Welding projects well worth their weight – PCToday

Combining the thrill of competition with a demonstration of what they learned in class, welding students at Penn College recently built metal bridges that have been tested for strength in front of their peers. This year’s competition brought together 55 students from three sections, allowed to work individually or in groups of two. James N. Colton II, assistant professor of welding, said deck materials are limited to two 1/8 inch pieces, two 3/32 inch pieces and four 1/16 inch weld wiring pieces. inch. The bridge must also weigh between 270 and 310 grams and meet all dimensional criteria. This year’s overall winner was built by welding technology and manufacturing engineering majors Andrew P. Hatch, of Williamsport, and Michael A. Cramer, of Punxsutawney, and weighed 565 pounds. (The record – 640 pounds – was set in 2015 by alumni Devin A. Whiteman and Colby D. Macomber.)

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