Metal Fabrication & Welding
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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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
Career Tree: Metal Fabrication & Welding
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.
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- OSHA 10-Hour Construction
- American Welding Society (AWS) Welder Certification D1.1
- MASS Hot Works Certification
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- 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
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- 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
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
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- Keene State College
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- Consolidated Machine Corp.
- Evers Custom Welding and Repair
- Ferraro Mechanical Contractors Inc.
- Igo Supply Co.
- Santini Iron Works
- Turner Steel
- Waltham High School