Finger Lakes Community College has launched a new welding program that uses augmented reality equipment for hands-on training without the danger of sparks, molten metal and heat.
As the inaugural class for this 12-week program prepares for graduation this month (December), the college is now registering students for the next session.
The class runs from Jan. 13 through April 4. Classes are held Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 8:30 a.m. to noon at the FLCC Newark Campus Center off Route 88. The class is open to anyone 18 and older.
Registration is online at bit.ly/wcs-app or by contacting the FLCC Workforce and Career Solutions Office at (585) 785-1670 or [email protected]
Students’ initial hands-on practice is done in a virtual environment. They don a welding visor and grasp a torch-like tool. Both are connected by cables to a computer running a simulation program.
The computer program provides real-time feedback on students’ speed, accuracy, hand positions and other factors, said instructor Jahaan Williams, a resident of Lyons. “In the welding world, it’s just muscle memory. The equipment takes away the fear factor of sparks and smoke,” he said. This allows students to focus on technique for several weeks before finishing the class with tasks in a real welding shop.
Welding offers steady, good-paying work that students can do anywhere in the world, Williams noted. Beyond the practical, he also finds inspiration in the ability to create something durable and long-lasting.
“I’m big on fabrication,” he said. “I ask students, ‘What do you think you can build that would make the world better?’”
Welders may be in high demand, but setting up training sites with the right tools, safety equipment and raw materials is costly. The computerized kits provide an affordable, life-like experience while eliminating the risk of injury.
They are also highly portable, meaning the course location can move around the region so students don’t have to travel long distances to get training.
FLCC worked with Wayne County Community Schools and the Wayne County Action Program to develop the program. Ontario County Economic Development and the SUNY Transformation Fund provided funds for the augmented reality machines.
