ShopBot Hands-on Training Classes

[beacon14]

I am excited to offer hands-on, in-depth training on programming and using the ShopBot CNC router. What better way to get up to speed quickly than by participating in a small group environment in a real, working shop? There is no substitute for watching someone firsthand, then trying it yourself, and getting feedback from an expert, experienced teacher.




Getting Started


If you are new to ShopBot and/or CNC routing, or are wondering if this is the machine for you, my “Getting Started” class will have you creating Part Files and cutting projects the first day. This two-day class is designed to give you the information you need to set up and configure your machine and its control computer, show you how to use PartWorks to create and toolpath projects, and give you hands-on experience setting up workpieces and machining them with the ShopBot. Learn the tips and techniques you won’t get from the Help files, while getting practical advice from someone who uses the ShopBot every day. This class will save you valuable time and money by shortening your learning curve so you can concentrate on designing and machining your projects, instead of trying to figure out the machine and software. Each student will create toolpaths and machine parts for a project that they can take home for assembly and finishing.


Prerequisites: Basic computing skills and familiarity with the Windows operating system. I recommend that each student bring a laptop with the ShopBot Control software and PartWorks. A limited number of computers are available for use by students who cannot bring a laptop.


Number of Students Limited to 6
Cost: $400 per person (two days, includes materials)
Location: Atlanta, Georgia

2011 Dates: Friday/Saturday May 6-7
Friday/Saturday July 8-9
Fall/Winter dates to be announced
Group Dates and Rates available – please inquire
Please call or e-mail for more information or to register for a class.

[sneakers]

Let me be the first to recomend this class to anyone that is just getting into the CNC shopbot world. David is an excellent instructor and his understanding of both the software and real world building practices makes for a great learning experience. Take this class and you'll be up and running (making sawdust) in no time.

Gary

David i guess the check is in the mail. Right?

[beacon14]

Gary,

Check!

(that's an electronic check in case you were wondering).

Thanks for the plug.

David.

[gerryv]

David, I've been a fan of your posts and your work for quite awhile. I'll not be able to make the first session because of a longstanding prior commitment to the executive director (my wife) but I'm hoping for the next date :-)

[beacon14]

Thank you Gerald. I am also planning a more advanced class called Advanced Toolpathing and Introduction to Programming. It might be more beneficial for ShopBot owners who already know the basics.

Here are the particulars:



Advanced Toolpathing and Introduction to Programming


Already familiar with PartWorks and the ShopBot? Want to take your work to the next level? In this two-day class I’ll cover more advanced toolpathing techniques, demonstrate how to customize PartWorks to get the exact output code you need, and show you how to add programming statements to your ShopBot Part Files to automate your operations and allow user input during the running of a file. You’ll come away with a much better understanding of what goes on behind the scenes when you run that Part File, and a new bag of tricks to help you get more work done with less effort and frustration.


Prerequisites: Familiarity with PartWorks, ShopBot Control software, and the basic operation of the ShopBot. I recommend that each student bring a laptop with the ShopBot Control software and PartWorks (or VCarve Pro or Aspire). A limited number of computers are available for use by students who cannot bring a laptop.


Number of Students Limited to 6
Cost: $450 per person (two days, includes materials)

2011 Dates: Friday/Saturday June 3-4
Fall/Winter dates to be announced

If it turns out there is more interest in the advanced class I would be willing to change the basic class dates to advanced classes. Any feedback on what ShopBot users want and when (days of week, topics covered, etc.) would be appreciated. I plan to have complete info and agendas for each class posted on my website in the next week or so, at which point I will post links.

[beacon14]

Only a couple of weeks remain until the next class on May 6-7, and there are still some spaces available. More information is now online here (http://welcometothesandbox.com/training-overview.htm) including class agendas.

As always feedback and questions are welcome here or via email.

[harryball]

Guys, despite his appearance and lack of grasp on the English language David is actually a pretty knowledgable guy and you could do a lot worse than learning from him. :D (I JEST)

David is pretty sharp and easy to understand despite his Southern accent (though it's fortunate he's a man, I still think he'd make a pretty ugly woman) and he has completed some AMAZING projects. Whlie you will learn about the bot itself it pales in comparison to learning the techniques and processes he uses. Most will probably never have his patience but glimpsing the creativity is well worth the trip. If you come away without learning anything, you were asleep.

If you go, prepare for you head to hurt from learning so much.

/RB

[Joe Porter]

I was in David's first training class with Gary Gardner a couple of years ago. I can heartily recommend David's training and hands on facility. He has a beautiful shop and is a real professional that makes a living practicing what he preaches. This will be a worthwhile experience especially if you are in the Atlanta/Southeast area. joe

[tuck]

Having been to David's a few years ago, I can tell y'all it's worth the price of admission just to see his cool shop and incredible vacuum table hold-down system he engineered. The guy is amazing!

[beacon14]

Thanks for vouching for me you guys.

There are still a few spots open for next weeks advanced toolpathing and programming class (http://welcometothesandbox.com/advanced-training-agenda.htm).

[gundog]

David,
Rather than everyone traveling to you how about holding classes remotely. You could have a small class at my Shop in WA and use my PRS machine. When we had our camp last year we had a huge turnout. I am sure you could get enough interest to have a class.

Mike

[beacon14]

Dates are set for the next few months' classes. Hopefully these dates will be posted on the SB website (http://shopbottools.com/mCompany/upcoming.htm) and my website (http://welcometothesandbox.com/) in the next few days. In the meantime here they are:

Getting Started Class:

October 7-8
December 16-17

Advanced Class:

November 11-12
January 20-21

Mike, sorry I never saw your suggestion when you first posted it. (Sometimes I miss that there are more posts on the next page). If there is enough interest I'd certainly consider it. If you can get 4 or more folks interested it would be less expensive for me to come to you than the other way around.

[gundog]

We are having a camp shopbot the 8th of Oct at David Chase's shop just a few miles from my shop. I will metion it there and see if there is any interest.

Mike

[beacon14]

There are still a couple of spaces open for the "Getting Started" class next Friday and Saturday.

http://welcometothesandbox.com/basic-training-agenda.htm

[beacon14]

Still a couple of seats available for next weeks Advanced Class (http://welcometothesandbox.com/advanced-training-agenda.htm)

[beacon14]

There are still a couple of seats open for next week's Getting Started Class (http://welcometothesandbox.com/basic-training-agenda.htm).

[beacon14]

I have had a few inquiries about scheduling more classes. I currently do not have any classes planned, since I was only getting one or two students for each class, and my day job (selling, fabricating, and installing closet systems) has gotten so busy that it has been hard to justify taking two days off to teach another class.

So I am wondering if there is more interest in either the Getting Started or Advanced Toolpathing classes. In particular, if I were to schedule an Advanced Class on October 12 and 13, would anyone be interested in attending?

I'm also curious if the cost is preventing anyone from signing up for either class. ShopBot seems to have no problem getting a couple of dozen people a month to their basic classes, and frankly I think my offering is more in-depth and more hands-on than theirs. Their class is great as an introduction to the world of CNC and ShopBot, and of course being able to see their production set up and meet the employees is a bonus, but for anyone who has recently bought a machine and wants real world experience, tailored to their own production needs, knowing what I do about both classes, I would choose mine.

So please, don't hold back, I'm looking for feedback as to what it would take to make my classes more appealing and attract more students. Any ideas or constructive criticism would be appreciated.

[beacon14]

Anyone looking for CNC training ASAP who can be in Atlanta next weekend might want to jump on this opportunity. I've worked out an arrangement with a student for him to be at my shop for two days, next Friday and Saturday, September 19 and 20, 2014, for a private class in exchange for some IT consulting work he will be doing for me. It will be an introduction to CNC, the Shopbot, tooling, VCarve Pro and other CAD/CAM software, and how they all tie in together, with a healthy dose of IT thrown in for good measure. As long as we are at it we can open it up to other students who might be in a position to take advantage of this somewhat spontaneous event. We'll have the time to tailor the class to the needs of the students.

Friday September 19, 2014, 8AM - 5PM
Saturday September 20, 2014, 8AM - 4PM
Cost: $450 includes materials, snacks and lunch both days

Questions, or to sign up - send me an email at david@atlantacloset.com

[WLudman]

Dear Sirs:

AssentWorks is a MakerSpace in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

We are interested in hiring a trainer in the Winnipeg area to lead our members through a course on the Shopbot Alpha 96.

Thanks,

Wayne Ludman
Training Lead - AssentWorks