How to use the trainer
Each set runs all 12 designations in a shuffled order. In Name the position you see one drawing and choose from four codes. In Pick the drawing you see a code and choose from four drawings. The other three options are always the ones easiest to mix up with the answer: the same number with the other letter, the next position number, or the rolled and fixed versions of a pipe.
Every drawing shows the same cues. An arrow at the top left points down. The blue dash-dot line is the axis, named in the legend. The orange metal is the weld, and the heavy arrow shows where the welder works. Overhead drawings are seen from below and say so. After you check an answer you get the geometry of the right one and, if you missed, what your choice shows instead. Hit New shuffle for a fresh order, and quote the set number if you report an error.
The 12 designations at a glance
| Code | Weld and form | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1G plate | Groove, plate | flat |
| 2G plate | Groove, plate | horizontal |
| 3G plate | Groove, plate | vertical |
| 4G plate | Groove, plate | overhead |
| 1F plate | Fillet, plate | flat |
| 2F plate | Fillet, plate | horizontal |
| 3F plate | Fillet, plate | vertical |
| 4F plate | Fillet, plate | overhead |
| 1G pipe | Groove, pipe | pipe axis horizontal, rolled |
| 2G pipe | Groove, pipe | pipe axis vertical, fixed |
| 5G pipe | Groove, pipe | pipe axis horizontal, fixed |
| 6G pipe | Groove, pipe | pipe fixed at a 45 degree incline |
Worked example: telling 5G from 6G
A drawing shows a pipe joint on a stand with a weld around it. Step 1: find the axis. If the dash-dot line runs level, the choice is between 1G and 5G. If it rises at 45 degrees from the dashed horizontal line, it is 6G. Step 2: check rotation. Rollers under the pipe and a turning arrow mean it is rolled and the welder stays on top, which is 1G. A fixed stand and an arrow running around the weld mean the welder goes around the pipe, which is 5G when the axis is level. Step 3: check the letter. A weld joining two pipes end to end is a groove weld, so the code ends in G.
Three traps the trainer is built around
- Pipe 1G and plate 1G share a code. Both are flat groove welds. The pipe version gets there by rolling the pipe, which is why the rotation matters.
- 2G plate and 3G plate both stand upright. What differs is the joint line: across the plates for 2G, up and down for 3G.
- 1F does not look like a flat plate. The T-joint is turned so the two plates form a trough and the fillet face is level, which is what makes it flat.
Weld position FAQ
What do the number and letter in a weld position mean?
The number is the position and the letter is the weld type. 1 is flat, 2 is horizontal, 3 is vertical and 4 is overhead. G means a groove weld and F means a fillet weld. So 3F is a fillet weld in the vertical position and 4G is a groove weld overhead.
What is the difference between 1G and 5G pipe?
In both the pipe axis is horizontal. In 1G the pipe is rolled while the welder stays on top, so the whole weld is made flat. In 5G the pipe is fixed, so the welder works around it and the weld passes through flat, vertical and overhead.
Why is 6G the hardest common pipe position?
The pipe is fixed at an incline of 45 degrees, so the weld around it is tilted as well. One weld combines all positions, and the welder has to change technique all the way round.
Positions sit beside joints and symbols in Part A. For the whole exam, read the CWI Part A exam guide. To practice the symbol side, try the welding symbol builder.