CNC BBQ - Cairns, Far North Queensland Australia (June 2011)

**epineh** · 21st October 2010, 06:30 PM

OK, I have been inspired by the success of the CNC BBQ's our southern counterparts have been holding and have been fortunate enough to be able to attend one of them. Now I am going to organise one for the northern region. Our first one will most likely be small but will hopefully inspire more people to join in the fun.

I have come up with a format of sorts... :

A one day event, starting at my shed, at the moment I have one working CNC router, and am building a second cantilever design machine that will be finished by the BBQ date. Also I am retrofitting an old manual lathe with CNC control, no promises on this being going but at least I will be some way into the conversion.

I have several servo's lying around in the shed, I am going to put together a servo training display, this will consist of a hands on PID training board, basically you can tune the servo's, find out what oscillation means when doing so, "feel" the effects of correct tuning on a servo. All this with servo's bolted to a bench so there will be no expensive crashes...

I will make a stepper display, I have several steppers (don't we all

) and will make a display that people can use various configuration programs (for Mach and EMC2) and configure a "machine" of some kind, basically a simple 3 axis machine, most likely a threaded rod beast with some kind of spindle. This will be a working machine designed to take the fear factor out of setting up a router. The idea is that if you can setup this up on the day (with some guidance) you will be able to re-create the same thing at your place.

The other guys that live here have very heavy machines that require cranes and such to move, so rather than them bringing them along, numbers permitting we will organise a shuttle bus to ferry everybody to their respective sheds, (5 minutes travel) basically a CNC tour of the north, lol. Amongst these are two Femco Durga CNC lathes, a vertical mill retrofitted with CNC conrtol, and a large VMC (or two).

One of the guys is designing a router/plasma table that will be going by then, possibly being a five axis beast that should make for interesting video's. He plans to make these for the commercial market so that will interest cabinetmakers and the like I am sure.

I realise this is a while away but I have done it this way so if anybody from the southern parts of the country decide to make the journey they have a bit of warning, the timing means it is winter here, a blistering cold 23 degrees C during the day and a freezing 15 - 20 degrees C at night (slight bit of sarcasm there

) so conditions should be pleasant.

I will post more details as I get them, please post here if you plan (or wish) to attend. The final date will be set early in the new year but at this stage will be a Saturday the first two weeks in June.

Cheers.

Russell.

**epineh** · 21st October 2010, 07:51 PM

Oh I almost forgot, the direct PCB printer also lives in my shed, we should be able to fire it up and make a circuit board or two.

Russell.

**rodm** · 22nd October 2010, 01:25 AM

Hi Russell,
Sounds very tempting and its only around the corner from my place.

Don't count on me coming at this stage but I am seriously thinking about it.

**WillyInBris** · 22nd October 2010, 05:09 PM

Rod you go and I will as well

very tempting indeed.

**epineh** · 22nd October 2010, 06:54 PM

Hi Rod, you are right about living just around the corner...must be a 30 minute drive at most

It would be great if you can make it but I understand the logistics involved, which is kinda why I am giving so much notice to hopefully entice a few people from afar.

I am sure we can work something out for accommodation for those traveling here, many options and it depends on the numbers, plenty of camping space in the yard at the very least, not to mention a 100sq.m patio.

Hi Willy you would be most welcome, keep trying to convince Rod on the idea !

Also I was thinking of talking to a couple of mates that are into their timber, and seeing if they would be interested in selling some of their stockpile to anybody interested, it might be a bit of value adding for those interested in attending. Mainly local timbers and small amounts, but if people are interested that is something I will try to make happen.

Also please be aware we are in a regional area so we won't get the numbers of routers seen at the Melbourne/Adelaide meets but I hope to make it as informative as possible for everybody...and build as many machines as I can between now and then, lol.

Cheers.

Russell.

**epineh** · 9th November 2010, 10:27 PM

I have set the date, Saturday the 11th of June.

All welcome !

Cheers.

Russell.

**Cliff Rogers** · 9th November 2010, 10:34 PM

I'm keen.

I don't have a CNC machine, I was half interested for a while.

I do have electronics & computer qualifications & have worked on process control gear & understand terms like tuning to stop oscillation.

**epineh** · 11th November 2010, 11:38 PM

Hi Cliff, it would be great to see you there !

One of the main reasons for the BBQ is to help those that may be interested in building and/or using their own machine and to try show exactly what is involved in doing so. While I hope to get a few experienced people to show up on the day it is still aimed at helping people get a basic working knowledge and some hands on CNC knowledge.

Cheers.

Russell.

**epineh** · 18th January 2011, 07:18 PM

Hi everybody, just a quick message to say that the BBQ is still on, I have had some PM's asking if the floods have affected anything but we are all good here.

I have a few things to get ready for the day but there is still some time, though it is running out fast ! (for me at least) The format is hopefully still mostly the same as mentioned, there may be changes but it is still to early to tell right now, I will keep everybody informed of any changes as they unfold.

I have had a few people PM me to say they are coming, this is great but also feel free to post on this thread if you plan to attend, we won't hold it against you if you don't manage to make it on the day but it does stir up interest if a few people say they are coming.

Cheers.

Russell.

**Thunknker** · 4th February 2011, 10:54 PM

G'day Russell,

I am keen to come and will begin planning towards it.
I am only a days drive away, and since I have a sister in law up there, recon I can swing it with SHMBO.
From the sound of it the education value alone will be worth at least 12 months of net surfin.

Cheers,

Tim.

**SawDustSniffer** · 6th February 2011, 05:13 PM

if emerald is a days drive away , darwin is only one days drive aswell (full 24 hours ), ill book my holidays and let you know if my boss will allow me time off , lol ,

15c , what ,i havent been that cold in 15 years, at 19c in winter here i wont get out of bed untill it hits 22c, ill have to bye a pare of jeans and a jumper ???? why have it in winter ( sarcasim )

**epineh** · 7th February 2011, 09:14 PM

Hi Tim and Sawdustsniffer... would be great to have you along, at the moment we are without power for a couple of weeks (thanks to cyclone Yasi) so I can only drop in here every now and then but be happy in the knowledge that the shed is still standing.

19 deg in winter ? I thought your two seasons were hot...and hot and raining

(bit more sarcasm

)

I may have dropped the min temp to entice a few southerners, but don't let them know...lol

Cheers.

Russell.

**bobsreturn2003** · 13th February 2011, 08:24 AM

hi count me in sounds great to me have a cnc but cant use it as yet . cheers Bob

**epineh** · 19th February 2011, 03:10 PM

Hi Bob, it would be great to see you, only too happy to help you with your machine if I can. How big is it ? If it is small enough to move maybe you could bring it on the day, just a thought anyway, there should be a few people turn up on the day capable of getting things working for you.

Cheers.

Russell.

**bobsreturn2003** · 19th February 2011, 06:26 PM

Hi mate the hardware is fine , its the software has me troubled??? read

etc . pm me your details and i will give you a call and try and help out at the bbq. cheers Bob

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