The Kansas City Woodworking Guild announces
the forming of the CNC Woodworking Special
Interest Group.
Following on the heels of Arnold Baker's presentation at the August 2009 Guild
meeting we are forming a group to explore the world of CNC woodworking. This
group will be of interest to those with CNC woodworking or metalworking
machinery as well as those with interest in building, buying and using CNC
controlled tools.
The CNC Special Interest Group now meets
regularly on the first Tuesday of the month at 7:00pm at the KCWWG shop.
Any questions or comments concerning the CNC SIG can be addressed to
Chuck Saunders
TheUnionRoadNursery@gmail.com
Minutes Kansas City
Woodworkers Guild CNC SIG
Minutes CNC SIG March 2, 2010
Well, that wasn't bacon frying that you smelled at the woodworking show. The
power supply in the Guilds' CNC computer has called it quits. Arnold brought
in his computer and we stepped through the CNC Router Operation checklist.
The checklist must be followed when running the CNC Router. Brad will post
the checklist on the CNC forum. We are also developing tutorials for using
the Vectric software.
Next month we will get the table mobile and hopefully have the PC back
online with a surge suppressor to boot. Dave Clark will bring back the piece
he ran tonight after adding paint to add contrast.
Respectfully submitted,
Chuck Saunders
The CNC SIG at the Woodworking Show
(February 19-21, 2010)
The CNC SIG was represented at the
Woodworking Show. The Guild's CNC was set up and was demonstrated. A
Sears Compucarver was also setup and demonstrated (the machine belonged
to a new member).
Arnold Baker
ran the demonstration all day Friday and Saturday, and from 11:30-2:00
Sunday (bad weather). He talked to 250-300 individuals about CNC routing
and the Guild. Three individuals join the guild just so they could learn
about the CNC or use the guild's machine after they get qualified.
For the
demonstrations, company logos and the guild logo was downloaded. The
logos were carved into a 12x12x1/2 piece of mdf. A total of 40+ signs
were carved. Three were given to the new members that signed up at the
show. Several of the guild logos "walked" away with current members.
Several of the other carvings "spouted legs and walked off". When I left
Sunday afternoon there were only 8 carvings left.
Arnold had
10-12 offers to purchase the Guild's system, because they saw that it
worked. Several individuals said they had the Carvewright machine, but
had not used it because it did not work or they had not learned how to
use it. They were encouraged to join the guild and we could possibly
help them out.
It was
reported that the CNC the crowd was 5-6 rows deep at times. Over 300
guild brochures were handed out by the CNC crew.
Arnold spray
painted several carvings and took them over to the Stockroom flat master
sander and got the over spray sanded off. The vendor from Stockroom said
that next year he will contact us and offer the Guild members a discount
on his sanding products at the show.
Reported by Arnold Baker
Kansas City Woodworkers Guild CNC SIG
Meeting Minutes from February 2nd 2010
Tonight was spent preparing the PC to run the CNC Router. We now have all of
the components thanks to the generosity of Cliff Bell, Brad Swaters and
Jack. After a short tango with Microsoft Authentication, we were able to
resume loading the software needed.
Woodworking Show
Feb 19th 12-6
Feb 20th 10-6
Feb 21st 10-4
We will be demonstrating the CNC router at the show by producing plaques
featuring the Guild logo on MDF. We need people to work the show. Contact
Chuck Saunders at
TheUnionRoadNursery@gmail.com if you are interested.
Respectfully submitted,
Chuck Saunders
TheUnionRoadNursery@gmail.com
CNC SIG Minute January 5, 2010
The CNC router has made it's move to the shop and we are working on getting
the computer set up so we can be up and running. We are looking into using
the CNC router to build a second router. We also are considering how best to
provide a tutorial and demo projects to help share what the router can be
used for. It was suggested that the router be set up at the wood working
show and produce customized name plates as either a guild trinket or
possibly as a fundraiser.
CNC SIG Minutes December 1, 2009
12 attending
Tonight Bob Wilson provided an indepth tour of TurboCAD and the methods he
used to draw up a bookcase complete with woodgraining and Rockler hardware.
Bob demonstrated how he created the hardware in CAD from scanned images. He
also walked through the steps to create a raised panel door. Quite a step
from the scribble on the back of an envelope. Bob has interest in starting a
CAD SIG if there are others of like mind.
Monthly Meeting Nov 3, 2009
There were 12 attending tonight's meeting.
First and foremost a grateful thanks to Cliff Bell at Custom Software and
Computers for the generous donation of a computer to run the Probotix router
when it is set up at the shop. Thanks Cliff!
Brad Swaters filled us in about the KCWWG CNC SIG online forum he has
created to provide a reference and communication resource for the SIG. The
forum is found on the internet at
www.sigcnc.com. We will see about getting a link on the KCWWG website to
point the way. We will be able to post project files and ask one another for
help on our projects.
Tonight was planned to be a bring a file run on the router but the router
had other plans. Apparently overheating was the culprit that put a hold on
making sawdust.
Arnold presented a demonstration how he made the parts to build his wooden
paper shredder. A good project to show the need for producing multiple
quantities of precision parts, and how templates and fixtures aid in the
process. There was also a step by step demo of creating the control code to
produce parts from SketchUp and scanned images.
We have a contest (no prize though) to come up with a trinket that could be
produced at the woodworking show in February to hand out to visitors to the
Guild booth. The trinket needs to be small, quick to make, interesting to
young and old, and identify with the Guild.
Next Meeting will be December 1st 7:00pm. The topic is going to be Computer
Aided Drafting/Design or CAD. Bob Wilson will be there to show how he uses
TurboCad in his woodworking endeavors. This program will be of interest to
the CNC croud and the general woodworking crowd as well. I have seen some of
his stuff and it is definately going to be worth attending.
Meeting held Tuesday October 6, 2009 7:00pm
Arnold brought in the Probotix Router and gave a detailed presentation on
producing the necessary program file starting with creating a CAD drawing.
The program file was then run on the CNC router to produce the dovetail jig
parts that were drawn.
Arnold also expanded on his presentation given at the August Guild meeting.
Arnold demonstrated operating procedures of the CNC router producing some
detailed sample pieces.
For the next meeting everyone should bring a project drawing in electronic
form and the material necessary to produce the project. We will work on
producing finished product from the different types of drawings that people
bring in.
Meeting Held Tuesday September 22,2009 7:00pm
Present 11
R. Adams, Arnold Baker, Dave Clark, Ed Darlington, Jack Gregg, Walter
Murphey, Chuck Saunders, Bud Shenke, Jarold Sickles, L.O. Simmons, Brad
Swaters
The CNC Special Interest Group had their organizational meeting on Tuesday
Sept 22nd at 7:00. Discussion was centered around the interests of building
CNC machines, learning CAD software (Sketchup etc), and producing items with
the CNC router.
Building CNC machines: There is some interest in the design and construction
of CNC routers as well as adapting older machinery to CNC operation. Due to
the time, expense, and individual nature, it was felt that the SIG could
benefit this group as a discussion group. Building a machine as a SIG
project might be down the road but not in the immediate future.
Learning CAD Software: Most of the group felt that they would benefit from
exposure and instruction in the use of CAD (Computer Aided Design/Drafting)
software. As this is the software that translates the design into electronic
form it is a logical first step. Our next meeting will be focused on
introducing CAD software.
Making chips: As Arnold so clearly stated - " The reason we are interested
in CNC machining is to make stuff". This is indeed our goal. At our next
meeting we will fire up the machine and make some noise and chips at the
very least.
The next meeting is planned for Tuesday October 6th at 7:00pm if the
calendar allows.
Some of the sites mentioned
CAD Software
SketchUp
http://sketchup.google.com
CAD Standard
http://www.cadstd.com
AutoCAD
http://usa.autodesk.com
CNC Sites
CNC Zone
http://www.cnczone.com/
Build Your CNC
http://buildyourcnc.com
