Metal Fabrication & Welding

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.

Curriculum Highlights

The Welding Shop program focuses on core competencies outlined in the Chapter 74 Frameworks for Metal Fabrication and Joining Technologies.

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.

State-of-the-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

Career and College Readiness

Graduates of the Metal Fabrication and Welding Shop program are equipped with industry standard certifications such as AWS D1.1 (American Welding Society Structural Welding), OSHA-10 Hour Construction Safety, Massachusetts Hot Works credentials, and a portfolio full of work samples providing a competitive edge in the job market and laying the groundwork for potential future studies in engineering and industrial design, manufacturing, or construction management.