Where can I learn to read welding blueprints online?

[330Scott]

Does anyone know of a site where I can learn to read welding blueprints online? As in a freebie, nada, zip, zero cost site. Surely someone has written a nice, accurate article on blueprint reading.

Hmmm, if not, maybe someone from WeldingWeb should write such an article and keep it in the "Keepers" forum.

Thanks all,

Scott

[lotechman]

AWS puts the welding symbol key somewhere on their site as well as Lincoln I think. The problems with print reading is that structural drawings will stump a boilermaker and pressure vessel drawings will have a structural fabricator scratching his head. It is a very big subject area. Simple foundations of orthographic projection is where to start.

[330Scott]

Originally Posted by lotechman

... Simple foundations of orthographic projection is where to start.

Ooooh kay.

Who or what is AWS? Maybe I'll start with the welding symbols keys first. Basically I need to read the welding symbols on the prints at work.

[lotechman]

If you google " orthographic projection" There is quite a few hits on print reading.
AWS American Welding Society has some info but is more and more restrictive...capitalism.
TWI The Welding Institute in Britain is helpful.
http://www.twi.co.uk/professional/index.xtp#information
Look under Job knowledge for Welders. The second section on weld symbols is quite detailed. Symbols are quite universal as are prints. I worked with a Russian who had a calculator size translator he had to use all the time. He had not problem building stuff from prints however.