Performance Assessment Sheet
Area: PSTS
Job: GMAW Lap Joint
Step Procedures
1) Gather materials. a. 10 gauge or 1/8” coupons
b. GMAW systems
c. Safety glasses
d. Welding hood
e. Pliers
f. Welding booth with
ventilation
g. Long sleeve, flame
resistant welding shirt.
h. Closed-toe leather shoes
2) Set-up welding a. Once securing a booth and
booth and GMAW welder, set-up the
coupons. coupons so that one piece
overlaps the other by at
least ½” – 1 ½” depending
on the width of the coupon.
3) Set-up GMAW a. Turn on the machine.
machine. b. Turn on the gas (CO2 and
Argon mixture) by first
slowly cracking the
cylinder valve and then
opening it all the way.
c. Next, adjust the working
pressure valve to where it
reads 25-30 CFH.
d. Set the machine settings for
the proper volts and WFS
for the 10-gauge coupons.
4) Tack the lap joint. a. Once the machine is set to
the proper settings and the
lap joint is properly
prepared, tack each corner
of the joint so that it does
not move later when the
weld is started.
5) Weld the joint. a. After all the proper
adjustments have been
made, begin creating the
weld across the joint.
b. Make sure the travel angle
is 15-degrees and that the
gun is held at roughly 30-
35-degrees for work angle.
c. Weld across the length of
the lap joint.
Name:
Date:
Safety and Key Points Assessment/Points
Possible
DO NOT FORGET your 5 pts
safety glasses and other PPE!
Make sure the proper wire is Peer Initials:
in the machine.
Teacher Initials:
Make sure you set-up the lap 5 pts
joint squarely and evenly.
Peer Initials:
Make sure the ground clamp
is connected to the table or Teacher Initials:
near your work.
Make sure that once the valve 5 pts
is open there are no leaks,
especially if it has been a Peer Initials:
while since the system has
been used. REMEMBER to
use soapy water or the special Teacher Initials:
leak check.
Make sure you tack the pieces 5 pts
together!
Peer Initials:
Teacher Initials:
Make sure that the weld 10 pts
puddle is begin PUSHED,
NOT PULLED. This is how Peer Initials:
it is done in the industry.
Use a whip-and-pause motion. Teacher Initials:
Performance Assessment Sheet Name:
Area: PSTS
Job: GMAW Lap Joint Date:

6) Analyze weld. a. Once the weld is 5 pts

completed, place the gun in
a location where its trigger Peer Initials:
will not be depressed, or if
it has a hook, hang it in a
safe spot. Teacher Initials:
b. Looking at the weld, look When looking at the weld,
for consistent coverage on make sure that the toe on both
BOTH the top and bottom plates ties in neatly and
plate. smoothly. (“Toe” is the edge
c. The weld bead should lay of the weld bead.)
relatively flat and create a
“triangle” with the two
coupons.
7) Make necessary a. After analyzing the weld, Don’t be afraid to continually 5 pts
adjustments and make the necessary adjust the machine settings to
continue machine setting achieve a consistent weld. Peer Initials:
practicing. adjustments.
b. Continue practicing on the
other side of the metal, Teacher Initials:
since two joints will be
created by the overlap.
Total: 40 pts