Just wondering if there would be any interest in a CNC show/swapmeet in the Nothwest.
I am located in Central Washington and can get a place to hold it if there is enough interest. There are two volunteers in our office who would put it togethor.

Any interest?

mike

I'd be interested if it was in the Puget Sound area. I'd bet you could get more people from Oregon up to Vancouver,BC if the event was near Seattle.

No doubt you are right but wrong side of the state for me to setup anything.

Besides maybe you Westside guys might enjoy some sunshine and winery tours:)

mike

<Raises hand> SW WA state here. Where would it be held?

Zillah, Wa -about 20 miles from Yakima

mike

Hi mike, That sounds cool.......I would be interested in attending.
Steve

I am a newbie here, but I would be interested. (Yakima)

Welcome
GPNJUICE , glad to see someone else from the valley. What is your interest?

Thanks Steve.

I have come up with a 24x24 router/engraver/plasma table. the frame is

made from one sheet of 18ga. It goes togethor fast. We could assemble one

(or more) and set it up at the get togethor. A hands on kind of thing?

When would be a good date for this?

mike

I would be there if you pulled it off

Not looking like it is going to fly, but it was worth a try.
mike

All is good!

I just found this post today, I'm from Vancouver BC for a weekend event I would be interested, I think if you keep this idea up and maybe plan for a year from now you could have a pretty nice event set up

I would attend a show or swap meet in the Seattle area.

IF it were during good wheather, i'd ride MC up to attend one. couldn't afford to drive the guzzler tho. Maybe we could utilize a pacific northwest forum (club) ? Salem, or

im from around vancouver as well, would be intrested

I am interested in going any place in the NW. All we now is someone to put it on.:)
mike

Last year at the Gears show in Portland, I attended a seminar on home brew cnc machine construction and programming. There have been some hobby cnc vendors and displays at the show in the past.

I was just in the process of getting my trip planned to be there next month and recalled reading this thread and thought I'd offer up the Idea of latching on to a show that is already ongoing and aimed at home machinists.

I will also admit lest people show wp this year expecting to see a lot of tooling and cnc related stuff that, of late, the shop tool vendors have been a little sparse at this venue. Gears is not as big and dose not have the draw as Cabin fever, but it may still be a possible springboard for cnc related activities in the NW.

Just my two cents worth.
George

George
do you have any more info. I am interested.
mike

I am located in Portland, OR and would be willing to travel up to Vancouver BC if needed. I am a neebie, so any machine or tooling expos would be great, just to get more accustomed to the industry... knowledge is priceless! So let me know if there are ANY events happening in WA, BC, or OR. Thanks!

http://216.197.127.227/index.html

I believe this is the show George was talking about.

Looks like fun. thanks for the link. Portland would be a great place to have a cnc meet also.

mike

I am down for whatever... Portland, Salem, Eugene, LA, SanFran, SanDiego, Seattle-Tacoma, or even Vancouver B.C.! Let me know if anything is happening, big events or small, I would like to get as much experience as possible since I am a NEWBIE who has a Dyna CNC and would love to pick up more tools (who doesn't) and build my own machine as well. So let me know if anything comes up!

There are 2 shows I know of, one is a small home built tools which is this coming August
30th and 31st, 2008. Here is the link; http://216.197.127.227/index.html I also read a thread about meetings in the Portland Oregon area for machinists and engineers in general. here is the link; http://users.easystreet.com/depmco/pme/meetings.htm
I went to the Northwest Machine Tool Expo at the Portland Convention Center last May and it was pretty good for having suppliers and workshops, but wasn't HUGE by any means. I will go again this next spring just for the classes-lectures.

OK, so let's see if there is anything else going on in the mean time... anyone?!?

I would love to attend a Pacific NW Show. I don't know that I would have a booth, but I would love to interview people in the biz.

Ivan Irons
http://www.cncinformation.com

I'm in for a Portland(ish) show. I'd drive up to 200 miles for a potentially lame (no offense) 1st annual convention like thing.

I am in the Seattle Area and would travel to any part of WA State or Oregon.

Ivan Irons

I would like to see something happen in the Northwest and am still willing to donate or help to get something going.

Any good organizers out there?

mike

Hi, I am new to the forum. I think a spring cnc swap meet would be great. I have more than a truck load of surplus electronic mechanical and cnc/tool items available for this kind of event. I am in Battle Ground WA near Vancouver. A trip to Western WA, would not be a problem. Another local group to alert would be the Portland Model Engineers. They have a web site and Yahoo group if you google them.

I am down for a swap meet if it is in Oregon or on the Oregon side of Washington.

I just found this thread. I would be interested in a swap meet as well. I am in the Seattle area but could travel some distance. What are we thinking? a warehouse or someone's back yard, or ?

I have hundreds and hundreds of pounds of linear rails, ballscrews, brushless motors, etc. that I would be interested in swapping. Also some nice CO2 lasers. I could even hold a little laser demonstration of a 35 watt and a 50 watt RF excited laser.

I wonder how bad my wife would kill me if we held it at my house on the river....:)

I wonder how bad my wife would kill me if we held it at my house on the river....:)

I think she would be happy as im sure where ever you have all that stuff stored she would like to see it go. :banana:

But really I think for this to happen all were missing is someone to step forward with a spot

I think she would be happy as im sure where ever you have all that stuff stored she would like to see it go. :banana:

But really I think for this to happen all were missing is someone to step forward with a spot

Portland/Vancouver is probably the best compromise in terms of distance for the majority of people who posted in this thread. I'd be more than willing to hold it at my place but I am all the way down in Salem. If anyone is interested let me know.

Me and the wife used to go to the coast each year and we would stop in salem and go to Lancaster Mall for the sword store there

Me and the wife used to go to the coast each year and we would stop in salem and go to Lancaster Mall for the sword store there

The sword and tobacco shop is still there. Where are you located?

Im an hour east of Vancouver BC. I love ATVing on the dunes, for that I love coming to your state

Portland area would be great and I am still interested
KTP - where are you located? Would be glad to help
mike

east of seattle on the skykomish river (great salmon/steelhead fishing in my backyard!).

Hey, I just got a yamaha Rhino side by side ATV, I would love to go to the dunes in my state (never been). Is that in eastern washington?

Sounds like a great place.

There is a dune area in Moses Lake and a couple of others I think. My kids ride in them, I will see what I can find out.


mike

I'm in the portland area I will be there if it happens.

Kyle M.

I'm in the portland area I will be there if it happens.

Kyle M.

My impression is this: If a get together isn't centered around another large event (ie expo) then it isn't going to happen. So if anyone knows of any machine related events happening this year speak up!

Seafair! oh wait..salt water and machinery....hmmm...

I was thinking more along the lines of the machinery expo in Portland like last year.

I would Definitely go id there is one in Washington/orgeon area

I was thinking more along the lines of the machinery expo in Portland like last year.

When is this expo this year?

The G.E.A.R.S. show is here in Portland in Sept., Might be a good time to get together.

When is this expo this year?

I don't think they are doing one this year which I am a little bummed about since I missed it last year.

The G.E.A.R.S. show is here in Portland in Sept., Might be a good time to get together.

That isn't a bad idea. I'd be interesting in going.

If anyone wants to get together for a swap meet prior to Sept. we can do it at my place down in Salem. Otherwise I am up for driving as far as Portland.

I don't know about anyone else but I need to book time off work and get the wife on board so picking a time is needed. So if we like the idea of around the GEARS show I found the web site http://216.197.127.227/index.html and the show is Aug, 30-31 a wee bit before sept.

I don't know about anyone else but I need to book time off work and get the wife on board so picking a time is needed. So if we like the idea of around the GEARS show I found the web site http://216.197.127.227/index.html and the show is Aug, 30-31 a wee bit before sept.

I'd be able to make it there Aug 31st.

OK, now we have a time, now we just need a place

mike

OK, now we have a time, now we just need a place

mike

Tailgater in the GEARS parking lot? :banana:

I am intersted also. I wanted to go to the Mach3 seminar but could not make it then.
If this show is in Tacoma/Seattle area I can make it in about a 4.5 hour drive, from the west.
and on a side note I am building a 6'x12' plasma table.
47MLB

Please visit: <http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?p=462505#post462505>

We also have a related thread regarding this going on.

Although preliminary my machining instructor is open to hosting it (Location NOT expenses! -- Typical school budget.). Once I know more about it's size and details we will put in a formal proposal with the school.

Please read my last message and give me feedback.

It looks like there is interest in getting together, but it's kind of hard without a formal organization. Pretty hard to get anyone to let us have space when they ask who wants it and we cant come up with a name.In the interest of getting this started, I have purchased the domain name PNWCNC.com, and am hosting the site. As of now there is nothing there until we can come up with an organization to use it. Please send replies and ideas to: host@pnwcnc.com.

We can register the organization, much like any other hobby club, and then be "legit" I think it's something like $8.00 in Oregon and around $25.00 in Washington. (Quoting from memory on a Ham radio club.) Registering in WA would be an advantage if somebody wanted to do one in major city like Tacoma or Seattle, (as opposed to someplace like Scapoose OR)
We need to set up a meeting in a Denny's to work some of this out.


>I tried to send you a detailed email to the PNW... addy but VISTA blocked it with some sort of error message.

It looks like there is interest in getting together, but it's kind of hard without a formal organization. Pretty hard to get anyone to let us have space when they ask who wants it and we cant come up with a name.In the interest of getting this started, I have purchased the domain name PNWCNC.com, and am hosting the site. As of now there is nothing there until we can come up with an organization to use it. Please send replies and ideas to: host@pnwcnc.com.

I know gears and already come and gone but is there still interest in forming a pacific NW CNC club?

-Levi

Hello Bearingman,
I sent a message to the email address you listed and it appears it went through... if it didn't, let me know and I'll PM you here. There are 5 that I'm aware of in Whatcom county (and 3 others I know in the state) who'd be interested in a meeting...
Thanks,
Doug

I'm still interested in a meeting/swap meet. I'm a little bit North of Seattle.

Hello all-

I just registered on the site this morning. I teach Design Engineering at Bellingham High School (Whatcom County, WA) and could possibly provide space for meeting. Please post if you are interested and I will see what I can do.

paul

I recently took over the program at BHS and am currently on a steep learning curve...

Welcome
I would be interested
I love Bellingham always so nice to drive threw

If it was not summer time I would certainly be there, I will look for any excuse to head up to Northern Washington!

I vote for any place east of the Cascades, I try to stay away from the Left side of the state.:)

WELL, the further north this thing travels, The less i feel interested in going !

Seattle/Tacoma area is quite a travel for me. But it sounds like a good spot.

I think Yakima, WA would be a good spot. Smaller town easier to get around in for us small town folks.

I think Yakima, WA would be a good spot. Smaller town easier to get around in for us small town folks.

No offense but that location is much worse for anyone coming from Portland or South simply because it would take just as long to get there as it would be Olympia or Seattle. Personally I think a location somewhere inbetween Seattle and Portland would be the best compromise otherwise maybe two smaller swap meets.

BUT lets throw a date out there and see if we can make something happen.

March 28 in the evening or March 29th sometime in the afternoon. Or what about April 12th? Newberg Oregon, location is my dinky shop.

What about March 25th in the evening? In Portland? Anyone have a shop in the area? Or what about a mini meet in Salem/woodburn area?

What about April 25-26th in seattle?

I think at this point a few of us just need to rally together and organize something. If others can come great, if not then maybe next time they can.

Regards,
-Levi

How about April 18, 8:00am til ?, my shop ,Union Gap (Yakima),Wa. 2.5 hrs from Seattle,Portland,or Spokane. a hour from Tri-Cities. First Time we get togethor just to get things going.

I will set up a machine to play with, some computers with different software, show how to make boards doing toner transfer. I will supply some pizza and pop.

Others bring what you got or just come to have some fun.

I have a 6000sf shop and a lot of room for parking.

OK date and time set

contact me:

Mike Laws
mlaws1172@embarqmail.com

The Seattle Green Festival is March 28 & 29, as an inventor I need to be there.

If you want more than a small, casual meeting you should allow at least 45 days notice to get the word out.

As to location, it needs to be near an interstate or travel times will be excessive for those traveling any distance. Personally I would be willing to travel up to 5 hours (each way, from northern Seattle), however those who are less committed would probably not be so open to extended travel (unless it was a really huge show). Additionally I think we should take into consideration our northern cousins (even though they speak a funny language, they seem to be hungry for tools), so we should error slightly to the north of the center of our circle. My recommendation would be the I5 corridor ranging from Portland to South of Seattle.

This brings up a question, where is the center of our circle? I am in Kenmore, Wa., just north east of Seattle.

As to organizing an event, I am willing to attend a pre-event meeting, and take part in organizing, however I will not take lead.

I'm in Seattle and there is basically no good place for everybody in Washington and Oregon to meet. I think Mike Laws is right that Yakima averages out the pain. It's not close to anything (except Union Gap :-) but it's equally difficult for the easterners and the westerners and the Oregonians to get to. The only other alternative is having 2 meetings, one east and one west. At that point, I'd vote for Olympia or Centralia - again to minimize the pain of the northerners and the southerners. I don't have an opinion about the east side, I don't know it well enough.

I'm in Seattle and there is basically no good place for everybody in Washington and Oregon to meet. I think Mike Laws is right that Yakima averages out the pain. It's not close to anything (except Union Gap :-) but it's equally difficult for the easterners and the westerners and the Oregonians to get to. The only other alternative is having 2 meetings, one east and one west. At that point, I'd vote for Olympia or Centralia - again to minimize the pain of the northerners and the southerners. I don't have an opinion about the east side, I don't know it well enough.

I vote for neither. Simple fact is that there are going to have to be separate locations aimed at better serving one area or another.... Probably Portland for Oregon and Seattle for Washington. Obviously we'd want to invite any Washington people who wanted to come and vice versa BUT no single location will capture everyone. Period.

I also think it would be nice to have semi regular meetings (maybe a few times a year) because it is always good to network with your peers.

-Levi

If it was to be in Portland I would certainly go, not so in Seattle. I'm in Eugene and Portland is a nice 90 minute drive, Seattle is closer to 4 hours I think?

There is a facility in Portland, can't remember the name, they have classes and rent cnc equipment, etc. They might be willing to host a meeting just to get some exposure. If that's of interest, I'll see if I can find the contact person and see if they want to consider it.

Gary

I am in the process of building my first CNC router, and would love to meet up with some people in the NW Oregon, SW Washington area. I hate driving in Seattle. But anywhere south of Tacoma isn't so bad.

In fact if anyone in Portland Oregon area would be willing to meet up to give me a chance to see a working Homebuilt CNC router I would love it.


There is a facility in Portland, can't remember the name, they have classes and rent cnc equipment, etc. They might be willing to host a meeting just to get some exposure. If that's of interest, I'll see if I can find the contact person and see if they want to consider it.

Gary

You are thinking of Techshop. They do have Machines and I have been thinking of going there to check it out since the opened last month.

This thing really went to hell in a hand basket ! It better really and I mean REALLY get interesting in a hurry or I for one am not going to pay any further attention.

March 29th @ 3pm. Newberg. Anyone interested is more than welcome to come, at the very least I'll be there by myself ;). I highly encourage those who do to bring something of interest (work holding solution you found useful, new tools, something neat you've made, anything really!) to share with everyone. It isn't mandatory but would certainly make good talking points :D

Consider this a mini social/swap meet so if you want to bring something you think someone else might buy that is fine as well.

I'll see about getting some snacks or food but everyone is welcome to bring something.

If you are interested PM me and I'll send you my address.

-Levi

Newberg... WA? OR? CA? Timbuktu?

Newberg... WA? OR? CA? Timbuktu?

The last time I checked the Pacific Northwest did not include California and I am not aware of any Newberg, WA.

If you are having to ask what state the town is in you probably aren't going to be coming.

The last time I checked the Pacific Northwest did not include California and I am not aware of any Newberg, WA.

If you are having to ask what state the town is in you probably aren't going to be coming.

Thanks for the snotty response. I'm sure you'll give your visitors as warm a response when they ask where your bathroom is.

Thanks for the snotty response. I'm sure you'll give your visitors as warm a response when they ask where your bathroom is.

Not trying to be an ass, really, but a quick googlemap search pulled only Newberg, OR. If you were local, which is what this get together is primarily focused on then you would have known what state Newberg is in.

So I apologize for being rude. It has been one of those days I guess.

I've been having one of those weeks, too. I apologize for the rude response.

It is simple enough to just type in four extra characters: ", OR" rather than leaving those of us without encyclopedic knowledge of the geography of our states in the dark. ;'/

There are a -lot- of little towns within two hours drive of Tacoma (WA) and I sure don't know them all. And one of my pet peeves is people in Seattle (primarily) posting the name of a neighborhood (not on any map) or a street without a city or state. The implicit insult being that if you aren't from Seattle, you don't exist.

So for all I know, you could have meant a neighborhood in Seattle called Newberg.

I'm hoping there'll be something closer to the Olympia/Tacoma/Seattle area. I'm a starving student again and gas is like silver. At least it isn't like gold any more, or worse yet inkjet printer ink. If something comes up closer, I may be able to drag a few of the members of the club I started at Bates Technical College, "The Makers Club" along. We're in the process of building a CNC router.

I've been having one of those weeks, too. I apologize for the rude response.

It is simple enough to just type in four extra characters: ", OR" rather than leaving those of us without encyclopedic knowledge of the geography of our states in the dark. ;'/

There are a -lot- of little towns within two hours drive of Tacoma (WA) and I sure don't know them all. And one of my pet peeves is people in Seattle (primarily) posting the name of a neighborhood (not on any map) or a street without a city or state. The implicit insult being that if you aren't from Seattle, you don't exist.

So for all I know, you could have meant a neighborhood in Seattle called Newberg.

I'm hoping there'll be something closer to the Olympia/Tacoma/Seattle area. I'm a starving student again and gas is like silver. At least it isn't like gold any more, or worse yet inkjet printer ink. If something comes up closer, I may be able to drag a few of the members of the club I started at Bates Technical College, "The Makers Club" along. We're in the process of building a CNC router.

No worries. I'm Levi, sorry we got off on the wrong foot.

I would hope to have a meeting up in your area at some point. I think the issue thus far is simply making one happen! This is why I want to hold a small meeting in my area. If you are able to make it that would be great otherwise we'll try and organize something farther north later in the year.

Here we go no one from the east wants to go west, no one west wants to go east, no one from the south wants to go north, and no one from the north wants to go south. I really think the is a PNW thing as I know people in the Atlantic side of the country that will drive 6hrs to go do something on the weekend and think nothing of it. But out here everyone wants it in there back yard, sorry for coming across harsh but someone offered his shop in Union Gap, WA just to get this thing started and now everyone wants it in their back yard instead. I really think that the Yakima area is very centrally located a 4-6 hour drive from there is most of the PNW including a lot of Idaho. And if we were any kind of a group we'd help the starving college student out and carpool. If it was up to me I'd say have it in Lewiston, ID then I could just drive 1 mi. there. But if it's a day that I'm not committed to already I'll go to Yakima and enjoy my time.

It is true, Union Gap is about 2-1/2 hours from Tacoma. And every year about half a dozen of our Klingon club travels 4 hours to Pasco, WA for a convention, and almost that far to a one day UFO parade in McMinnville, OR. I have friends in Kittitas that we drive out just to visit now and then.

I grew up in Missoula, Montana in the '70s. It was no big deal to drive a couple of hours to do stuff almost every weekend.

Here, I can't get people to drive an hour or less from Seattle or Olympia into Tacoma, it is too much trouble.

My problem this year is the starving student thing. So while I hope something comes up closer to Seattle/Tacoma/Olympia, I don't want anyone to move something on my account.

Hm... my friend in Kittitas (he's building an R2D2) might be interested in something happening in Union Gap.

I agree that there is an issue of travel for some people. I am willing to travel as far as Seattle BUT I am not available the weekend that was proposed before for Yakima.

I think we are over thinking this.

Why do we need to hold one really big meeting? What is wrong with the people in the Portland area getting together at a location that suits them and the people in Washington getting together at a different weekend/location? There is never going to be a single location or date that works for everyone. So if someone wants to host a meeting a certain weekend then throw it out there, we don't have to come to some census on this. If people can or want to come then they will.

I agree with Gumby that there can be more than one get togethor.

The date I posted was just pulled out of the air and I chose Union Gap (Yakima) Wa. because that is where I has access to things.

If someone has a better date let me know.

I would like to make Gumby meeting but I think that is spring break for the Grandkids and I am supposed to take them to the beach.

The first part of March every year there is a sewing convension in Puyallup, Wa. It is the biggest in the Nation. Maybe if we can get something started next year we could have something at the same time and in the same area.

Then it could be a family outting.

There isnt much in Yakima but fruit and wine. But if there is any interest we could help set up a winery tour.

The only other thing I can offer is a free T&M hat (name of my company).:)

If I get some feedback from this I will start a new post stating a date and time.

thanks
Mike

I agree with Gumby that there can be more than one get togethor.

The date I posted was just pulled out of the air and I chose Union Gap (Yakima) Wa. because that is where I has access to things.

I would like to make Gumby meeting but I think that is spring break for the Grandkids and I am supposed to take them to the beach.

The first part of March every year there is a sewing convension in Puyallup, Wa. It is the biggest in the Nation. Maybe if we can get something started next year we could have something at the same time and in the same area.

No worries about not making this one. I am sure I'll hold more at some point in the near future. I have a feeling this first one is going to be a small get together! My shop isn't even fully equiped yet so it won't be the most exciting meeting. It also seems like most of the interest is in routers (which I don't have) but hopefully it is enjoyable.

I have been folowing the debate and would like to say, set a date. If some can make it, great, if not maybe next time!
I will try to attend if I have enough lead time.
I am in Chehalis so any of the locations are not out of the question.

Steve

Well we are still on for my place at 3pm. Anyone is welcome to come.

Well the meeting was a success. Only a total of 4 people (including me) but it was a diverse group and considering the size of my shop not a bad number. I look forward to doing this again in the future.

I totally spaced that you had this still going on and by the time I knew it was 3:20 and had no idea how to get there...guess I will have to try for next time...

I was unable to make it because of a family birthday party. But next time you do this, I will be there.

Perhaps it is time to have another one?

sign me up.

Perhaps it is time to have another one?
Sounds good. When do you have to report to active duty?

Alan