Weekly Meetings

[Tim Youngblood]

• • 8:00pm until 10:00pm

• 100 Cherokee Blvd, Chattanooga TN 37405

• This is our weekly planning meeting. We are in the organizing phase: identifying locations, dreaming up curricula, listing equipment we'd like to see in house one day, and just all around sharing ideas. Please join us if you'd like to have some input and bring your skills to the group.

http://www.facebook.com/events/345731615447704/

[Tim Youngblood]

We've moved on to build out. Please check status at: chattlab.tumblr.com

[Jason Brown]

I have a 20lb argon tank and regulator for MIG I'm currently not using. ( not till I get a tig.

Jason Brown 

[Tim Youngblood]

I got the reg. Just need the bottles. I'll stop by Airgas down the street next week.

What is the ramp time looking like for the CNC router? Freeing up any time soon?

[Jason Brown]

Ok, empty bottle does you no good ;)

Router probably has another 20-25 hours to put into it getting it running. Going to buy a 2.5hp router for it tomorrow and try to finish the wiring. Other than adjustments and a mdf top it is mechanically done. Maybe a couple more weekends.

Have a laptop with mach3 and emc2 / linuxcnc ready to go.

Will need to find a trailer big enough to move it. (and muscle).

How is entry into the space going? 

On website stuff, no progress since we last talked. Turns out baby prep is a lot of work ;)

Sent from my iPad

[Tim Youngblood]

Space is coming slowly due to the leaks in the metalshop (middle room) but the property owner is now done trying to patch the roof and has promised to 'take care of it' over the next couple of weeks.

75% of the entry room and metalshop are primed and ready for final coat. Got some wiring progress in the metalshop last week. I'm bringing back a metal storage cabinet, fridge and heavy steel table top from Atlanta tomorrow.

The woodshop is dry and secure so whenever you want to free up some basement space and get a second hand on getting the CNCR working just say the word. I have a 5x10 enclosed trailer with tie down tracks on the floor.

Have you seen this: lasersaur.com? Looks promising.

[Jason Brown]

lasersaur is a really neat project, but I add up the BOM at $6636 before shipping.

Sure, it is 100W, but... wow.  Thats a lot for a build it yourself option. I don't see the dimensions listed. Perhaps it's build platform is very large.

Smaller 50W units pre built are not expensive at all: 

Small 50w units:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Brand-New-50W-11-x16-Desktop-CO2-Laser-Engraver-Cutter-Laser-Cutting-Newlydraw-/300679303150

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-CO2-LASER-ENGRAVING-MACHINE-ENGRAVER-CUTTER-AUXILIARY-ROTARY-DEVICE-50W-f2-/130601371879

Large 100w http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-CO2-Laser-CNC-Engraver-Cutting-Machine-100W-for-1290-/110852760857

Of course, looking at the BOM thats a premium price, the basic design could be built a lot cheaper. 100w + power supply on ebay is about 

1400 compared to 1800 in the BOM (same b rand). So price shopping could be feasible:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/100W-CO2-Laser-Tube-Power-Supply-Engraver-Cutting-/160470882860

[Tim Youngblood]

I agree it is expensive. Once it goes open source at launch I hope to see some alternatives to the parts they have especially the frame, even a smaller working area.

The thing is I really think they did a bang up job on the design and overall package. It is impressive. Get it under 5k and it will take over the world.

Should have the MIG up and sparking by tomorrow night. Going to build a nice worktable.

[Jason Brown]

Good reading on cnc woodworking joints.

http://blog.makezine.com/2012/04/13/cnc-panel-joinery-notebook

Jason

Sent from my iPad

[Tim Youngblood]

Interesting stuff. I hadn't given this much thought before your mention. Seems like the square captive nut is popular.

[Tim Youngblood]

I'm out tomorrow night due to our launch party. Y'all are welcome to attend. Check http://www.codescience.com/ for details.

The following week I'm out of town Tue-Fri.

The following week after that I'm on vacation!

So we need to keep inching things forward while I'm out. Any ideas?

[Jason Brown]

I will be at the launch party! Looking forward to it.

I'm open to suggestions on keeping things moving while you are out and can try to be available for physical labor and or administrative work.

--Jason

[Tim Youngblood]

Apologies for missing your Cinco de Drinco party last weekend.

Let's strategize about what is left on buildout and what is needed next.

Some thoughts:

- A/C: it's not getting any cooler

- Floor paint

- Secure access: currently keyed but needs to be better

- Layout plan for each room

- EPB

Thanks,

Tim

[Jason Brown]

A/C is never cheap, any help from the building owner on that one?

Floor paint, typically for a shop like that a good epoxy based garage / concrete floor paint is the way to go. The floors looked a little beat up though, I am not sure it would look very good at all. I probably need to see it better.

Secure Access:  Giving up on the arudino for now? Are we looking for a temporary solution or permanent? I'm happy to do some research (I implemented a system that tied into payroll and works schedules at a plant years ago, but it was about 10k).

Layout: Do we have any cad drawings or measurements of the rooms yet?

EPB: Not sure Aaron is on this list yet, but he has some contacts that may help from what I understand.

[Tim Youngblood]

Arduino still in the plan for access control.

I have measurements but that would be a good approach.

I have an A/C unit but we may need a bigger one.

Epoxy on the floors was always the idea.