Students Improve Both Technical and Professional Skills
Field trip to FabTech at McCormick Place. We met some famous people in the welding industry!
Owen F. (Yorkville) machining parts for a SkillsUSA sculpture project.
Caytlin P. (Indian Creek) fine tunes skills for aluminum TIG welding.
William B. (Sandwich) welds a bend test plate.
It’s been busy as usual in the Welding and Fabrication class. First-year students are in the shop and have gone through Stick (arc) and MIG (metal inert gas) welding. During these processes, the students welded coupons in flat, horizontal, vertical, and overhead positions. Along with learning these welding skills, they are becoming knowledgeable on how to use the machines in the shop. Now they have switched to learning how to gas weld.
While first-years were learning and getting associated with the shop, second-year students had returned and started off with TIG (gas tungsten arc) welding and then moved to Aluminum TIG welding. Afterwards, some second-year students broke off to work on SkillsUSA projects, while others practiced welding processes they learned previously, bend tests, and heavy multipass MIG welding.
Throughout the year, welding students work on various projects. During the fall season, all welding students made pumpkins to sell so the class could go on a field trip to FabTech in Chicago. During this time, students learned how to use the bandsaw, roller, and other tools to create the pieces. These pumpkins were assembled using the MIG process. During the Christmas season, students did projects of their own using the processes they’ve learned in class. Some of the projects included snowflakes, snowmen, and Christmas trees. Also, students helped the Sandwich community by fixing various pieces of equipment used in city maintenance and park district.
Not only do students in this class learn technical skills but they also work on improving their professional skills. They are expected to have excellent attendance, show respect, and be trustworthy. Students will continue to learn, work hard, and strive to produce quality work in the Welding and Fabrication class at IVVC!