Award in Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) Welding – Pipe: Low Carbon Steel

This unit forms part of the MCAST Award in Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) Pipe Welding (Low Carbon Steel) or (Austenitic Stainless Steel).

At the beginning of the course students are asked to select the parent metal that they wish to specialise on, that is, between the Austenitic Stainless Steel or Low Carbon Steel, for this unit always sheets/ plates are used.

Once a learner complete all the units in this course satisfactorily; that is has obtained a pass mark in the assessment and respected the 80% attendance s/he will achieve an award pegged at MQF Level 4, 11 ECVET Credits.

The course is designed for those learners who are determined to obtain a qualification to work in the industry with enough skills to produce TIG Pipe joints at industry standard in a selection of positions recognized by the sector.
Technological and health and safety requirements forms an integral part of this unit and as part of the final assessment, learners are given the opportunity to describe such requirements.

This course provides progression across a range of welding processes and also progression to higher levels.

This is a 64 hrs of guided learning course. Students need to invest further hours in the course, which will include private study and home assignments.

Lessons are held once a week on Saturday at the Institute of Building and Construction Engineering, Naxxar between 0800 hrs and 1300 hrs.

This unit is based on a series of practical exercises to produce industry standard TIG welded products in terms of performance of appearance and in terms of results following: macro section; nick-break fracture; root bend tests. The following positions will be covered: PA (ASME) 1G position; PC horizontal (ASME 2G) position; PF vertical-upwards (ASME 5G) position; PF vertical-upwards (ASME 5F) position; H-LO45 inclined (ASME 6G) position.

During such exercises knowledge regarding welding sets parameters and settings is discussed and students are asked to produce their own test samples. This unit can be taken using ‘Low Carbon Steel’ or ‘Austenitic Stainless Steel’.

Learning Outcome 1: Carry out the essential preparation prior to the welding process

Unit Content

• Preparation of material; parent material: low carbon steel or stainless steel pipe – 100 mm outside diameter. Pre-settings jigs with backing purge.
• Alignment of pipes before welding; Setting of welding equipment

Learning Outcome 2: Weld steel pipes using single-run and multiple-run Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) Welds

Unit Content

• Weld a single-vee pipe butt weld in the PA (ASME) 1G position
• Weld a single-vee pipe butt weld in the PC horizontal (ASME 2G) position
• Weld a single-vee pipe butt weld in the PF vertical-upwards (ASME 5G) position
• Weld a pipe tee fillet weld in the PF vertical-upwards (ASME 5F) position
• Weld a single-vee pipe butt weld in the H-LO45 inclined (ASME 6G) position
• Specific requirements to stopping and restarting the weld must be produced in the above welds.

Learning Outcome 3: Produce test samples from welded joints

Unit Content

• Cutting of welded sample to size for destructive testing requirements, polishing and etching for macro examination;
• Nick-break Test; root bend test
• Parent material: low carbon steel or austenitic stainless steel pipe – 1o0mm minimum requirements by 6 mm thick.
• Pipe: 100 mm outside diameter
• Acceptance is by visual inspection and destructive tests against the acceptance criteria specified in the marking scheme.

3. Are there any suggested pre-requisites and/or entry requirements for this course?
The following are the suggested pre-requisites and/or entry requirements needed:

Entry Requirements:

• Over 16 years old
• Satisfactory completed the MCAST Award in Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) Sheet/ Plate Welding – Level 3
• Satisfactory completed Unit 2: Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) Sheet Welding (Low Carbon Steel) or (Austenitic Stain Steel Welding)

Applicants may be called for an interview prior the commencement of the course.

Course participants may be awarded either an MCAST Certificate of Attendance or an MCAST Certificate of Achievement.

MCAST Certificate of Attendance
• An MCAST Certificate of Attendance will be awarded to those candidates who attend at least 80% of the lessons.

MCAST Certificate of Achievement
• An MCAST Certificate of Achievement will be awarded to those candidates who satisfy the 80% attendance criteria AND ALSO choose to sit and pass the course assessment/s.

• Students who opt not to sit for the assessment/s or fail (the assessment/s) will however be awarded an MCAST Certificate of Attendance provided that they fulfill the minimum attendance criteria as stated above.

If the student intends to obtain a Certificate of Achievement, she/he is required to sit for an assessment/s. Assessment/s are time constrained practical test followed by testing of weld samples. Students are expected to grind and cut material to prepare weld samples. However, the assessment/s is not compulsory and an applicant may choose not to sit for it.

Learners should bring their own Personal Protective Equipment and Welding Helmet