HSS Welding Position Reference
The AWS welder qualification process requires distinct test setups depending on whether plate or tubular testing is needed for the connection weld. This chart illustrates the test setup configurations for both plate and tubular weld qualifications, and pairs each with a representative example — a rectangular HSS connection and a round HSS connection — that falls within the corresponding qualification category. Whether used alongside this month’s article or on its own, the chart serves as a quick-reference visual guide for matching qualification testing requirements to real-world HSS connection cases.
Not All Tubular Connections are Welded Equal
AWS D1.1 packs a lot into a few clauses — and the logic of plate versus tubular qualification isn't obvious on a first read. This article unpacks it: how AWS D1.1 organizes its welding requirements, what each position designation (1F through 6GR) demands of the welder, why tubular T-, Y-, and K-connections are so difficult to weld, and the everyday HSS connections that don't need tubular qualifications at all.