I. General Information

1. Course Title:
Gas Metal ARC Welding I

2. Course Prefix & Number:
WELD 1106

3. Course Credits and Contact Hours:

Credits: 3

Lecture Hours: 1

Lab Hours: 4

4. Course Description:

This course will expand on the skills obtained in WELD 1103 and include topics such as safety, equipment selection and setup, electrode selection and application, and best operating parameters for particular tasks. Students will create and refine their capacity to plan and produce quality welds, using the gas metal arc welding process, under a variety of conditions that meet given industry-standard specifications. During the course, students will complete a variety of skill-specific tasks and a final project to demonstrate their welding competencies.

5. Placement Tests Required:

Accuplacer (specify test):

No placement tests required

Score:

6. Prerequisite Courses:

There are no prerequisites for this course.

9. Co-requisite Courses:

II. Transfer and Articulation

III. Course Purpose

1. Program-Applicable Courses – This course fulfills a requirement for the following program(s):

Welding and Fabrication A.A.S.
Welding and Fabrication Diploma

IV. Learning Outcomes

1. College-Wide Outcomes

College-Wide Outcomes/Competencies	Students will be able to:
Utilize appropriate technology	Review welding parameters and available equipment and select best technology and process.
Work as a team member to achieve shared goals	Plan and execute simultaneous double t-weld as a team.

2. Course Specific Outcomes - Students will be able to achieve the following measurable goals upon completion of the course:

• Develop an understanding of polarity and its effect on final weld;
• Define polarity and select appropriate settings based on the electrode type and welding goals;
• Explain weld positions and how they will affect various weld joints;
• Identify and implement the proper work angle, proper travel angle, and proper travel speed given specific welding tasks;
• Determine the proper welding parameters and equipment when using multi-process welders; select best options given equipment limitations and availability; and
• Complete a variety of skill-welds in order to demonstrate an understanding of electrode manipulation.

V. Topical Outline

Listed below are major areas of content typically covered in this course.

1. Lecture Sessions

1. Puddle fusion techniques
• Review of puddle fusion fundamentals
• Directional control and its impact on weld quality:
• Push Technique – benefits for visibility and shallow penetration
• Pull Technique – deeper penetration and control in thicker materials
• Application scenarios and technique selection
2. Spray transfer welding
• Overview of spray transfer mode:
• High deposition rate and smooth arc characteristics
• Suitable for flat and horizontal positions
• Joint types and considerations:
• Lap Joint – fusion at overlapping edges
• Tee Joint – vertical plate to horizontal base
• Multi-Pass Welding – layering for strength and thickness
3. Pulse spray transfer welding
• Introduction to pulsed spray transfer:
• Controlled heat input and reduced spatter
• Ideal for out-of-position welding and thin materials
• Joint applications:
• Lap Joint – precision control
• Tee Joint – reduced burn-through
• Groove Joint – full penetration with minimal distortion
• Multi-Pass Welding – heat management across layers
4. Flux cored arc welding (FCAW)
• FCAW process overview:
• Self-shielded vs. gas-shielded flux core wires
• Advantages in outdoor and high-deposition environments
• Joint types and techniques:
• Lap Joint – fast fill rates
• Tee Joint – structural applications
• Groove Joint – deep penetration
• Multi-Pass Welding – building welds in thick sections
5. Weld positions and their challenges
• Review of standard welding positions:
• Flat Position – optimal for control and quality
• Horizontal Position – side-to-side puddle management
• Vertical Position – uphill vs. downhill strategies
• Overhead Position – safety and technique for inverted welding
6. Process selection and optimization
• Matching transfer modes to material and joint type
• Heat input, travel speed, and electrode angle considerations
• Troubleshooting common issues across processes

2. Laboratory/Studio Sessions

1. Puddle fusion
• ER70S-6 push
• ER70S-6 pull
2. Spray transfer
• Lap
• Tee
• Multi-pass
3. Pulse spray transfer
• Lap
• Tee
• Groove
• Multi-pass
4. Flux cored arc welding
• Lap
• Tee
• Groove
• Multi-pass
5. Weld positions
• Flat
• Horizontal
• Vertical
• Overhead