CNC Mill meetup

[Will Bradley]

Hey all! Please join me in meeting up again right before the next HYH, March 14 at 6:00pm.

WHO SHOULD COME: 

- People who'd be interested and able to teach a class every few weeks; education and "station head" status not required.

- People who can help analyze Mach3 and our CNC Mill to come up with a basic safety/maintenance/howto list.

- Anyone with CNC/Mill/Mach3/teaching experience.

More info:

At this point it looks like we need to get down to brass tacks on teaching people how to safely run Mach3 and our CNC Mill; basically, going through Mach3 and compiling a list on what to watch out for, procedural steps to ensure proper maintenance, etc. The CAD/CAM portion I am treating as separate for now, but we are sorely missing basic "howto" for the mill itself.

As for being a teacher: we have a number of expert volunteers who can teach the teacher; our main problem at this point is someone who has enough time to actually teach members on a semi-regular basis. I'd do it myself (and I'm a software guy!) but as a busy board member that'd just be creating more bottlenecks. Want to apprentice and become a milling expert for free? Here's your chance!

[Will Bradley]

Reminder, tonight is "sit down and come up with basic requirements for touching the CNC mill" night, plus finding out who is able to actually teach classes.

I'm super sleep-deprived and taking a "nap" at the moment so if I don't make it, please self-organize around those agenda items. I'd like to have a bulleted list of what a course should cover (like we have on our rules page on the wiki) and a couple names of people willing to teach. That way our next meeting can be running through those bullets with the teachers and starting to prepare a class.

[Short Tie]

How did this go? I was unable to make it, and though I have an
interest in learning this tool, but running a bit low on time. Having
no experience, and the not a paying member yet thing gets in the way
as well. Just curious about what is happening here.

TieShort

[Will Bradley]

Hey all, sorry I wasn't able to make this; did it happen? Were there any results?

[Ryan Mcdermott]

I missed it too.

We should try and meet later than 6:00pm. I think that seriously
limits the people that can attend.

[Corey Renner]

I'm available this week if we'd like to try again.

cheers,

c

[Will Bradley]

OK, how about 7pm Wednesday?

[Nate Caine]

Hey,

 

There were about 8 or 9 people at this meeting.  And it was roughly agreed to meet up again in about two weeks, and there were a few background tasks assigned.

 

So how about we let the people that actually *attended* the meeting, go about setting up the follow up meeting?

 

Seems reasonable.

 

 

[Corey Renner]

Well if any of the people who had actually *attended* the meeting had replied to the emails that we're trying to determine whether the meeting had actually taken place or not, then there would probably be less confusion about it.

cheers,

c

[Nate Caine]

 Sheesh.  Lighten up.

 

Exactly 1 business day has passed since Thursday night's meeting.  Let's give them time to post a few highlights from the meeting and a possible road plan before everyone  starts scheduling a follow up.

 

 

 

[Will Bradley]

Cool! Thanks for the reply, instead of meeting Wednesday I'll wait to hear on when to meet next. Thanks so much for being involved, everyone!

On Mon, Mar 18, 2013 at 4:57 PM, Nate Caine <nate...@gmail.com> wrote:

 Sheesh.  Lighten up.

 

Exactly 1 business day has passed since Thursday night's meeting.  Let's give them time to post a few highlights from the meeting and a possible road plan before everyone  starts scheduling a follow up.

 

 

 

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[Amelia]

Sorry it took so long to get the meeting notes up, I was out of town all weekend and didn't get back until today.  They are now posted in the Google drive that was set up for the CNC working group.  If you don't have access to the drive, email someone in the group and have them share the drive with you.
-Amelia

[Will Bradley]

Me please :)

On Mar 19, 2013 3:33 PM, "Amelia" <amelia....@gmail.com> wrote:

Sorry it took so long to get the meeting notes up, I was out of town all weekend and didn't get back until today.  They are now posted in the Google drive that was set up for the CNC working group.  If you don't have access to the drive, email someone in the group and have them share the drive with you.
-Amelia

--

[Ryan Mcdermott]

Me too!

[Karl Kammerzell]

 Me too, please.

[Corey Renner]

and me.

cheers,

c

[Amelia]

Hi Everyone,
I won't be able to make it to Thursday's meeting because I have a flight to catch that evening.  But, since creating an agenda for the meeting was on my task list, I made one.  Feel free to add to or change the agenda as you see fit.
Cheers
Amelia

March 28th CNC Working Group Meeting Agenda
1. Basic class

• Chris to update on progress towards creating a basic milling class 
• Create list of skills to be taught in basic class
• Solicit 2 volunteers who will be responsible for teaching the basic milling class (Chris, are you one of them?)

2. CNC Class

• Create list of skills to be taught in CNC specific class
• Solicit volunteers to create and teach CNC class

3. CAM software

• Group to share results of CAM software research
• Choose one software package to teach in the class.  Determine if there is a good reason to teach any other software packages (one works well with parts modeled in SolidWorks, but the other is much better for parts made in SketchUp).
  

4. Safety

• Group to share results of safety research (let's keep this brief)
• Solicit 2-3 volunteers to head up a Shop Safety Team who will create the safety documentation and signage we need

Output from the meeting

• Plan for Basic Milling Class
• Two people identified to teach basic class/compile class curriculum
• List of skills for CNC class
• Volunteers identified to teach CNC class
• CAM software package chosen
• Safety group created, and ready to go

[Brad Stone]

By the way, I have not been able to get ahold of any safety posters for the CNC mill.  There is a collection of safety decals available, and a pretty good safety manual that HAAS puts out, but no posters that I have been able to find.

FYI

[Will Bradley]

Hey is there a meetup scheduled for the 28th? Let's keep the mailing list in the loop so we can put it on the calendar, etc. I missed my own meetup last time but still want to be involved :)

[Amelia]

Sorry about that.  The meeting notes from last time had the time of this meeting in them, but I forgot to add it to the schedule.
-Amelia

[Will Bradley]

No prob! What time on the 28th?

[Rick Schultz]

I'd like to help with this.  What time is the meet today?

[Corey Renner]

First Rule of CNC Machining Club is that no one talks about CNC Machining Club.  You just have to magically know the time.

c

[Corey Renner]

BTW, if you do figure out the time, please let me know, I might be able to make it out there tonight.

cheers,

c

[Ryan Mcdermott]

The CNC meeting actually has a quantum super-temporal-position; it
exists at all times and in all locations until it actually takes
place, at which time it collapses into a time and place that can
actually be described with traditional hackerspace dates, times, and
locations.

Source: Star Trek.

[Corey Renner]

Ah, like Schoedinger's meeting.

Makes sense.

c

[Chad Stearns]

How about time moment 7?

[Alisa Palson]

Chad Sterns: A Man Determined To Make Decisions.

*applause*

--

[Corey Renner]

I will try to be there at the Chad Hour, to be known henceforth as "Chad-o-clock".

c

[Corey Renner]

Could do the mill thing at Chad-o-clock +1 to give time for HYH.

[Rick Schultz]

SO, I'll see everyone at 1372471200 Unix time...

[Will Bradley]

Hi all, it looks like the meeting kinda-sorta-didn't happen tonight and I'm not getting CC'd on messages so I'm having trouble helping organize/publicize.

ANYWAY,

JJ, Paul, and others: I think our next big step is getting some kind of "how to run Mach3 and the mill" curriculum going; are you on this and when can we expect results?

Amelia: thanks so much for your help! What were the minutes / next agenda and can we maybe schedule something next week or the week after?

Again, thanks everyone!

--

[david...@gmail.com]

If I know how to use mach3 can I use the mill? I am not a member

[Will Bradley]

The purpose of these meetups is to create training requirements to make sure the mill is operated safely; it's not quite ready for anyone to hop on but your input at the meetup would be valuablr.

On Apr 4, 2013 4:59 PM, <david...@gmail.com> wrote:

If I know how to use mach3 can I use the mill? I am not a member

[Will Bradley]

JJ, the 11th works for me. Everyone else: should I put this on the calendar? Yes/no/alternative?

Following up on the goal of finding curriculum/syllabus material, JJ provided me with a brochure but said he wasn't able to get more detailed info. I asked Paul, we'll see if he's able to find anything. Regardless, next time we meet I'd like to brainstorm bullet points on what our syllabus should look like and then flesh out those bullet points with actual details on how/what should be taught.

At the end of the night I hope to have a complete first draft syllabus. Then we'll be in a position to incrementally test, improve, and enhance that syllabus by sitting down at the mill with experts and running through the steps to catch anything we missed or tweak as necessary.

Again, I'm not looking for a final version right away. Just baby steps.

If you have any resources or know any experts who'd make this easier for us, please consult them or bring them in!

On Mon, Apr 1, 2013 at 11:21 AM, JJ Tang <j2x...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hey guys,

Let's meet up at 6pm MST. Does next week on April 11th or the following week on April 18th work better for everybody? In case anyone wants to be included on the Google Drive, email me directly at j2x646@gmail and on the Subject, put down "HeatSync Labs CNC Drive." Thanks! 

Look forward to seeing you guys soon. 

- JJ 

[Will Bradley]

Hi CNC people! Aaron just said hi on the email list and expressed interest in teaching, so it seems like a good time to meet up again; to meet Aaron, hear back from Nate and Paul, and hopefully leave with some solid progress towards CNC usage in the lab.

Aaron's next availability is Monday or Wednesday at 7pm.

Nate and Paul are the other two stars, do either of those dates work for you two? Everyone else is free to chime in if they have a preferred date as well.

On Fri, Apr 26, 2013 at 6:13 AM, Paul Hickey <paulh...@gmail.com> wrote:

It'd be easier if nate and I gave a report in person I think.

Paul Hickey

sent from a mobile device

On Apr 26, 2013 2:46 AM, "Will Bradley" <bradle...@gmail.com> wrote:

Cool! Since scheduling has been difficult lately, are you able to supply this info here via email, or should we sit down together?

On Thu, Apr 25, 2013 at 5:51 AM, Paul Hickey <paulh...@gmail.com> wrote:

Yep, nate and I met with 2 different cnc instructors at mcc and got some great information

Paul Hickey

sent from a mobile device

On Apr 25, 2013 1:30 AM, "Will Bradley" <bradle...@gmail.com> wrote:

OK, maybe we can work on this remotely in the meantime; anyone have luck finding curriculum? Paul?

On Thu, Apr 25, 2013 at 12:20 AM, Jj Tang <j...@dezapp.com> wrote:

Neither can I

On Wed, Apr 24, 2013 at 11:43 PM, Nate Caine <nate...@gmail.com> wrote:

Not I.

 

Based on the previously scheduled date, I cancelled the Laser Cuter class for the 23rd because it conflicted with the CNC meeting.

And then no one showed up.

 

I've now rescheduled the Laser Cutter class for Apr 30th.

We're really getting jacked around here.

 

Nate

---

From: Will Bradley [mailto:bradle...@gmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, April 24, 2013 11:25 PM
To: Jj Tang
Cc: Paul Hickey; Corey Renner; Tim; Ben Humpherys; Nate Caine; Brad Stone; Ryan McDermott; Amelia Cosgrove; Bruce Rolph

Subject: Re: [HSL] Re: CNC Mill meetup

Hey, sorry I just drove across the country and am just now rejoining reality.

Who can make next week Tuesday the 30th at 7pm?

On Mon, Apr 15, 2013 at 7:12 PM, Jj Tang <j...@dezapp.com> wrote:

I should be able to make it. I won't know for sure until Friday. Keep you posted!

- JJ

On Fri, Apr 12, 2013 at 12:50 AM, Will Bradley <bradle...@gmail.com> wrote:

6pm on HYH nights seems to be a bad time for people; how about 7pm Tuesday the 23rd?

On Thu, Apr 11, 2013 at 7:56 AM, Jj Tang <j...@dezapp.com> wrote:

Didn't get too many responses. It is probably for the best since there is a board meeting at 7pm. Let's reschedule.  

- JJ

On Thu, Apr 11, 2013 at 7:02 AM, Paul Hickey <paulh...@gmail.com> wrote:

I'm in Vegas now but am planning to meet up with 2 instructors with Nate next week to talk about curriculum and how they scaffold their instruction. They seem like really cool guys who are willing to help. Haven't asked them if they are interested in teaching a class though

Paul Hickey

sent from a mobile device

On Apr 11, 2013 12:44 AM, "Will Bradley" <bradle...@gmail.com> wrote:

I plan to be there. Paul, were you able to get any course materials from your college?

On Apr 10, 2013 12:31 PM, "Jj Tang" <j...@dezapp.com> wrote:

Hey guys,

I know everyone has busy schedules but is tomorrow still a good time to meet? If not, post on the group, a better time frame(s) as well as day(s) that work better to reschedule. If we can get at least six people to make the meeting, we will be able to get some good synergy to get this going. On the chance that we can't get at least six people to agree to come to tomorrow's meeting by tonight, let's reschedule. 

- JJ 

--
JJ Tang
CFO/Co-Founder at Dezapp, LLC
Phone: (602) 300-8861

--
JJ Tang
CFO/Co-Founder at Dezapp, LLC
Phone: (602) 300-8861

--
JJ Tang
CFO/Co-Founder at Dezapp, LLC
Phone: (602) 300-8861

--
JJ Tang
CFO/Co-Founder at Dezapp, LLC
Phone: (602) 300-8861

[Paul Hickey]

Neither work for me, but nate should be able to talk about what happened at our meetings with cnc instructors at mcc.

Paul Hickey

sent from a mobile device

[Jasper Nance]

the 7th is the reverse engineering talk...

[Will Bradley]

Hey, it looks like Wednesday the 8th works for both Nate and Aaron, so anyone else who can make it please come and help us nail down a curriculum for these classes!

[Will Bradley]

Hi all! Good meeting tonight, thanks to valuable contributions from Nate, JR, David, and Aaron AKA Neal.

If you'd like to use the CNC Mill, we are still working on a class but we have identified some things you'll need to learn first. So, you can get started right now on your own!

1) Multiple hours of Mill and 3D printer experience will be invaluable if not mandatory, because all the "gotchas" of both machines are present in a CNC Mill.

2) Ability to read G-code and M-code. The codes scroll by as the mill runs your program, and if there's any problem you'll need to have a basic understanding in order to troubleshoot things. There's only a couple dozen, so it's not too hard.

  Some starter resources I found while googling:

    http://www.cnccookbook.com/CCCNCGCodeRef.html

    http://www.cnccookbook.com/CCCNCGCodeCourse.htm

    http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=CNC+Basics+E-Course

    http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=cnc+g-code

3) Try using CAD/CAM programs like Solidworks with HSMXpress, or other CAD programs with CamBam, to design a part and generate GCode for it.

  Some starter resources: 

    https://www.google.com/search?q=hsmxpress+tutorial

    http://www.instructables.com/id/From-SketchUp-to-CNC-Fabrication/

4) Try using Mach3 - it's the program that directly controls the CNC machine based on the GCode you've made - free trial from here: http://www.machsupport.com/

I've copied these suggestions to our wiki here http://wiki.heatsynclabs.org/wiki/Rules#CNC_Mill so if you find better resources you can keep the master list updated there. Keep in mind these are intended as e-learning preparation for an eventual class, not as a substitute for hands-on training.

Finally, we've scheduled the next meetup for next Wednesday, May 15 at 7pm so if you'd like to help develop the class or otherwise assist with the CNC Mill please show up!

[david...@gmail.com]

Here is some info from Mach3 website:

• A license is only required on the computer(s) actually running the machine(s). If a computer not connected to a machine is used to test code, please use Mach3 in Simulation mode - it will remove the 500 line limit.  Simulation mode can be accessed by uninstalling (or not installing) the Parallel Port Driver.

• While in Demo mode, the software has the following limitations:
• (Mill/Plasma) 500 line gcode limit (samples) (10,000,000 limit after licensing)
• (Turn) 50 line gcode limit (samples) (10,000,000 limit after licensing)
• Kernel Frequency locked at 25kHz (only applicable if using the parallel port driver)
• Set Next Line function disabled
• Run From Here function disabled
• (Turn) Threading disabled
• (Plasma> THC functions disabled

• Mach3 gcode reference guide created by mach3
  

[Kenneth Barry]

Mach3 is only $140...

linuxCNC is FREE (and the guys in Houston TXRX have several experts in how to configure it. At the most basic level its the exact same as mach3, except cheaper.

[afmanufacturing]

There's no need to buy mach3
Once it's on the machine controller the license is good forever, anyone that want to practice with it at home just use the demo version And Mach 3 is substantially better then Linux Cnc and winCnc

[afmanufacturing]

I just noticed this post, And then extremely familiar with Mach3 I've converted everything from old lasers too 5 x 10 routers using 16 position tool change carousels with modified VBScript. It's a fantastic program however there are definitely some dues and don'ts

First does your mill have home and limit switches? If not install them and configure Mach to utilize soft limits and hard limits. Especially since this is going to be a community mill I would recommend magnetic proximity switches. As well as a zero touch off plate for cutter comp.. is a requirement, make sure you implemented

Second the control computer needs to be on a completely stripped XP 32 bit machine if you're using the parallel port, No other programs no Internet access and you must turn off all power management, hibernation, screensavers etc. If you have a 64 bit operating system you need to use motion card such as a smooth stepper or Gail I would recommend this anyway to provide substantially smoother motion as well as better look ahead for high-speed machining operations.

Third need to set up park positions for manual tool changes as well as proper script for shutting the spindle down etc.

Fourth definitely make sure you incorporate teaching the difference between machine position versus work offset position And that the tool path has to be regenerated every time it is moved.

And fifth Which will save everyone a lot of heart ache time and material is never run the G code off of a USB thumb drive or any external storage device. Always transfer the file to a folder on the desktop and run it from the hard drive.

[Will Bradley]

Thanks for the input! A lot of that has been done so far. Are you local, or able to attend the meetup?

[Will Bradley]

Hi all! Thanks to everyone who's spent time helping get us closer to CNC Mill classes.

I've compiled two meetings' worth of notes on classes and how to use our mill (incomplete, of course, but a good start) available here: http://wiki.heatsynclabs.org/wiki/CNC_Mill_Notes 

I'm going to be out of town all summer starting this week, so it's up to YOU to help keep the ball rolling. Nate did a great job of running through basic operation of *our* setup to the point where I feel a seasoned CNC operator should be able to read what's written in the above link and be half-ready to use our machine... so the key we're really missing at this point is just someone able and willing to teach ~1 class per month. Aaron AKA Neal has enthusiastically offered, but is out of town for awhile.

So, people who are interested in using our awesome new CNC Mill, I have a challenge for you: please either look within yourself to see if you have sufficient Mill and CNC/3D experience and would be able and willing to learn the CNC Mill and teach semi-regular classes, OR find a potential teacher out in the world; a community college? A retired teacher or miller?

Once we find a potential teacher, please shout about it here and propose a date for a mill meetup. Maybe the first meetup can be reviewing the wiki materials above to get the instructor up-to-speed?

[machinist]

Hey y'all

glad to see you're getting some fire in your bellies to get that CNC cutting chips. 

Looks like I'll be back in town the third week of July, I'd be happy to help you guys figure out whatever it is you need by then.  I'm running Mach3 on my mill as well, so I should have some more software-specific perspective to provide by then. 

[afmanufacturing]

I'd be happy to teach a class at either my shop or at heatsink labs, I've got the majority of CAD/CAM software that I can get you up to speed on as well from visual milll to Bobcad and sheet cam as well as rhinoceros alibre and a few others. Sheet cam is probably the easiest to use and can be taught in a matter of 2 to 3 hours and has postprocessors for Mach ready to go And best of all I'd be happy to load a copy with my license on your shop computer.

[Mike Bushroe]

Sounds tempting, especially as it would be a much shorter drive for me!

Mike

[Will Bradley]

Poke! Would anyone like to meet up about this? I'm out of town for the summer so please continue without me :)

--

[Larry Campbell]

Im game to meet up again.... I think it might be a good idea to outline a script for a simple video of specific aspects of how to operate the equipment so as to  make some "internal CNC training videos" and maybe write up a simple test of basics covered in those videos and a list of prerequisite projects/classes to considerably shorten actual "class time" down to 3+ hours.

Perhaps a simple laser cutting/engraving project would be a better "prerequisite" instead of 3d printing? have a generic widget assigned and have each student assigned a change to implement on the widget ( add extra holes to cut / change size of object in one direction ) to show a basic understanding of how to manipulate the software?

I would think a walk through in a material like soft plastic as a first CNC milling project would be a good idea as well, much harder to damage a tool when working on something considerably more forgiving.

Larry

[Corey Renner]

Machining plastic presents its own challenges, it tends to melt and wrap around the tool.  The plastics that machine well (like Delrin) are relatively expensive.  Aluminum is only about $1.50 a pound in the cutoffs section of IMS, it's very forgiving and you can make useful things from it.  Machinist's wax is intended as the perfect practice material, but it's several times the cost of aluminum, so you don't really get to take advantage of it unless you collect the chips and remelt it into blocks several times.  I haven't used it personally, but I'd expect that unless it's used on a machine that exclusively machines wax (or is kept impeccably clean) it would probably get pretty gross pretty quickly.  MDF also makes a good practice material since it's insanely cheap and you can glue up blocks from sheets into any configuration, downsides are the sawdust and the fact that the speeds/feeds and lube requirements are totally different from what you are going to use when machining real parts.  Still, it's a dirt-cheap way to give someone time on the control.

cheers,

c

--

http://coreyrenner.tumblr.com/

[Aaron Trout]

I'm back in town and was let go from my job with no notice, so I'm free to meet up whenever.

[Mike Bushroe]

BAD NEWS!

I hope that something else turns up for you soon. Rough enough to lose your job, worse still to get no explanation and be hit with it right after you get back to town.

Mike

On Friday, June 28, 2013 3:20:03 PM UTC-7, Aaron Trout wrote:

I'm back in town and was let go from my job with no notice, so I'm free to meet up whenever.http://coreyrenner.tumblr.com/