Welding Technician

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I'd like to get into the welding field as a welder, welding technician, or possibly a welding engineer. I know these are a worlds apart from one another but I enjoy the math and science involved with it. I saw in a previous post that you can become a welding technician with a associates degree in applied science. Is this correct? Also, I'm a little confused on what a welding technician does. I'd like to go to a tech school as well as get a degree in applied science. Will this improve my chances of becomming a welding technician or greater?I'm just looking to get a little advice and what direction to go towards. Thanks, josh
Reply:I just dont want to be stuck in a fab shop welding the same thing over and over. My Community college offers applied science but no metallurgy classes. And the tech school is in NYC. I want to be able to weld, fabricate, test, and decision make if/when possible. I want to be able to fall back on the decision making and testing part later on in my career when I physically rather be doing the thinking/desk job and let the "kids" do the welding/ fabricating.(I'm just thinking ahead.) Also, is it applied science or engineering that I would have to take? How would you go about doing this.Last edited by josh930; 11-25-2006 at 03:09 AM.
Reply:Originally Posted by josh930 I saw in a previous post that you can become a welding technician with a associates degree in applied science. Is this correct?
Reply:The welding technicians i worked around ,at Kaiser Steel & Mare Island Naval shipyard  mostly developed new procedures for automated processes such as Union Melt (Submerged Arc) ,some were not qualified weldors ! They worked with the top welders ,to establish parameters - weld speed,(inches per minute of wire , and carriage speed/minute, ) amps,volts to assure the proper "heat input "[SIZE="5"Yardbird"
Reply:Originally Posted by Roy HodgesThe welding technicians i worked around ,at Kaiser Steel & Mare Island Naval shipyard  mostly developed new procedures for automated processes such as Union Melt (Submerged Arc) ,some were not qualified weldors ! They worked with the top welders ,to establish parameters - weld speed,(inches per minute of wire , and carriage speed/minute, ) amps,volts to assure the proper "heat input "
Reply:There is a fellow on this board who is a welding engineer. I have not heard of such a term before. I'm curious to know what welding engineers do
Reply:Josh, I encourage you to get an associates degree in welding technology.  This can open the door for you to work with some very interesting automated and precision welding applications.  There is a need for good mechanical/electrical/machine control people who have a strong welding background.  My experience in aerospace and auto industry is similar to Roy's at Mare Island, the techs did a lot of hands on work of setting up parameters, troubleshooting mechanical/electrical/control problems, installing/upgrading equipment, and generally making the thing work.
Reply:Originally Posted by pulserJosh, I encourage you to get an associates degree in welding technology.  This can open the door for you to work with some very interesting automated and precision welding applications.  There is a need for good mechanical/electrical/machine control people who have a strong welding background.  My experience in aerospace and auto industry is similar to Roy's at Mare Island, the techs did a lot of hands on work of setting up parameters, troubleshooting mechanical/electrical/control problems, installing/upgrading equipment, and generally making the thing work.