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Greene Technology Center Welding Program

Welcome to the page for the Greeneville City Schools, Greene Technology Center Welding Program.
 
Our program is intended to help students develop introductory and intermediate welding skills using a variety of welding processes. We can provide training for interested students starting as early as the 9th grade. Expand one of the items to read a little more. 
Welding in process
Welding is a developed skill requiring hand eye coordination. This coordination is developed by building muscle memory. This skill can only be applied if there is also a basic understanding of theoretical topics related to welding processes, electricity, physics, and some other knowledge.. 
 
These classes are intended to build those skills and knowledge. There will be shop time, a little classroom time, and HOMEWORK. Most of the theory work will be computer based however you may be required to take notes which may be graded and also occasionally work from a book. We will primarily work in the shop however there is theory work that needs to be completed.
 
Much of the homework (if not all) will be computer based. If this is NOT what you had in mind, please don't sign up!
 
This is not a class that all will do well in. It is a skill that is built and developed based upon practice, interest, and desire. Some will do well, some will not. Below are pictures of two groups of welds made by students with the same amount of class time. Some have done well, some have not. These welds are graded and sorted often as a "contest" . There are winners and there are losers! Remember this though, the skill demonstrated on the less appealing welds is still something most of the world cannot do. I am interested in seeing progress and not perfection.
 
If you are interested, take a few minutes and listen to my rambling in the video at
 
Have a great day!
Good Welds
 
 
Not So good welds
 
 

1) If you have not completed OSHA 10 training and certification at the start of a semester, it will be required before going to the shop.  This will be computer based and done in the classroom or you can work on it at home but understand this. YOU WILL NOT GO IN THE SHOP UNTIL IT IS DONE.

You will have two weeks allowed for completing the OSHA 10 course. During that time you will be in the classroom working online.

For those of you that like to sit in the classroom, please do NOT SIGN UP for my class and waste my time or the time of others. For those of you that think you only go to the shop, the same goes for you!

2) Classes will have assignments that are on a computer. If a computer is NOT provided by your home school, you need to let me know at the start of the semester. 

 

There will also be book work, classroom time etc.  If this is something you just cannot bear in your life, feel free to use your credits in something a little easier on your "feelings".

There are a few of you during your 1st semester and other semesters that appear to have placed little value in something I considered valuable which is theory work associated with welding. It has been noted.

3) Since the advanced class in the afternoon is sometimes full, I may have the opportunity to provide input related to who is in the class. Should it come to the point where I have to reduce my class size the 1st few weeks of a semester, understand that one of the prime considerations will be how much effort I had to put into trying to get you to work on classroom work or in the shop in the past and how you interact with others.

4) I have mentioned to some of you in the past that you should consider taking something else. If you walk around the shop, don't stay in your booth, goof off, horseplay, and are not serious about learning to weld, DO NOT COME BACK TO MY CLASS!

 

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Intro to Manufacturing-Welding We will start off with the GMAW process in your 1st class along with a very short introduction to GTAW and SMAW. There is a great deal of "Theory" that you can begin learning now but to get good at welding, we will have to WELD!  We will dedicate one day a week (Probably Monday) to theory topics related to welding.  You are expected to be prepared to weld EVERY DAY we meet including theory(classroom) days. 
 
We will start of the 1st week or two of classes with getting to know each other ,some safety training and a little shop time as a group. You will be required to complete some specific safety training both online and face to face. You WILL have homework as part of this class. You will also be required to bring your laptop ready for use every day until I let you know otherwise. A notebook dedicated to welding only is required.
 
If it bothers you to not be able to wear low cut shoes, yoga pants, torn or frayed clothing, this may not be for you. You can change clothes before class starts and at the end of class if needed. It will use up some of your welding time and may affect how well you learn to weld. 
 
In the past I have been pretty tolerant of sweat pants, pajama pants etc... It is suggested to always have a pair of cotton/denim pants either on your person or with you as not being prepared to weld may affect your grade. I will provide a few pairs of shoes if needed. You cannot wear any open toed shoes in the shop. Wearing shoes made of materials that can burn or melt may result in injuries to your feet/toes.
 
This will not be a class for building projects etc.. It will be primarily welding on the same thing almost every day. 
 
Here is a sample of what you will work on for most of the semester.  One students does well, another...not so well. 
Pad welds
 
We will talk more once we get face to face.
 
Watch the video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vv0SGaqoyuw  
In Welding I, we will begin looking at all of the welding processes commonly used in manufacturing and construction. Additionally, you will be introduced to cutting process and shop equipment. After we revisit your skills gained in the 1st class, we will move into deeper knowledge, and skills related to multiple processes. This is the 1st class after your introductory class. Please DO NOT take this class if you are just looking for something to fill your schedule. You know how serious you are about this. I ask you to help me out please. 
 
Things I would like you to be able to do are...
1) Safely operate the shear, ironworker, band saw, oxy acet torch, track torch, and CNC plasma cutter.
2) Read basic drawings and cut materials in accordance with the drawings and assemble items based on the drawings.
3) Make single pass and multipass fillet welds in all positions with GMAW.
4) Make Single Pass and multipass fillets welds in the flat, horizontal, and vertical position with SMAW using E6010 and E7018.
5) Setup and Troubleshoot the welding machines in the shop.
6) Complete Groove welds on backing in the flat position with bends meeting the criteria of AWS D1.1.
 
READ THE TOPIC FOR RETURNING STUDENTS! 
 
 
The welding II class will take the skills you have developed in the previous classes and build skills that are essential for industry recognized testing and certification. You will focus on building skills for Complete Joint Penetration Groove Welds with SMAW and/or GMAW after exhibiting the necessary skills for depositing multiple pass fillet welds. You will have to show me some fillet welds at the beginning of class!
 
At this level, its good to start thinking about where you want to go with welding. Manufacturing and Construction are both great areas for welders but they require some different skills and knowledge. 
 
We will look at where you are and what your goals are and focus on construction type welding or skills more closely related to manufacturing.
 
READ THE TOPIC FOR RETURNING STUDENTS!
 
For Juniors and Seniors, options exist that can allow for credit to be earned during classes at the GTC that reduce the overall hours for the welding training at the TCAT.  Though dual enrollment may reduce your training time at TCAT, it may help you complete the program sooner than other students starting at the same time. 
 
POSITIVE= Can finish TCAT early and receive your completion certificate. (This may be useful for potential employers that focus on graduates and papers as opposed to skills)
NEGATIVE=You may not receive as much training time since Dual Enrollment hours may reduce the training hours available at TCAT. (This may be an issue for potential employers who want to see your welding skills as opposed to a paper saying you completed a course. MORE PRACTICE=BETTER SKILL)
AWS ATF Logo
Our facility has met the requirements of AWS QC4 and AWS QC7 and is accredited as a test facility for the American Welding Society Certified Welder Program. 
 
Our primary goal is to provide testing services for High School Students needing an industry recognized credential. 
 
Testing can be performed at our location or at other locations using AWS CWI's in our region that have been trained to work in accordance with our written quality system. 
 
Because our facility is primarily focused on training our students, testing at our facility is limited to hours that do not interfere with classes however testing can be performed at other locations in some situations including your school or facility. 
 
The best method to contact us for a testing consultation is by email or by calling or texting the technical manager Gerald Austin at 423-914-1481.
 
As an AWS Accredited Test Facility, we can provide welder performance qualification testing and certification in accordance with the AWS Certified Welder Program for other educational institutions (Perkins Requirement), Industry, or Individuals. 
 
If you have any questions, please contact Gerald Austin at [email protected].