Some basic training

[dlcw]

I am going to be starting an introduction class on Partworks to the local high school woodshop class next week. I know how to use the software but was wondering if anyone has put together a simple 1 to 2 hour introduction presentation to using Partworks. The main thing I need to focus on for this class is importing DXF files from Rhino. In addition I would like to cover some of the ins and outs of compensating for machine flex, how to select proper feed and spindle speeds, some tips for working efficiently in Partworks, etc. The goal is to get these kids up and operating quickly on the machine. I got the machine running and tuned up yesterday so they are ready to go when the kids can develop models and toolpaths.

Any ideas/help/documents/examples you might have would be greatly appreciated.

I will also be teaching these kids a lot about basic woodworking from sharpening tools to tuning up power tools to joinery, etc. The current shop teachers' expertise is more in metal working so I'm helping him out with the wood shop.

[myxpykalix]

I have not watched the shopbot training when they broadcast it, but you might see if any of those videos are archived and watch them and maybe you can glean techniques and tips from that in order to formulate your classes.
Also shopbot might have ciriculum notes or work files they use in their classes that they might share? Also put a note in the (shopbots in schools" section as I know there are other teachers that frquent the forum. Maybe they would share some teaching aids they have?:confused:

btw...not all kids are college material and we need to teach these kids how to use their brains, in order to be able to use their hands to make a living, so you're doing a good thing Don..

[gc3]

why not show vectric tutorials for vcarve pro?

[dlcw]

Thanks Gene.

I kicked that idea around but they just run to long. I need to be able to push a lot of information about a lot of facets of Partworks in a short period of time. Once I can get this first part of their training done, then I can take some more time to do one-on-one with individual students who want to learn more.

I just worry that I would loose a lot of the students if I don't make it very applicable to their environment and current course of study. A lot of them are looking at combing the metal shops plasma cutting capabilities with the wood shops router cutting/carving capabilities. Inlaying metal projects in to wood backgrounds for instant.

[gc3]

well....gotta tell 'em rome wasn't built in a day......takes a little time investment to learn the software!

[bill.young]

hey Don,

There are a couple of PartWorks videos on youTube that might be useful for inspiration.

A very complete one was done by "Mr ArtStation" at http://youtu.be/rKZZYZ-GyfE

I did a much simpler one for a customer a couple of years ago at http://youtu.be/wSHQsthRajg

Neither of these use the newest versions of PartWorks and the newest Posts (I'll try to get mine updated before too long), but hopefully they'll still be helpful.

[GlenP]

Have you thought about contacting Vectric? Perhaps they have some less time consuming tutorials....then again most kids have internet at home, give some homework and perhaps have them do up a small file to bring into school and review in class setting. Not sure if downloading the demo will work well that way. Good luck and keep us posted on your success teaching the kids.

[myxpykalix]

I found some training info from some time back that might be helpful and relevant but it isabout 3 megs and can't be posted here so email me and i'll send it to you. Address in profile :)

[dlcw]

Bill, thanks for the links on the YouTube videos. I'm going to go check them out.

[dlcw]

Glen, Great idea on contacting Vectric. I've emailed James Booth and am waiting for a reply. I'll keep everyone posted.

[dlcw]

Gene, you are right on the money. Rome was not built in a day and they have to stick with it, work at it and want to learn. As you know with kids these days, if it doesn't grab them right at the start, they are not going to want to stay with it. You know the "instant results" syndrome....

I also want to make sure that for the first class I hit a home run with the kids and really peak their interest and make them want to learn more about the software and what it can do for them.

I'll keep you posted.

[kartracer63]

Don,

Why don't you get them started on some signs? You've got that down pretty good.

Your students can download the trial version of the software and watch tutorials from home on their time. They can even create their own designs at home.

Cost of materials is very cheap, and who doesn't like a unique sign?

They'd get experience in design, material set-up, machine set-up,
z-zeroing, bit changes, painting/finishing, etc...

I think you might be surprised how many would embrace the idea of playing with the software from home at their own pace. It's almost like a video game.

Good luck!

[bleeth]

Don:

To grab their attention I would have a 3-d model (not too large) all set up and ready to go and when class 1 starts have them gather around and watch the file start. Make it foam so the noise level is low. While it is running do a short shot outline of the steps from software design to toolpathing to setting up and running. (make sure they all have safety goggles on-starting safety training from day 1 is also critical)
Then start the first class on basic 2-d and how to simulate 3-d from Partworks through toolpath depths in a sign or something like that.

The attention grabber of seeing a machine run and turn out something is a great tool to raise their interest.

[dlcw]

Erik and Dave,

You've hit it perfectly. My plan was to use the Bullshead sign demo to show them the cool stuff you can do with the machine. Then when all the oohs and aahs have stopped I'll start taking them through from concept to finished project in a series of classes.

Dave, I hadn't considered foam but that is a great idea. I have a ton of pink foam sitting around my shop that would be perfect for this. Not having cut foam before, would any of the starter bits work well in the foam? 1/2" 60 degree v-carve, 1/4" spiral, 1/4" Super O???? Feeds and speeds for foam?

The teacher at the school indicated that signs was going to be a big part of what they are going to be doing. The other thing the teacher wanted to do is have the kids come up with ideas for gifts to sell at craft shows so they can purchase accessories and new bits for their machine. This is one of the things they do with the plasma cutting machine around Christmas time. They made several hundred dollars last year at craft shows. Good way to give the kids a little business knowledge in addition to a vocation.

I'll keep everyone posted on how it goes.

[GlenP]

I was talking to a supplier of mine today and mentioned your cnc class to him. He sells to allot of schools and he told me the teachers biggest hurdle was to get the kids to slow down and not get distracted when setting up machine and their files. This one teach had the first kid using the cnc drive a bit deep into the bed of the table and it proceeded to cut. Before the e stop or machine got stopped the machine had damage to it and they were reconsidering the whole concept due to costs. They did continue but now every kid has to sign in and out on a log sheet and use check list before they do anything live on machine...even if the teacher is standing right there. Good idea and probably a good idea for most of us. Not hard to get distracted if the phone rings or someone walks into the shop. Since they implemented the log and check sheet no worries. He also was told that signs for relatives cottages, electric guitar bodies and gifts for family members was most of the kids interest. Cutting foam wood be a good idea to start them off....perhaps a local lumber store may have some damaged sheets they can donate or sell at reduced rate.:)

[dlcw]

Thanks Glen.

I was considering the same thing regarding checklists to do anything on the CNC. From power up to bit changes to zeroing X,Y,Z to shutting down the power - everything would be checked just like in an aircraft.

I've got lots of pink foam sitting around from a project awhile back that I'm going to donate to the school. I already donate a lot of my plywood scrap to them for jigs and what not.

[myxpykalix]

I had mentioned in an email to don about the checklist previously and also thought it was a good idea to have a sign on the carriage "Did you do the checklist?" and one above the computer.

I related a story about how when I first started my bot up for the first time i buried a 1/2" 3" long endmill down thru a layer of mdf and 2 sheets of 3/4 plywood and buried it all the way to the collet and when i got it out i could see my floor thru the hole.

It is real simple to do that and not resetting the X,Y and Z is what will kill more projects and bits.

It might not be a bad idea to make each student buy and use their own bits?:D I think they would be more careful if they had something to lose if they screwed something up:eek:

I think back to my highschool woodshop and learned alot (that i still use today) so you will have students look back 30 years from now and say "remember when we had Mr. Thompson in woodshop, what an old fart he was but he taught us some things i still use to this day"?

[steve_g]

Don:

I recently Introduced a class (22) of middle school students to SketchUp. I showed them a 3D rendering I did for the local building Department to get a permit for a storage building I'm working on and a design I exported as an STL and the resulting routed work. I then Showed them 4 beginning videos and told them where to find 28 more.

Seeing the practical application and how they could use the program to improve their lives ignited a fire to know more... By the next class session I had with them 1 week later, 90% of them had watched all the videos at home and were well on their way to becoming very skilled at using the program. The more advanced students were helping teach the slackers and I was left answering arcane specific questions.

What I took away from this experience was: show them the practical uses and why it will be worth their time to learn it and they will devour it. We need Math teachers who can inspire students!

Steve

[myxpykalix]

I think the computer part of this process and working with 3D and 2D and the creative part is probably what gets them interested and then seeing what they create in the computer turn into a object they can touch keeps them interested.;)

[dlcw]

Jack - Thanks for the image of "old fart" :D :D Makes me realize that, yes, I am getting to be an old fart :(

Here is my plan for approaching the kids (emphasizing the computer aspect is a good idea, since that is what kids are really into these days):

1. Show them the machine in action carving the sample bullshead sign in foam (look what it can do)

2. Take them in to the class room and do a 20-30 minute presentation/show and tell on CAD/CAM and Partworks (show a couple of videos) emphasis SAFETY, pictures of projects I've done (nuts and bolts of the whole process)

3. Take one of the students' DFX files from Rhino, bring it in to Partworks and get it ready for cutting on the CNC (practical application)

4. Show them where they can get more information and take tutorials

5. Offer tours of my shop to see the CNC along with other aspects of a production woodshop in action

Feedback on this approach would be most appreciated.

[curtiss]

When they title a toolpath, they need to identify a few things... do NOT use a bunch of . dots... or the file will not save properly.

My tool path titles look something like this

TXT 125em 080 which means text with a 1/8" end mill that will cut .08 inches deep.

or Pfc 25em 800 which means Profile final cut 1/4"end mill that will cut .8 inches deep.

As always the z depth is critical for the decimal point......

[myxpykalix]

I title my tools in the toolpath like this

12endmill
18ballnose
90vbit

I just omit the slash (cuz you can't use it!) and then i don't have to try to remember that .125=1/8th

I never call anything a "ballmill" as some others do, because if you call that toolpath up a week later you may not remember..."was that a ballnose or endmill?"
bottom line is all of these different ways work, just whatever works for you!

[hh_woodworking]

PM sent to Don

[Brett Dickinson]

Please contact me. I have been integrating ShopBot / Part Works training in my mill and cabinet making class for over four years. I have some great activities.

Contact me by email bjdickinson@bisd.us
or phone 956-455-6153

Brett Dickinson
Const. Technology Teacher
Brownsville, Texas

[dlcw]

Ed and Brett,

I've sent you emails.

[hh_woodworking]

Don returned your email please let me know it if the information helped

Ed

[dlcw]

Just to update everyone - I spent half the day in the high school teaching 4 woodshop/metalshop classes the basics of CNC and CAD/CAM. It was more of an overview then full out instruction on how to run the machine. As the regular teacher and I suspected there were a few kids who were VERY interested in learning a lot more. Most of the kids were only interested in playing with their phones and if they could get away with it games on the computers on the desks. The regular instructed figured that there would only be 2 to 4 kids per class that would really be turned on by the possibilities of the CNC world. The rest of the kids are there because they needed to fill one of the class slots. That's life in high school.

We covered basic CAD/CAM and the differences. A little on how to design things in CAD and import them into CAM (Partworks). We went over the ShopBot with an emphasis on safety. We left the machine turned off for this time around. I showed them several things I've done using the Shopbot and there were lots of oohs and aahs. So it did ring a bell.

I gave the instructor links to all the tutorials from Vectric so the kids, who were interested, could start learning the basics of how to use the software. Once the interested kids are all identified, I will be going back in to teach more details on creating efficient toolpaths, compensating for flex in the Shopbot for highly accurate work, and actually running some projects on the machine.

Over all it was a good day and several kids seemed very interested. I look forward to going back to work with them more.

Thank you to everyone here for all your ideas and insight into approaching this project. I couldn't have done it without you guys. THANK YOU!!!! :D

[curtiss]

Could you design and build a classroom "cell phone storage rack" so the kids would not have to worry about the damn things during class ???

[dlcw]

That is something I think every shop teacher would like to have. Forget that, every teacher would like to have.... :D