Welding Instructors Conference/Clinic

Posted on by weldingt

UPDATE 6/19/21

We are good to go for the entire week! We had a few changes regarding vendors presenting but hopefully that won’t be an issue. Xiris was unable to make it and Hirebotics will be doing a presentation but we will not have a robot. Kinda bummed but still excited.

Our AWS Section Meeting on Tuesday only has a few registrants as of right now and instructors who attend the conference are welcome regardless of your AWS Membership Status.

I am preparing a few presentations now and I hope that a few others will present information along the same topics as I. I am hoping for more discussion than presentation or at least getting to hear a few folks opinions on some topics.

Monday may be a little slow getting started but if we get a bit tired of talking about welding, we can go to the shop and run a few beads. We will discuss teaching methods and our “philosophy” related to teaching. As welders, I bet it varies.

I think we may have some veteran teachers that may have some good information to share.

We do have a current welding instructor from our region coming in to talk to us about the “Underwater Welder” experience he has and maybe provide a better knowledge base for sharing with our students.

Our day for inspection will include a presentation and questions related to NDE methods and some hands on with UT equipment, inspection tools, weld replicas, and the AWS Book of Specifications.

Things are not as structured as some might expect but believe me, I am pretty sure we can stay focused on topics that will help us as instructors.

We will finish up each day around 3:00 PM and the area has some nice attractions.

Remember, if you want to take an AWS Certified Welder test, its included on Friday but I will be needing to know your intent by the end of the day Tuesday.

My Cell is 423-914-1481 if you need any info. Remember we are EST!

Update 6/11/21

10 days until we start. I am looking forward to spending some time with other welding instructors. As of this writing, a few more attendees are needed but we are good for Monday and Tuesday. If you have any questions or would like to talk about what is coming up, contact me at 423-914-1481.

articipating organizations planned are Airgas, Clean Air America, Lincoln Electric, AFCO NDE, Hirebotics, Xiris.

Below is a little more detail about what is planned.

21 June 2021-Registration Online Closed-Call or Email

  • Teaching Methods for Classroom and Shop
    • 08:00-09:00 Vendor Presentation-
    • 0900-0930 Introductions and General Discussion
    • 0930-09:45 Break
    • 09:45-10:30 Miller Openbook Demonstration/Examples– and using with Canvas or other LMS’s. Bring Your Device
    • 10:30-11:00 What Process 1st and Why-presentation and discussion
    • 11:00 – 12:00 Lunch and Learn- TBA
    • 12:00-13:00 Learning Skills without an Arc or Virtual Reality. – Presentation, Discussion, and Shop Demonstration.
    • 13:00-14:00 Theory to Shop Time Ratio- What’s required, What’s Done, and What’s best for students.
    • 14:00-1500 Open Discussion

22 June 2021-Registration Online Closed-Call or Email

  • Welding Skills and Techniques Sharing
    • Lincoln Electric Presentation and Equipment Demo.
    • Welding and Hands on demonstrations by participants to help each other in the shop. We all have different skills and abilities and this will be a great opportunity to share them.
    • Lunch and Learn by – TBA
    • GMAW Pulsed Arc setup and techniques for High Deposition GMAW using Miller Axcess 300.
    • Open Root Practice with Miller RMD and Lincoln STT
    • Silicon Bronze GMAW Demo
    • CNC Plasma Table (Tracker Pro Table) will be available for demonstration along with a basic introduction into getting started with 2D cad for creating drawings.
    • Underwater Welding Presentation and Discussion (Sorry, no demo)
    • Boiler Tube (Waterwall) welding Demonstration clinic.
    • AWS Section Meeting-6:00-8:00 PM Attendee Dinner and Presentation by Hirebotics.

23 June 2021-Registration Online Closed-Call or Email

Welding Inspection and NDE Knowledge for the Welding Educator

  • Vendor Presentation-None Scheduled, Contact me if interested.
  • What is an Inspector Presentation-
  • Introduction to the AWS Book of Specifications
  • Lunch and learn-Clean Air America
  • Reviewing WPS’s per AWS D1.1 and other Codes
  • Visual Inspection using the AWS Book of Specifications. (Hands on Exercises with actual welds and weld replicas) Various tools will be available for use.
  • NDE Method Overview with Hand on demonstrations. This will include MT,PT,and UT.

24 June 2021-Registration Online Closed-Call or Email

  • Introduction to Welder Qualification Testing Requirements
    • Vendor Presentation-Non Scheduled, Contact me if interested.
    • Certified and Qualified-Why the confusion
    • Code Requirements vs Teacher Requirements vs Company Requirements
    • Lunch and Learn-TBA
    • Review of AWS D1.1 requirements for a code compliant test.
    • Creating a WPS for Welder Testing Per AWS D1.1 and AWS B2.1. Participants will be guided through the process for creating a Single Vee Groove Prequalified WPS per the requirements of AWS D1.1.
    • Producing and storing code compliant records.
    • Shop demonstration of administering an AWS D1.1 Welder Performance Qualification Test. This will be an actual test where we will go through the entire process from beginning to end. If you already feel comfortable with the process and would like to be the welder, let me know.

25 June 2021-Registration Online Closed-Call or Email

  • AWS Certified Welder Testing for Participants. Tests are as follows.
    • AWS D1.1 Limited Thickness with backing, one or two positions. Process may be GMAW, FCAW-G, or SMAW or a combination on one test plate. GMAW Short Circuit Tests for D1.1 will not be performed.
    • AWS B2.1 2″ Schedule 80 GTAW Root and 2nd pass followed by E7018. You must contact me by 6/15/21 if you want to take this test.
    • Other tests may be possible, contact me if you have questions.

Update 5/27/21

We are moving closer to the date for getting together and sharing our thoughts and knowledge about what I consider the best job I have ever had.

My desire to have this meeting is a bit selfish though. Some of you may know I love talking about welding, welding, and almost anything to do with welding. Though I may be the person doing a few of the presentations I want you to understand that what I really hope for is that we will all presents something that may be useful for at least one person in attendance. If ANYONE is interested in making a presentation, please let me know.

The field of welding covers so many different things that keeps us from knowing it all. I am looking forward to learning from you! This is not a fancy, high tech location nor is it going to be the same type of meeting that you would see put on at the AWS headquarters in Miami or at Weld-Ed but I feel it will be a great opportunity for us to get together and better prepare ourselves for helping our students become part of a great career.

Fees

The Greeneville City School system has uploaded links to register and pay for the sessions at the conference here in Greeneville.

The minimum fee for attendance is $60.00 per day and it is required that you register for at least two days to receive that fee. If that is a problem, let me know.

There will be five days with each day focusing around specific topics but other sessions may happen and if you are not interested in attending one of the presentations, you can always just go weld in the shop!

To sign up and pay for the whole week click here.

For individual days, click the link on the heading. More details will be coming and please feel free to call or text me at 423-914-1481 if you have any questions.

In order to have this event, we will need a minimum of 6 people per day.

Sponsors and Vendors

This event is being sponsored and supported by Greeneville City Schools (My Employer), American Welding Society Holston Valley Section, Airgas Greeneville, Xiris Automation, Clean Air America and others. If you are interested in participating as a vendor, you will need to contact me if you have not already confirmed you are attending and presenting.

Below are the general topics by day and a partial list of what is planned.

21 June 2021- Register Here

  • Teaching Methods for Classroom and Shop
    • 08:00-09:00 Vendor Presentation-Xiris Camera Presentation and Setup Demonstration
    • Introductions and General Discussion
    • Miller Openbook Demonstration/Examples– and using with Canvas or other LMS’s. Bring Your Device
    • What Process 1st and Why-presentation and discussion
    • Lunch and Learn- TBA
    • Learning Skills without an Arc or Virtual Reality. – Presentation, Discussion, and Shop Demonstration.
    • Instructors willing to present are encouraged!.
    • More details to come.

22 June 2021-Register Here

  • Welding Skills and Techniques Sharing
    • Lincoln Electric Presentation and Equipment Demo.
    • Welding and Hands on demonstrations by participants to help each other in the shop. We all have different skills and abilities and this will be a great opportunity to share them.
    • Lunch and Learn by- TBA
    • GMAW Pulsed Arc setup and techniques for High Deposition GMAW using Miller Axcess 300.
    • CNC Plasma Table (Tracker Pro Table) will be available for demonstration along with a basic introduction into getting started with 2D cad for creating drawings.
    • Trying to line up the following.
      • Diver/Welder to present information about that trade
      • Pipeline welder to demonstrate setup and welding using XX10 electrodes downhill
      • Boiler Tube (Waterwall) welding Demonstration.

23 June 2021-Register Here

Welding Inspection and NDE Knowledge for the Welding Educator

  • Vendor Presentation-None Scheduled, Contact me if interested.
  • What is an Inspector Presentation-
  • Introduction to the AWS Book of Specifications
  • Lunch and learn-Clean Air America
  • Reviewing WPS’s per AWS D1.1 and other Codes
  • Visual Inspection using the AWS Book of Specifications. (Hands on Exercises with actual welds and weld replicas) Various tools will be available for use.
  • NDE Method Overview with Hand on demonstrations. This will include MT,PT,and UT.

24 June 2021-Register Here

  • Introduction to Welder Qualification Testing Requirements
    • Vendor Presentation-Non Scheduled, Contact me if interested.
    • Certified and Qualified-Why the confusion
    • Code Requirements vs Teacher Requirements vs Company Requirements
    • Lunch and Learn-TBA
    • Review of AWS D1.1 requirements for a code compliant test.
    • Creating a WPS for Welder Testing Per AWS D1.1 and AWS B2.1. Participants will be guided through the process for creating a Single Vee Groove Prequalified WPS per the requirements of AWS D1.1.
    • Producing and storing code compliant records.
    • Shop demonstration of administering an AWS D1.1 Welder Performance Qualification Test. This will be an actual test where we will go through the entire process from beginning to end. If you already feel comfortable with the process and would like to be the welder, let me know.

25 June 2021-Register Here for testing only or Here if you are attending at least one other day.

  • AWS Certified Welder Testing for Participants. Tests are as follows.
    • AWS D1.1 Limited Thickness with backing, one or two positions. Process may be GMAW, FCAW-G, or SMAW or a combination on one test plate. GMAW Short Circuit Tests for D1.1 will not be performed.
    • AWS B2.1 2″ Schedule 80 GTAW Root and 2nd pass followed by E7018. You must contact me by 6/15/21 if you want to take this test.
    • Other tests may be possible, contact me if you have questions.

Update 5/7/21

We are on track to meet for up to 5 days starting 21 June 2021. Each day will have a “theme” with related presentations, demonstrations, discussions, and shop time (where applicable). Please complete the pre-registration form at this link if you are planning on attending or would like to be a presenter…or both.

The 5 themes are listed below with a few notes.

  • Teaching Methods for Classroom and Shop
    • General Discussion and Presentations of “How you do it”.
    • AWS SENSE Information
    • Miller Openbook Demonstration
    • Using online resources
    • Tracking Student capabilities
    • Which process is “Best” to start with.
  • Welding Skills and Techniques Sharing
    • Options for discussion and hands on demonstrations by participants to help each other in the shop. Also a good chance to practice and/or learn “teaching techniques”.
    • Trying to line up one pipeliner with Rig to come in and demonstrate and talk about pipeline work.
    • Looking for a Diver/Welder to present a few things about their trade that can help us share that info with students.
  • Welding Inspection and NDE Knowledge for the Welding Educator
    • Content will be based upon the AWS CWI/CWE Body of Knowledge.
    • Hand on demonstrations of NDE methods will be a focus of the sessions. I am still looking for some interested in presenting. I have an old EPOCH III here that works fine other than batteries.
  • Introduction to Welder Qualification Testing Requirements
    • Certified and qualified-Why the confusion
    • Review of AWS D1.1 requirements for a code compliant test.
    • Methods for producing code compliant records
  • AWS Certified Welder Testing for Participants. Tests are as follows.
    • AWS D1.1 Limited Thickness one or two positions. Note that you may weld one plate for GMAW/FCAW/SMAW.
    • AWS B2.1 2″ Schedule 80 GTAW Root and 2nd pass followed by E7018
    • Other tests may be possible, contact me if you have questions.

FEES

The fee for each day will be $60.00 except that for instructors who are only attending the Friday Certified Welder Testing session, the fee will be $120.00

If you plan on attending PLEASE complete the pre-registration form at https://forms.gle/1zEroGZvdCShSzWt9

If you have any questions, you need to contact me! Registration and payment information is coming soon.

UPDATE: 4/23/21

The meeting is scheduled for the week of 21 June 2020.

These will be the sessions during the week. Some may be repeated on multiple days. The schedule is still to be determined. Based upon the interest those who completed the survey, here are the topics.

  1. Welding Skills and Techniques for instructors and students (Demonstrations and Hands on). Various sessions throughout the week and instructors will be able to spend time in the shop welding if not attending any other session or that shop time interferes with a scheduled session in the shop.
  2. Welder Testing and Certification requirements for AWS D1.1 and AWS B2.1
  3. Teaching Skills and Techniques for Welding Instructors (Presentations and open discussion by various instructors and any who are interested.)
  4. Welding Inspection Topics
    1. Using the AWS Book of Specifications. This will include using the AWS BoS and actual inspection of completed welds.
    2. Overview of basic NDE methods including hands on demonstrations.
    3. AWS D1.1 Overview
  5. Vendor Presentations that will occur at different times through the week as schedules are developed. As of this writing, I have commitment from 2 welding machine manufacturers, one welding booth ventilation system manufacturer, and one welding camera manufacturer.
  6. AWS SENSE System overview
  7. Private Welding School Presentations
  8. AWS Certified Welder testing for any wanting the credential. This will be performed on the last day of meeting or after the end of sessions during the day.
    1. AWS D1.1, 3/8″ or 1″, 2 Positions, SMAW w 7018, FCAW (Dual Shield), GMAW Globular or Spray 1G or 2G.
    2. ASME Sec. IX 2″ Schedule 80 GTAW followed by SMAW, any position.

Vendors/Presenters– If you are interested in supporting this event, please let me know! Best way is text. 423,914,1481

Registration- Registration information will be posted by 1 May 21

Cost/Fees-

The estimated cost will be between $50-$60 per day however there are a few potential presenters that may need to be compensated that may affect this.

Original Post

I am in the planning stages for holding a conference during a week in June or July of 2021 at the Greene Technology Center in Greeneville TN. This will be open to participant from any region but may make the summer professional development requirements easier to achieve for those in the region. For those NOT in our region, this is a beautiful place to visit!

The content is being developed and I am in the process of getting presenters from some welding equipment manufacturers. I hope to have everything firmed up by April 26th 2021.

Our primary focus will be on sharing ideas related to teaching welding at various levels from the AG teacher to the College level. We will have days and/or sessions related to the following.

  1. Building Our Welding Skills (Shop Time) and sharing our techniques for welding.
  2. Building Students welding skills discussion and shop demonstrations.
  3. Welder Testing and Certification per AWS B2.1 and AWS D1.1 (How to properly perform and document).
  4. Equipment Presentations by vendors. (Details under development)
  5. Teaching “online” discussion.
  6. How to become an AWS Accredited Test Facility with a sample quality system and how to use it for your own testing documentation.
  7. Using Online learning Management Systems for teaching theory. Moodle, Canvas,Miller Openbook, and Cengage (pending)
  8. Presentations from private welding schools (not firmed up yet). May be “virtual” depending on schools.
  9. Welding Inspection and CWE/CWI workshops.
  10. Instructors will have the option of taking various AWS Certified Welder Tests in accordance with the AWS QC7 requirements.

The dates and content will be firmed up over the next week or so and your input is welcome. If you would like to take a survey related to this event (even if you know you wouldn’t come), please complete the form at https://forms.gle/zWUfZ6sgXDEjDXbCA

This is something that I have been thinking about for awhile and the Covid 19 situation has prevented quite a few “meetings” from occurring this past year. Here is a chance to get together! We will follow the the requirements in place in Greeneville TN as related to “Social Distancing”.

If you have any questions, please contact me by text at 423-914-1481. You can also comment here.

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