Collision Blast

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Another Student Led Demonstration – How to Perform a Butt Weld

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Students Demonstrate Butt Welding

This student demonstration is entirely a student led assignment.  Each team used their textbooks, I-CAR training CDs and internet resources to produce this video.  We’re still in the learning process as these skills take many hours of practice to master.  However, as you can see, the students have accepted this challenge and are learning these skills with an enthusiastic approach, at an excelled rate, while in a contextual learning environment.  The students are well on their way to becoming the “Top Performers” in the Collision Industry.
Check back to stay updated with project and other exciting things happening in the BCC Collision Repair Program.   

BCC Student Demonstrates Plug Welding

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The 1st-year BCC Collision Repair students have been busy learning how to properly weld using various methods to perform different types of welds.  They have also been busy by preparing a student led lesson for welding.  Teams of (3) are responsible to conduct a 15 minute lecture with visual aides and props, create and administrate a quiz over the content, and demonstrate the task in the lab.  They were given an outline of the requirements needed for this assignment and they will be  graded by their performance and how well the other students performed on the quiz.  

Below is one of the lab demonstrations given over plug welds.  
Victor demonstrates how to perform a plug weld

We also have student led lessons on fillet welds, butt welds, and butt welds with a backing plate.


Butler Auto Collision Repair Students Tour of Auto Craft Body Shop

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By Jenni

Sept, 18, Wichita KS. The morning awakened bright and clear, and warm and breezy; as a beautiful Kansas morning in September should. Most of the students showed up on time and quietly ready to go. I was highly anticipating this tour based on a glimpse of an Auto Craft I had on a previous assignment. This Auto Craft was however their newest one located on west Kellogg. Our instructor had set up the tour with Scott Raymond the shop’s estimator.
First stop on the tour was Mr. Scott Raymond’s Desk where all 13 of us tried to crowd around his cubicle. He told us about the shop’s estimating systems. They use both CCC pathways and AutoTexx. They also use a direct repair program (drp) where the interaction of the insurance adjuster is more limited and the work of the estimator is much more involved. Then we were led through the inventory room where all of the stock was very efficiently organized by last digit of stock number. Then on to the shop, where we saw the Chief Frame machine, and Genesis Matrix infrared measuring system. He went on to explain proper pulling techniques and the importance of safety while performing such operations and in general throughout the shop. The shop was equipped with 3 prep booths, 2 were down draft, and one was semi-down draft. Their paint was a Sikkens Mixing system and paint. Then we were shown the back where jobs were waiting to begin. Mr. Smith asked his standard question: “What do you look for in a new employee?” Mr. Raymond’s reply was that a new employee should have experience, a good attitude, and willingness. Also that expectations shouldn’t be placed, but that a job needs to be planned and to expect the unexpected to happen, and to put safety first.

Mr. Scott Raymond Showing Us the Sikkens Paint System

All in all the experience was an enjoyable one. The shop was clean, well-lit, and the techs hardworking and were so friendly they stole the instructor for a good 20 minutes just to chat while the rest of us went on the tour. All in all the tour ended up being one of the best I’ve ever been on. Mr. Raymond was very knowledgeable and thorough. Never assuming we knew something already, but also never sounding as though he were talking down to us. He didn’t give us any illusions of grandeur about the job. He gave it to us straight and brutal. Many thanks to Mr. Scott Raymond for taking time out of his workday, and Auto Craft for letting us invade for 2 hours and get an insightful glimpse into the field we are learning about.
Contact Info: Scott Raymond; sraymond@autocraftinc.com Auto Craft, 10760 W. Kellogg, Wichita, KS, 67209 (316)729-6828, Fax (316)201-6470

Professionalism

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If you notice in the picture below, you will see that Austin, a second year student, is wearing a black work shirt. We just got out shirts this week from UniFirst. We require all students to wear them. The reason we require this is to teach professionalism and to create a “real work” environment. Looking the part is an important part of being a technician. For instance, you would not expect to see your doctor or surgeon walk into the examination room in overalls. You will probably not see a farmer working in a suit either. Well, a technician has a certain look as well, and we strive to have our learning environment match the expiation of the industry.

I allowed the students to pick the color this year and they picked black. I did not know if I liked their selection at first, but I remembered that Chip Foose’s team wears black on Overhaulin’. I decided if it works for Foose, it works for me. I was actually surprised how good the shirts look once the students put them on. So hats of to the students, they made an excellent choice.

Austin Preparing To Weld A Section Panel to a Quarter

This week the 2nd year worked on Jenni’s Cavalier. We will write another blog about this project, but we are making progress on it. Devin is working on a T-Bucket for the college. You will hear more about this project in another blog as well.

Jenni’s Cavalier in Progress

Devin Block Sanding T-Bucket

A few of the 1st year students have passed their butt, lap, and plug welds in the flat, veridical and overhead positions. This is not an easy task. The welds have to be pulled up to 2500 psi then bent or pulled completely apart, depending on the weld type, to measure the quality of the weld. However, after they pass their test I encourage them to continue to practice welding, as repetition is the key to perfecting a weld.

Tested Welds

Check back soon as Jenni is in the process of writing a blog about a field trip we took Friday.

Staying Busy in the Collision Repair Program

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By Donnie

Jenni writing a repair estimate for a Butler student
Second year students are responsible for generating repair estimates at BCC. We use CCC Pathways computerized estimating system to generate our estimates. CCC is one of the major estimating programs used in the industry. Therefore, you will receive an estimate just like you would at a dealership. Of course, we remove all labor charges, as we only charge for parts and supplies.
Many students want to get trained in collision repair to become a technician. However, a few decide estimating is a good fit for them. Jenni, one of my second year students, feels this may be a good fit for her. As an estimator, she will have the opportunity to work for a dealership or independent body shop as an estimator. This requires excellent communication and people skills in addition to the technical skills. This could also lead to working for an insurance company or independent claims office as an auto appraiser or adjuster.

Zan practicing butt weld in the flat position

First year students are learning to weld. This is the longest class in the collision repair program. This is a skill that must be mastered before welding on an actual vehicle. If you are not competent, you can destroy High Strength Steel by over heating it. Careful steps must be taken to avoid this. Other considerations, like not enough penetration or warping metal must also be monitored. We’ve just completed the first week of welding and I have been well pleased with the results these students are producing. I don’t foresee anything that will eliminate any of the students from welding satisfactory welds. This week we worked on butt welds in the flat position. The welds that passed my visual inspection were then pulled at 2500 psi to determine if the weld passed or not. I have already had several students pass this weld.

Vaden demonstrating our Laser Measuring System

We also had the opportunity to have Vaden, our Kansas Jack representative and trainer, provided a class for our laser measuring system. The students were intrigued with this system. The benefits of this system is that the students can physically see where the unibody or frame in misaligned. This system also has the capability to measure 3 dimensions, length, width and height, which is required to assure that the frame is pulled back to its specified dimensions. This is also a great training tool to demonstrate different types of measuring systems. Many shops have a system like this that may not be able to purchase a computerized system like our Shark measuring system.

Check back to learn about the bash-up car we are working on for the Butler Tailgate Bash.

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