Chicago, IL area cnc/machining clubs?

[Farasien]

Hey all-

I've been messing with metalworking for a few years now and have been going to the local comm. college in my area for about the last 2 or so years to learn to be a machinist. I've found that the more I do it, the more I love it! I was wondering if there were any clubs in the Chi-town area for any aspect of metalworking from CNC machining to blacksmithing to welding and beyond, and if not, would there be anyone interested in starting one? I lust over the public machine shop in California and the Houston machine club in Texas and I'm willing to bet I'm not the only one. I'd love to get together with others in the 'scene, as it were to swap ideas, work on projects or just talk shop. If anybody's interested, please drop a post with where you are in relation to the Chicago area (I'm in the far NW suburbs) and what your interests might be in metalworking and maybe we can get something started.

Hope to hear from y'all soon-

[jalessi]

Welcome to the Zone.

Where are you located, I might be interested.

Jeff...

[Farasien]

I'm out in the boonies- Carpentersville, Kane County

[jalessi]

I am in Lake County near Great America.

Hopefully others will be interested.

There are a lot of people up here that's for sure.

What is your name?

Jeff...

[Farasien]

Hi Jeff, I'm Erik.

When you say 'alot of people' do you mean in the Chicagoland area as a whole or just in your neck of the woods?

Out near me, there are lots of small shops. In the classes I'm in at ECC, there appears to be mostly people going for apprenticeships for their jobs, but I've run into more than one hobby machinist here and there. I work with another guy whose been machining for fun for years (he's sorta my mentor in some ways). I figure if there were an organization or club or something for metalworking, it might open up opportunities for all those in the area that are interested. Like I said in the original post, I look at the metalworking club in Houston and wonder why we could't do something similar here. Or, if we had a public machine shop like the one I read about in California, even better (Chicago is a heavy industry city, or at least WAS at one time... why them and not us?)

-Erik

[jalessi]

Erik,

Chicagoland is huge, our neck of the woods should also have a lot of interested CNCZone members.

We just missed the Fourth Annual CNC-Workshop in Galesburg, Illinois

Maybe we can network with some of the guys that attend.

http://www.cnc-workshop.com/

YouTube - EMC2 area at 2008 CNC workshop

YouTube - EMC2 area at 2008 CNC workshop

Jeff...

[GregMac]

Hi,

Yes, I would definitely be interested in hooking up with other members.

I'm located in Buffalo Grove, Illinois.



Greg

[jalessi]

Maybe set up a meeting place once or twice a month.

The Blue Moon on 41 is open to people hanging out and having coffee etc...

Jeff...

[star1280]

Hey I'm in the chicago area with a shop downtown and I'd come check ya'll out if it was near.

Alicia

[GregMac]

I like the idea of meeting every month.

[jalessi]

Alicia

Where are you in Chi-town?

What kind of shop do you have?

Jeff...

[cannorh]

Hi am definitely interested in joining a machinig club. I am in Lake County and have a number of freinds that may be interested in getting together with other machinists in the area.

I think the idea of a public machine shop sounds great.

Thanks