Seminars 2011

[George Bulliss]

Those who attended last year’s Workshop know that things were a little hectic during the first few days and everyone rushed to get in as many seminars as possible. I’ve considered different signup methods to ensure a smoother start for this year, but every method has its own drawbacks.

Rather than try and limit class size to those signed up for it (which didn’t work since those that didn’t make the list showed up anyway) I’m planning on addressing the problem simply through the use of larger classes. This year, the school semester ends the week before our event and I have many more choices for classrooms.

There will still be some smaller classes that will need to be limited due to the number of work stations, materials available, etc. In these situations we will either use signup lists as we did last year or a method preferred by the instructor.

The bottom line is you do stand a chance of not being able to attend all the seminars you want to. However, in the four days of the event I think you will find that there are more than enough offerings to keep you busy.

George

[poppabear]

Greetings,

George Bullis sent me an email and asked me to post what classes I would be teaching and what student requirements/recommendations to take the classes.
There will be 1 official slot for each class, but, George said, he may ask for repeats of this or that class depending on demand.

Here is the Mach3 Class Details and Requirements list:

Class 1:
• Title: “How to make a Mach Screen and a Wizard.”
• Time: Two Hours.
• Instructor(s): Scott Shafer and Brian Barker
• Topics: How to use “Mach Screen” screen Designer by Klaus, and “Real Draw Pro” to make a 3 axis Mill/Router screen set. We will also be showing how to make a Basic “Wizard”.
• You can follow along on your laptop as we go.

Student recommendations to participate in this class:
• Computer (laptop), with Mach3 installed on it, licensed version. Download Mach3 from here: http://www.machsupport.com/downloads.php Note, recommend at least the latest Lockdown version.
• “Mach Screen” by Klaus installed on your computer, can be downloaded here: http://www.kd-dietz.com/klausphp/index_eng.htm
• Real Draw PRO, (or a graphics program you are familiar with to make bitmaps, Jpegs, and PNG files on). You can get Real Draw Pro here: http://www.mediachance.com/realdraw/index.html it is $55.00 last I checked.
• You should have some knowledge of VB Script (cypress enable version that Mach3 uses), for this class since we will be using it for some of the screen work, and Defiantly the Wizard. We will NOT have the time to teach VB scripting. Here is the latest Mach3 VB scripting resource: http://machsupport.com/docs/Mach3_V3.x_Macro_Prog_Ref.pdf

Class 2:
• Title: “How to Use Brains and Modbus.”
• Time: One Hour
• Instructor(s): Scott Shafer and Brian Barker
• Topics: Will go over how to use the “Brains” Editor/IDE, making some example Brains, How to turn them on and off. We will also be discussing how to use both the Serial and TCP/IP Modbus to interface with a physical device (an automation direct PLC), to handle external IO/controls mapped through Brains.

Student recommendations to participate in this class:
• Computer (laptop), with Mach3 installed on it, licensed version. Download Mach3 from here: http://www.machsupport.com/downloads.php Note, recommend at least the latest Lockdown version.
• Download and read the “Brains Users Guide” from: http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,8211.0.html
• If you want to follow the Automation Direct PLC part on your laptop, you can download the “Demo” software from their site at: http://www.automationdirect.com/adc/Shopping/Catalog/Programmable_Controllers/DirectLogic_Series_PLCs_%28Micro_to_Small,_Brick_-a-_Modular%29/DirectLogic_06_%28Expandable_Micro_Brick_PLC%29/Programming_SW_-a-_Cables (second product down, is the Demo for 0.00 dollars).

Class 3:
• Title: “Interfacing Hardware to Mach3.”
• Time: One Hour
• Instructor(s): Scott Shafer and Brian Barker
• Topics: We will cover here, how to hook to, and use: PoKeys from PoScope, ModIO from Homann Designs, Modbus Boards from CNC4PC, and DL06 PLC from Automation Direct for expansion IO options for Mach3.

Student recommendations to participate in this class:
• Computer (laptop), with Mach3 installed on it, licensed version. Download Mach3 from here: http://www.machsupport.com/downloads.php Note, recommend at least the latest Lock-down version.
• If you want to follow the Automation Direct PLC part on your laptop, you can download the “Demo” software from their site at: http://www.automationdirect.com/adc/Shopping/Catalog/Programmable_Controllers/DirectLogic_Series_PLCs_%28Micro_to_Small,_Brick_-a-_Modular%29/DirectLogic_06_%28Expandable_Micro_Brick_PLC%29/Programming_SW_-a-_Cables (second product down, is the Demo for 0.00 dollars).

Here is the Rhino CAD Class Details and Requirements list:

Class 1:
• Title: “Introduction, How to use Rhino CAD”
• Time: Two Hours.
• Instructor(s): Scott Shafer
• Topics: Introduction to how to use Rhinoceros 4.0 CAD program. This will be a crash course of how to use Rhino for making basic 2D and 3D parts and drawings. In this class, we will go over the interface, how to make 2D/3D parts from plans. We will also cover how to import/export CAD files of various types for consumption of typical CAM programs. During the Class we will make some example “Parts” to make on a CNC machine from Plan drawings.
• You can follow along on your laptop as we go.

Student recommendations to participate in this class:
• Computer (laptop), with Rhino 4.0 Evaluation or licensed version. Download Rhino Evaluation from here: http://download.rhino3d.com/rhino/4.0/evaluation/download Note, you will need to put in your email address to be able to access the download.

George said, he will start posting up Event Schedules once more speakers start replying.

Warmest Regards,

Scott "Poppa Bear" Shafer
www.FusionCNC.com

[CNC Sarnia]

I had an e-mail discussion with George Bulliss that was started off when he was asking if anyone attending the workshop would like tables etc. to show pieces CNC equipment they have put together. Bringing hardware along is not always easy but I am sure that quite a number of people have developed pieces of "software" that others would be interested in. The main areas that come to mind are special screens for Mach3, wizards and even generally useful G code programs. For example, I have put together a modified Mach3 Turn screen that gets everything I need on one screen along with some additional DROs and labels to indicte program status during operation.

The idea is that anyone with something they feel would be of interest to other users could give a brief demonstration. They could then pass on software to anyone interested on a no cost, no copyright, no liability basis.

Is here anyone else out there, apart from those already presenting, who feel they have something in this area they would like to talk about and share?

[George Bulliss]

Here are some of the seminars we have planned for this year, there are plenty more to come. I’ll continue to update this list as more information comes in and will try and get a schedule together in early May. Some of these titles and subject may be modified or expanded on by the time of the show.

Some of the seminars are planned for more than one day and we will attempt to add additional times to meet demand.

George


Seminars 2011 (More to Come)

An Overview of Pico Systems CNC Products
Servo Tuning on EMC
The Ins and Outs of Servo Motors
Jon Elson – Pico Systems

CNC Plasma Torch Height Control
Randy Ray – Texas MicroCircuits

EDM for the Home Shop (sinker) (2 classes at least, 1 – 2 hours)
Covering: A brief EDM history and the designing and building the following:
Complete EDM system including RC (Resistor-Capacitor) and pulse design power supplies, DC servo head design, electrode indexing, filtering and dielectric system, and basic EDM operations.
Ben Fleming

Spindle, Stepper, and Servo Motors
Grounding, Shielding, and Isolation – Safety and Noise Issues
Emergency Stop Circuits, Mains Disconnect, and Other Safety Considerations
Steve Stallings – PMDX

CNC Router Kit Build
Bob Campbell – Campbell Designs

Rhino CAD Intro (2 hours)
Scott Shafer

How to make a Mach Screen and a Wizard (2 hours)
How to Use Brains and Modbus (1 hour)
Interfacing Hardware to Mach3 (2 hours)
Scott Shafer and Brian Barker

Introduction to Mach 3 - Setting Up a Machine (2 hours)
Advanced Topics of Mach 3 - Macros and Plug-ins (2 hours)
Screen Design and Customization of Mach 3 (2 hours)
Brian Barker – ArtSoft USA

Introduction to MachStdMill (MSM)
An introduction to the MachStdMill v1.1 Mach enhancement package from Calypso Ventures, Inc. Overview, design motivations, live demo. Project update since the 2010 CNC workshop. Q&A

MachStdMill (MSM) Advanced Features
Demonstration of MachStdMill v1.1’s advanced Probing, Tool Change, and TLO measurement features. Q&A

Introduction to Mach 3.43.xx Script Interfaces.
An introduction to Mach’s RunScript, #Expand, and ScreenSetLoad features.
Overview of why these were added, how to use them, where & why these are advantageous. Discussion of why it’s generally no longer necessary or desirable to put scripts in Mxxx codes.
David Bagby – Calypso Ventures, Inc.

Retrofitting a Benchtop Mill with FlashCut CNC in Less than an Hour
Ron Worth – FlashCut CNC

So, You Want to be Your Own Boss? (1 hour, each day)
A four part series on how to start and keep going a small shop.
Roland Friestad

Introduction to 2D machining with VCarve Pro (Wed morn, 1 hour)
Introduction to 3D modelling and machining with Aspire (Thur. morn, 1 hour)
Brian Moran from Vectric and James Booth from Vector Art 3D


Fundamentals of Fanuc Programing; G- and M-codes.
This class will take place in the college’s machine shop and is split between one hour of class time and one hour of machine time. The class is limited to 15 students, but will be presented each of the four days in an effort to accommodate as many as possible.
Tom Penird – Instructor, Department Chair, Industrial Technology, Washtenaw Community College

Cheap and Free CNC (1 hour)
A one hour quick overview of my Rickomatic CNC and how I got to where I am today. Includes handouts of all the cheap and free stuff I use.

How Things Move (2 hours)
I cover slides, bearings, ballscrews and all the spiffy ways to make a CNC machine. Some discussion of steppers and servo motors. 2 hours long .

Cheap and Free Casting (1 hour)
How to build a furnace and the different ways to make a casting.

Casting Demonstrations
Most days, weather permitting
Rick Chownyk

EMC Lecture and Demo (1 hour each day)
Ray Henry

[poppabear]

Got an Update for those taking Class 1 for screens/wizards using Klaus's screen designer, he has version 1.5 out, so that is the one we will be using UNLESS he comes out with another one prior to that........ Which ever is the latest version at the time of the show...... He always makes excellent improvements.
I will try and keep you posted here, if another version comes out.

scott