.
  • Virtual Welding Simulators to enhance technique and confidence in a risk-free environment.
  • Advanced Fabrication Tools, including press brakes, shears, and grinders, for creating custom metal components.
  • Project Collaboration and Integration between shops with Advanced Manufacturing, Automotive, Engineering and Robotics, and Carpentry

Industry Certifications

OSHA 10-Hour General Industry Safety American Welding Society (AWS) Welder Certification D1.1 MASS Hot Works Certification

Possible Career Pathways

Apprentice Welder Boilermaker Commercial Diver Welder Equipment and Supply Sales Iron Worker Mechanical Engineer Metal Fabricator Pipe Fitter Service Representative Welder Welding Engineer Welding Inspector

Starting Salary

Ironworker (2023 Median Pay): $60,780/yr Pipefitter (2023 Median Pay): $61,550/yr Production Welder (2023 Median Pay): $48,940/yr Metal Fabricator (2023 Median Pay): $48,480/yr

College Partners

Keene State College

Advisory Committee Partners

Consolidated Machine Corp. Evers Custom Welding and Repair Ferraro Mechanical Contractors Inc. Igo Supply Co. Santini Iron Works Turner Steel Waltham High School

Employers Hiring Minuteman Graduates

Astro Crave Ferraro Mechanical Contractors Inc. Fort Devens GE Aviation Hillside Air Seven Cycles Steel Fab Sullivan Mechanical Contractors Watertown Ironworks Wholesale Doors, Inc.

Metal Fabrication & Welding Instructors