NASA’s planned trip to Mars in the 2030s is one step closer to reality now that the massive fuel tanks have been completely welded together. NASA’s New Orleans manufacturing facility is home to the Vertical Assembly Center (VAC) welder, the world’s largest welding machine. The liquid hydrogen fuel tank is one of the two tanks required for the massive rocket that is currently being assembled for future space missions.
Welding Industry
Fume Extraction Is Key to Welding Shop Safety: “The best way to lower your technicians’ risk of breathing harmful airborne particulates is to use a heavy-duty weld fume extractor, because it captures weld fumes before they can reach the technician’s breathing zone. Other means, such as vacuum systems, exhausting fumes outdoors and the use of fans and open doors are not as effective, and often simply send the toxic fumes somewhere else instead of capturing them.”
Welding Education
Welding Student’s Flag Goes Viral: “Damion Davenport didn’t know a lot about welding when he started taking his Intro to Welding class. Now, he’s getting recognized for not only his skill, but his patriotism as well. Grinding and welding can be hard work, but Davenport says it allows him to express himself in the metal.”
Roanoke County Partners with School for New Welding Lab: “The advanced welding lab at the Botetourt Technical Education Center (BTEC) is a nationally accredited lab that can provide the highest level certifications to its students. Open for nine years, the advanced welding lab recently won a state grant and much support from the community in order to more fully train the welders of tomorrow.”
Missouri Welding Lab Expands: “East Central College trustees this week approved a change order for additional expenses related to the renovation of the college’s business and industry center. The request, which was to install a gas piping system and reconfigure the welding lab to provide 19 stations instead of 13, was tabled at the September meeting after board members requested additional information.”
Michigan School Adds Welding Program: “North Central Michigan College and the Industrial Arts Institute, Inc. of Onaway have announced a new associate degree program at North Central in welding beginning in January 2017.
Students enrolled in the program will receive general education and a portion of the technical skills coursework through North Central with the remaining technical skills coursework completed through an agreement with Industrial Arts Institute.”
Welding Events
Welding without Borders BBQ: “FABTECH 2016, North America’s largest collaboration of technology, equipment and knowledge in the metal forming, fabricating, welding and finishing industries, will support the advancement of manufacturing education by hosting the 2016 Welding Without Borders: Welding Thunder Fabrication Team Invitational. The student competition takes place at FABTECH 2016 in the Silver Lot of the Las Vegas Convention Center on Nov. 16, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., and Nov. 17, from 7 a.m.-1 p.m.”
Welding Gone Wrong
Man’s Clothes Caught on Fire While Welding: “An Iredell County man confined to a wheelchair suffered severe burns after his clothes caught fire while he was in his garage welding Tuesday afternoon, sources say. The man, whose name has not been released, was transported to the burn center at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center with life-threatening second- and third-degree burns, according to Mount Mourne Fire Chief Roger Hoover.”
