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Metal Fabrication and Welding

Program Description

The Metal Fabrication & Welding program provides students with real world experience in addition to the ability to graduate with certifications sought by employers. The curriculum offers practical skills in fabrication, layout, and welding with theory and welding practice. A wide range of skills surrounding welding and sheet metal are presented. The students are trained in many forms of welding using up-to-date equipment. They include; Oxyacetylene Cutting and Welding (OAC/W), Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW), Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW), Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW), Resistance Welding (spot welding), as well as, some soldering (silver soldering), and Arc Gouging and Cutting (air arc). Upon completion of the Metal Fabrication & Welding Technology curriculum, students are required to complete a senior project and achieve at least one welding certification.

Course Content

  • Welding Safety Practices
  • Hand Tool and Machine Safety
  • Welding Processes
  • Welding Joints
  • Oxy-fuel Process
  • GMAW Theory and Process
  • Intro to Metals and Their Uses
  • Basic Metal Fabrication
  • Advanced SMAW
  • AC/DC Operations
  • Polarities
  • Electrode Care and Use
  • Operating Ranges
  • Welding Drawings
  • GTAW Theory and Process
  • CAC Theory and Process
  • PAC Theory and Process
  • Advanced Welding Drawings
  • Welding Symbols
  • Blueprint Reading
  • Chart and Progress Outcomes
  • Advanced CAC
  • Advanced PAC
  • Sustainability & Green Technologies

Career Tree: Metal Fabrication & Welding

First page of the PDF file: MetalFabricationWeldingCareerTree2019

Industry Certifications

  • OSHA 10-Hour General Industry Safety
  • American Welding Society (AWS) Welder Certification
  • Mass Highway D1.5

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

$30,000 - $50,000

*Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Website: bls.gov/ooh

Employers Hiring Minuteman Graduates

  • Sullivan Mechanical Contractors
  • Hillside Air
  • Wholesale Doors, Inc.
  • Watertown Ironworks,
  • Ferraro Mechanical Contractors Inc.
  • Astro Crave
  • Fort Devens
  • Steel Fab

College Partners

  • Central Maine Community College
  • Lincoln Tech (Formerly Baran Institute of Technology)

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