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Career Details : Welder-Fitters

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Description

Lay out, fit, and fabricate metal components to assemble structural forms, such as machinery frames, bridge parts, and pressure vessels, using knowledge of welding techniques, metallurgy, and engineering requirements. Includes experimental welders who analyze engineering drawings and specifications to plan welding operations where procedural information is unavailable.

Experience

A minimum of two to four years of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.

Education

Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.

Training

Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.

Tasks

  • Removes rough spots from workpiece, using portable grinder, hand file, or scraper.
  • Analyzes engineering drawings and specifications to plan layout, assembly, and welding operations.
  • Installs or repairs equipment, such as lead pipes, valves, floors, and tank linings.
  • Ignites torch and adjusts valves, amperage, or voltage to obtain desired flame or arc.
  • Welds components in flat, vertical, or overhead positions.
  • Tack-welds or welds components and assemblies, using electric, gas, arc, or other welding equipment.
  • Determines required equipment and welding method, applying knowledge of metallurgy, geometry, and welding techniques.
  • Lays out, positions, and secures parts and assemblies according to specifications, using straightedge, combination square, calipers, and ruler.
  • Cuts workpiece, using powered saws, hand shears, or chipping knife.
  • Develops templates and other work aids to hold and align parts.
  • Melts lead bar, wire, or scrap to add lead to joint or to extrude melted scrap into reusable form.
  • Inspects grooves, angles, or gap allowances, using micrometer, caliper, and precision measuring instruments.
  • Heats, forms, and dresses metal parts, using hand tools, torch, or arc welding equipment.
  • Observes tests, such as hydrostatic, x-ray, and dimension tolerance, on welded surfaces, to evaluate weld quality and conformance to specifications.

    Related Careers

    Important Abilities

    General Work Activities

    Important Skills

    Frequent Work Context

    • Importance of Being Sure All Is Done
    • Consequence of Error
    • Using Hands on Objects, Tools, Controls
    • Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
    • Degree of Automation

    Related Majors

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    Welding Management Technologyadd Welding Management Technology to MyFSA
    Welding Technologyadd Welding Technology to MyFSA
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