Welding Fundamentals is designed to provide students with a strong understanding of the underlying theory and skills required for successful welding, with a strong emphasis on safety. It provides all of the information needed to help students develop proficiency with the most common welding processes (including SMAW, GMAW, FCAW, GTAW, and oxyfuel welding), thermal cutting, welding symbols and basic print reading, and joint design and fit up. The text also introduces students to weld inspection and testing. Each major welding process is covered in a Section, with individual chapters on process, safety, and equipment; equipment set-up and adjustment; flat position welding; and out-of-position welding. This edition features a chapter on Carbon Arc Cutting and Gouging and new hands-on exercises, jobs, and detailed process information to reflect the latest advancements in welding technology and processes.
William A. Bowditch served for over 40 years as a teacher, department head, and supervisor of welding and other vocational education programs. Maintaining membership in the Association for Career and Technical Education and the American Welding Society always kept him current on the best teaching practices and the newest technologies. As a coauthor, he guided Modern Welding and Welding Fundamentals through many revisions to keep them up-to-date and technically accurate, maintaining their value as leading authoritative welding texts.
Kevin E. Bowditch retired as a welding engineer specialist for Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc. His welding experience includes working for two automotive firms, two aerospace firms, a construction company building two nuclear plants, and a precision sheet metal firm. While working at Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc., he was involved with creating, validating, and implementing welding conditions for Subaru vehicles built in Indiana and sold both in North America and overseas. He helped teach the basics of welding and brazing to hundreds of new associates. Mr. Bowditch attended Hobart Institute of Welding Technology, then went on to earn his bachelor's degree in welding engineering from The Ohio State University. He has attended specialized conferences and courses sponsored by the American Welding Society, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and American National Standards Institute. Beginning with the 1984 edition, Mr. Bowditch joined his father as a coauthor of Modern Welding, and he has been a coauthor of Welding Fundamentals since its first edition in 1991.
Mark A. Bowditch joined the Bowditch welding authoring team in 1998 by coauthoring Oxyfuel Gas Welding with his brother, Kevin Bowditch. Since that time, Mr. Bowditch has coauthored multiple editions of Oxyfuel Gas Welding, Modern Welding, and Welding Fundamentals. He has more than 10 years of experience as an educator and holds bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees. Mr. Bowditch attended Hobart Institute of Welding Technology in 1997 and is a member of both the American Welding Society and the Association for Career and Technical Education. He also served for 26 years as an officer in the United States Air Force Reserve and retired as a Colonel.
