Going To Westec? Yes

[Geof]

I thought there was a thread where somebody had asked this but I couldn't find it.

Anyone going? I am flying down Sunday late afternoon and just spending Monday there; plan on arriving 6 - 7pm.

Anyone interested in getting together for dinner/drinks Sunday evening? Don't know what hotel I will be in yet but can easily take a cab someplace to meet. I know of a nice Italian restaurant out in Santa Monica or my favorite, the Warehouse at Marina Del Rey.

[slatern44]

I'm going, but just for the day on Tuesday. Just going to make a long day trip out of it otherwise I would join you. Maybe IMTS?

[Geof]

Originally Posted by slatern44 I'm going, but just for the day on Tuesday. Just going to make a long day trip out of it otherwise I would join you. Maybe IMTS?

IMTS is the Chicago one? I will not go to it.

[Donkey Hotey]

Yeah, I'll be down there but Tuesday is my day too (the 'long' one). When we get closer, I'll see if I'm going to go two days or not. I thought they had two 'long' days this year (Tue, Wed) but the latest schedules are only showing one.

The traffic down in Los Angeles is so bad I try to not drive down there more than a few times a year.

Geof, have you been to Westec before?

[HAILINHAAS]

ahh .. the Warehouse .. agood choice. It's been there forever.

Don't forget about Hooter's nearby. : )

[Geof]

Originally Posted by Donkey Hotey ...Geof, have you been to Westec before?

Four times I think. In past years it has been around the same time that I was in LA for a show that my company attends so I would stay an extra day. This time I have to make a special trip.

[9lrac9]

It would be nice to get together with the guys from the CNC ZONE... all these guys and their posts and the answers... What a sunday night it would be. Just post when...

9lrac9
I live in Ontario Ca 45 minutes from westec.

[Donkey Hotey]

Hey guys, I'd be all for going somewhere within walking distance of the Convention Center on Monday night after the show.

I really want to go two days this year and I hate getting dumped onto the Harbor Freeway at 5:00 PM (Tuesday night ends at 6:00).

If there's a bar/grill type of place near there and we can still get our cars out of the parking structure 2-3 hours later, count me 'in'.

I hate to sound pathetic but I registered within an hour of getting the first email notice back in Oct/Nov. I look forward to Westec every year.

[Geof]

Originally Posted by Donkey Hotey ....I really want to go two days this year and I hate getting dumped onto the Harbor Freeway at 5:00 PM (Tuesday night ends at 6:00).....

Can you really find enough to keep you occupied for two days?

A few years ago I arranged my schedule so I had two days extra after my regular March trip to LA. I was done with Westec in less than a day so the following day I spent most of the morning at the La Brea Tar Pits and then the afternoon at Universal Studios. Much more interesting than looking at boring machine tools, I can see them any day at work.

Come down Sunday evening Mr Hotey and I will by you a dinner and a few drinks.

[Donkey Hotey]

Well Geof, let me consider that. Yeah it would be great to meet. It's just that I really, really hate Los Angeles traffic. The 85 miles between home and LAX is just about the worst LA has to offer. Yeah, even on a Sunday. I used to get stuck in stop & go traffic on that freeway at 10:00 PM on a Sunday night. It's unbelievable. I grew up there but I've been out for 15 years and lost my tolerance for it. Lemme' see.

I can easily kill a day at Westec. Maybe not two but I always start feeling rushed about 3:00 PM. The only reason I haven't gone two days in a row in the past, is that bloody traffic.

I can't count how many times I allowed myself to get sucked into a booth I had no intention of 'wasting time' at, only to learn a ton of useful information.

One was the Kurt booth. What could they tell me that I didn't know about vises? A bunch, evidently. I walked away wishing I hadn't just splurged on a new D675 (I should have stepped up a few models). Ditto for many of the other workholding booths. The Chick and Mitybite booths always seem to have some innovative fixturing ideas. In 2001, I didn't even know about multi-station vises. A chance visit to the Chick booth (and their presence in almost all of the Haas demo machines) opened me up to their products.

Last year, I saw some amazing things in multi-axis wire EDM. I never considered some of its applications, nor did I realize it was so affordable or so precise. I know very little about laser cutting and punch presses but my future may involve sheetmetal production.

I don't know where I'll be in the next 12 months. I know that last year at this time, I had zero plans to buy a TL-1. It's been here 4 months now.

I want to spend some time in the Renishaw and Faro booths this year. I don't know what else will be there that I rushed past in previous years. The Haas booth always seems to have some gems that a casual 'stroll through' might miss.

To really put this into perspective: 2001 was my first Westec. Before that, I didn't even see any point in going. It all seemed so out of reach and my employer is stuck in the 80s. I owned a manual lathe and a Sears drillpress and was 'dreaming' of a manual knee mill. The furthest I could see was a used knee mill and maybe a DRO. By 2002, I owned a nice knee mill and a 14" Delta bandsaw.

In 2002, I was wandering the Haas booth like a 16 year old in the dressing room at Hooters. I was drooling over the machinery that I wished my employer would buy. I still couldn't see a clear path to starting my own business.

Gene Saltis caught me on my way out of their booth. I was on my way to see Fadal's 'new' Toolroom mill. That was as high as I could dream at the time (I'm being serious...I had no visions of ever owning a machining center).

He steered me back to look at the TL-1 prototype. "Look! Here's a pretty girl you'll never date!" 18 months later, I stepped right over the TL-1, TL-2 two 'Mini' models and the VF-1 to buy a VF-2.

At last year's show, I had no plans to buy a lathe. I have never spent time at the Dorian, Aloris or other lathe-related booths. I regret that now. I'm sure by the time this Westec is over, I'll be sorry for half of my lathe tooling choices. Yeah, I visited the websites and looked at their catalogs but there's nothing like being able to touch the tooling and try it out.

So, I'm rambling again (and trying to build some excitement for people 'on the fence' about attending). The point is: Westec is a really important day of training. Every show is different because my perspective and experience grows every year. And I get to meet people like you that have all of this experience.

[Geof]

Originally Posted by Donkey Hotey ...I can easily kill a day at Westec. Maybe not two but I always start feeling rushed about 3:00 PM..........I can't count how many times I allowed myself to get sucked into a booth I had no intention of 'wasting time' at, only to learn a ton of useful information.......

You have more stamina than me. I tend to go with something very specific in mind and not spend much time roaming the booths. I have done it and it is worthwhile because there is a lot of information available that is useful. But I would get frustrated that I couldn't afford all the neat stuff as was looking at

[Donkey Hotey]

Originally Posted by Geof I tend to go with something very specific in mind and not spend much time roaming the booths.

So what are you going to look at this year?