Welding Training & Certification: Steel Sectioning (SPS05) Course Updated

To help the industry be better prepared for repairing new vehicles, I-CAR has updated the Welding Training & Certification™: Steel Sectioning (SPS05). With the changes to vehicles happening daily from new materials, thinner materials, new technologies, and new repair procedures, collision repair technicians have had to update their skills to repair the new vehicles.
Changing Repair Procedures
Let's take a look at one example of an updated repair procedure, on the 2013 Ford Taurus. The front lower rail is made of two rail halves and has three sectioning locations for the lower rail. In the body repair manual, it says that the "Member assembly - front side outer (outer lower rail) is made of 350 MPa steel and the Member assembly - front side inner (inner lower rail) is 600 MPa steel."
So is knowing that the inner and outer rails are made from two different strengths of steel going to change how you think about straightening that vehicle? It should. Looking at the instructions for the sectioning joint, the manual specifies an offset repair joint, and when welding the inner lower rail, the technician is to "Seam weld along the inside of the sectioning joint (open butt joint) using a MIG welder and ER70S-3 wire 0.9 mm (0.035 in) to 0.11 mm (0.045 in) diameter." (see Figure 1)
This Ford Taurus procedure is different than what was done even 10 years ago. Without looking at the collision repair information you may have not been aware of this update. Not only has the weld joint configuration changed from a straight open butt joint to an offset joint, but also the side of the joint you actually weld. In this case, the root gap and weld penetration will be critical in completing a complete and safe repair.
New Test Parameters
Figure 2 - This is an example of the three sectioning joints that must be completed during the Welding Training & Certification™: Steel Sectioning (SPS05). When the I-CAR Welding Training & Certification™: Steel Sectioning (SPS05) course was first launched, it was created using the most common joint types at that time and was representative of a common lower rail configuration. The new Welding Training & Certification course incorporates both thick and thin steel to simulate a common lower frame rail configuration and a thin outer body panel, using some of the most common joint types being used in the industry today, including cutting a window to access a hidden reinforcement.
During the I-CAR Welding Training & Certification™: Steel Sectioning (SPS05) course, the participants will be creating sectioning joints using a body repair manual designed specifically for this Welding Training & Certification course. The repair procedure that participants follow incorporates some of these twists on the vehicle maker repair procedures and joints like the example of the Taurus given above (see Figure 2).
The I-CAR instructor is there to help coach the participants to better perform the tasks associated with sectioning including measuring, cutting, and welding. This will allow the participants to have an opportunity to learn new techniques and hone their existing skills.
At the end of I-CAR Welding Training & Certification™: Steel Sectioning (SPS05) course, the participant will have learned and improved their sectioning skills and be better prepared for the ever-changing repair procedures in the collision repair industry.
This article first appeared in the November 7, 2013 edition of the I-CAR Advantage Online.
-
MIG Brazing What Is It, Why Should I Use It?
June 02, 2014
Why MIG Brazing? It is widely known that GMA (MIG) welded; fully galvanized steel will lose some of its properties, including corrosion protection, due to the heat created during welding.…
-
2015 Ford F-150 Outer Box Side Replacement Options
August 07, 2015
The method for replacing the outer box side on the 2015 Ford F-150 has been a popular area of discussion, and many people are asking, "What are my options and…
-
Restraints Wiring Repairs
May 23, 2016
Over the past few months, we've been sharing OEM position statements on restraints wiring repairs. Now we're bringing them all together in one place for easy reference.
-
I-CAR Best Practice: Recycled Outer Quarter Panels w/Rolled Hem Flanges
July 21, 2017
Periodically, I-CAR Repairability Summits are held to bring together collision industry stakeholders and subject matter experts to develop collision repair processes and best practices for repair of late-model, collision damaged…
-
Typical Calibration Requirements for Blind Spot Sensors
October 19, 2016
Technicians should be aware of what’s required to keep advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) running safely after a collision. Whether that be aiming a camera, which can cause a system…
-
Toyota/Lexus/Scion Position Statement: Pre- and Post-Repair System Scanning
July 28, 2016
As the industry continues to ask, are pre- and post-repair scans necessary, Toyota/Lexus/Scion provides their answer.
-
Mazda I-ELOOP Overview
January 27, 2014
Beginning model year 2014, Mazda has introduced a regenerative engine braking system called i-ELOOP, short for "Intelligent Energy Loop." In this system, a capacitor is used to store electrical energy…
-
Typical Calibration Requirements for Park Assist Sensors
October 31, 2016
Technicians should be aware of what’s required to keep advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) running safely after a collision. Whether that be aiming a camera, which can cause a system…
-
Typical Calibration Requirements for Forward Radar Sensors
October 12, 2016
Technicians should be aware of what’s required to keep advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) running safely after a collision. Whether that be aiming a camera, which can cause a system…
-
2012 Ford Focus Active Grille Shutters
January 01, 2014
When making collision repairs to the 2012 Ford Focus, be aware that the vehicle may be equipped with an active grille shutter system (see Figure 1). This motorized system is…
-
Non-SRS Wiring Repairs: Tesla
December 06, 2019
What is a non-SRS wiring repair? It is the repairing of an electrical component that is not part of the supplemental restraint system circuit (usually identified by yellow wire looms).…
-
Spot And Plug Weld Nugget Size: Honda/Acura
December 04, 2019
Did you know that many OEMs specify nugget size for spot and plug welds? This information is typically found within vehicle-specific repair procedures or can be found under general welding…
-
Advanced Driver Assistance Systems: 2019 Lincoln Nautilus
December 03, 2019
While many have noticed that advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) are showing up on vehicles, there still is confusion on what is required of these systems after a collision occurs.…
-
Sectioning And Partial Part Replacement: 2019 Subaru Ascent
December 02, 2019
One of the top technical inquiries received at Ask I-CAR is, “Is there a sectioning or partial replacement procedure available?” To help answer this question, RTS has an OEM Partial…
-
Repairer Driven News: Replacing Factory Spot Welds
November 27, 2019
Repairer Driven News released an article focusing on factory spot welds and how OEM repair procedures may differ from how it was assembled at the factory. It touches on how…
-
Repairer Driven News: Honda Body Repair Manual Perspective
November 27, 2019
The article released by Repairer Driven News (RDN) states that Honda body repair manuals and procedures are “written from the perspective of a body in white”. This means that other…
-
Advanced Driver Assistance Systems: 2019 Nissan Murano
November 27, 2019
While many have noticed that advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) are showing up on vehicles, there still is confusion on what is required of these systems after a collision occurs.…
-
Repairer Driven News: Toyota Occupant Classification System Calibration
November 26, 2019
Repairer Driven News released an article that provides insight on Toyota occupant classification systems (OCS). It covers what the systems do, why it is important to calibrate them, and when…
-
What’s In A Steering Column: Haptic Feedback
November 25, 2019
As vehicles are becoming more advanced, we are finding technology where it never was before. Sometimes it is in plain sight, such as infotainment systems, GPS, and a head-up display.…
-
Identifying The Correct Body Repair Manual (BRM): Nissan/INFINITI
November 22, 2019
Vehicle makers may group their body repair manuals (BRM) in several different ways. Sometimes the BRMs will be grouped by a year range, some are listed as VIN specific, and…
- 2019
- December 2019 (4)
- November 2019 (21)
- October 2019 (25)
- September 2019 (20)
- August 2019 (22)
- July 2019 (23)
- June 2019 (22)
- May 2019 (18)
- April 2019 (22)
- March 2019 (21)
- February 2019 (21)
- January 2019 (20)
- 2018
- December 2018 (19)
- November 2018 (19)
- October 2018 (17)
- September 2018 (16)
- August 2018 (23)
- July 2018 (21)
- June 2018 (18)
- May 2018 (19)
- April 2018 (19)
- March 2018 (23)
- February 2018 (17)
- January 2018 (21)
- 2017
- December 2017 (16)
- November 2017 (18)
- October 2017 (19)
- September 2017 (20)
- August 2017 (21)
- July 2017 (19)
- June 2017 (20)
- May 2017 (20)
- April 2017 (16)
- March 2017 (20)
- February 2017 (12)
- January 2017 (13)
- 2016
- December 2016 (9)
- November 2016 (14)
- October 2016 (21)
- September 2016 (12)
- August 2016 (11)
- July 2016 (9)
- June 2016 (10)
- May 2016 (8)
- April 2016 (12)
- March 2016 (13)
- February 2016 (11)
- January 2016 (8)
- 2015
- December 2015 (10)
- November 2015 (10)
- October 2015 (13)
- September 2015 (10)
- August 2015 (13)
- July 2015 (10)
- June 2015 (10)
- May 2015 (11)
- April 2015 (15)
- March 2015 (14)
- February 2015 (11)
- January 2015 (13)
- 2014
- December 2014 (15)
- November 2014 (9)
- October 2014 (12)
- September 2014 (10)
- August 2014 (12)
- July 2014 (15)
- June 2014 (11)
- May 2014 (14)
- April 2014 (10)
- March 2014 (6)
- February 2014 (1)
- January 2014 (28)