Ok, I have settled on a "Community Center" in "Lake City, TN".
Dates will be from 21-22 (Saterday/Sunday) 3rd Weekend in Feb09.
NOTE: I am going to leave open the option for now, of having an "Extra" Day the Friday of the 20th. What will decide that is there enough interest on "Advanced" topics. (i.e. OEM/Power User level stuff).
The Advanced stuff will be: 1). a "Crash Course" on C++ Plugins for Mach3, I will have a 30 year programming vetern there to go into DEEP geek-speak, plus I will show some of my own plug in work for "Practical applications" (read that as stuff you can use in the real world), (this class Will really just be going over the Plug in template, its functions, and we will make a Simple plug in with dialog, during the class, it will NOT be a C++ teaching class).
2). Advanced Flash Programming, Taught by Jason Zealous getting into deeper Action Script and possible component design. He should have his Screen IDE done by then, and will go over the use of it for Quick Development Custom Screen work.
3). "Intellegent I/O", interfacing Mach to PLC's and using Analog modules, HS counter modules, E-Com Modules, D-Com modules, Drop networks for multiple PLC's. (assumes you already know how to program Ladder logic, will be covering ADC products only). If Time permits, will dig into Modbus DATA/Control of multiple AC servo Drives.
4). Complex ATC M6 macros, it time permits + interest is there.
If enough interest is shown for to make another day do-able, then those that want to take the Advanced class will pay an Extra $50.00 above the existing 2 day price. (NOTE: If you only just want the Advanced class and will not be staying for the Saterday/Sunday, then just 50.00 bucks).
The magic number will be about 20+ to warrent the hassle of the extra day.
The Facility:the Main room we will hold it in, will be an "Indoor Basketball court". There is NO bleacher space but, it does have about 10' of perimeter around the court.
there are Wall Plugs but all power there is 110V.
So, If you plan on bringing a "Demo" machine that requires 220v, or greater you will need to bring your own generator. There is NO 3 phaze that I can have access to, I DID ask the city, if I could tap into the 3 Phaze box, but that was a NO GO. (basically, a "There is NO WAY in H$LL" I would let someone tap into a city owned power grid..........from the mayor).
But, you can bring your own power, cause then he, nor the city, nor me is liable if you turn yourself into a crispy critter.
Some of you might want to bring, an Extra 110V Generator (if you do bring one, let me know, I will discount your entry fee). There are Several Wall Plugs, and I think they carry enough Amps to handle all the laptops and stuff.
Please feel free to bring an Extra Power Strip........ in case we have to spider more than we think.
I have access to about 80 chairs, and Enough "Banquet Tables" so most can sit comfortably. We have room if we need to run a class "Outside" the back door opens up onto a "foot Ball" field complete with covered spectator Awnings, so some of the classes can be outdoors, but Generators will need to power those stations.
The Facility has Coke machines and Junk machines, even a little
Kitchen-et with a microwave. I will NOT be doing an onsite food service this year, they guy that catered that last one, really didnt even break even.....so. You are own your own for Food. There is a local Dominos and they do deliver, plus a subway, cracker barrel, Micky D's, Sonic, KFC/Toco-Hell, and a really good Mexican resterant "La Fiesta".
There are 2 No-Tel Hotels in the area, One rents by the hour......hehehehe
but seriously, one is a DIVE but it is cheap if you dont mind the overwelming smell of Curry. The other is next to the Mexican resterant, is a little more expensive, and the Illegal Immigrants and drive by shootings are at a minimum.....during the weekdays.........hehehe Really, I am from the government and I am here to Help you..........
I will check with the Hotel by the Mexican resterant to see if they will give a convention price, but I would need to know IN ADVANCE if you plan to attend, and you would probably have to prepay for the room as well. If you dont stay there you lose your money. Both of these hotels are small time private owned "No Checks" kinda places.
RVs: There are some rental slots by Norris Lake, and those are state parks about 15 minutes from the center.
STATE PARKS: The Norris, and Norris Damm area are also a cool place to drop off extra passengers in your vehicle, they can do the nature trails, parks, take the Norris Damm tour etc.
Cove Lake: is one exit north and has a playgournd and nice lake view, all though in Feb, it is gonna be cold outside.
Well Known Hotels: There are your standard "Known" Hotels about One exit, both up and down from the Lake City Exits off of I-75.
Cultural things to do in Lake City: ****sounds of crickets chirping*****
You can get Beered up and laugh at how long it takes Bugs to fry in the Bug-Zapper, or Sometimes the Sonic has classic Car night, with a few Classic Hot-Rods tooling around.
There is Plenty of parking at the Community Center.
Wife Occupiers: There is a "Wife Magnet store", opps I mean "Wally-world" one exit down toward Knoxville.
Wife and/or Wife + Kids, they would have to drive into Knoxville to do anything else like Movies more mainstream resterants, The Evil Chucky-Cheeze, etc. There is a relativly new "Turkey Creek" development area that you dont EVER want you wife to find out about, it has every shopping thing imaginable in a nice "expensive" part of town. Wife goes one way, Checking aound balance goes toward 0 or lower........ (You've been warned).
I did look at more "Proffessional" convention Halls (were in Knoxville, downtown), and the Price was beyond my abilty to count on my fingers and toes........ So unless there was at least 500 or more people, that avenue is a no-go.
The proposed setup so far:we may be getting "creative" in how we do our classes, I suspect we may divide up the Gym into 2-3 sections, and try out best to now shout over each other. Or if it is NOT to darn cold, we will move some classes out to under the awnings for outdoor classes, again depending on the weather/temp.
Like the saying goes, "If you don't like the weather in E. TN, wait 5 minutes".
I am trying to keep a balance between Space and Participant cost. If I go fancier, then it runs the cost up per participant. So, you may have to deal with some less than perfect "class rooms".
Current Instructors:Basic Mach3: Derek "Hill Billy" Ashburn
Intermediate Mach3: Scott "Poppa Bear" Shafer
Advanced Mach3 (C++, Action Script, PLC's): (if enough interest here).
C++: Ed "Crazy Hair" Bryson
Action script/Flash: Jason "Zelous" Blake (Grand master flash).
PLC's, Modbus, Brains: Me again
I may chime in here and there above with example stuff.
Vendors so far that I KNOW will be there:Tony of Vectric
Amy of TEA machine components
Dave of "Dave Controls" may be bringing some demo machine stuff
I will ask if they will come:Brian/Art of Mach3 if he can come speak this year.
Greg of Smooth Stepper
Bruce of CNC Brain
Mariss of Gecko
Aurturo Duncan of CNC4PC
Bob Cambell of Cambel products
Steve of PDMX
Digital Machine Magazine reporter
Vendors/Sponsors: If you want in, you will need to contact me, tell me of your space needs, and what you want to show, and (give away as swag if you want). We will do "Prize Drawings" again during the event.
Swap Meet: If you guys want a Swap Meet, let me know!! and I will arrange some Outdoor space, you will need to bring your OWN tables.
HELP WANTED!!!: I will be begging Chris Scott again to run the overall "Big Picture"/MC since without compare he made it all flow as good as it could last event.
I NEED: People who would be willing to bring, Projectors/screens, and Cameras that could hook and feed directly those same projectors to show the Hardware of other thing being discusses so that those at the back of the class can also see what is going on. If you have PA equipment your willing to bring, I will trade depending on what all you bring to Lower or remove you fee to attend. (obviously the more value you contribute the closer to zero your fee will be).
I would like: 1-2 extra 110v gas operated Generators with extension cords and power strips to handle overflow laptops, displays, etc. One Fee waved per Generator brought, it will need to at least feed 30 amps total/general.
Helpers "General": People who could help with the flow, last minute changes, setting up the above equipment, general Flunkies, I will reduce your fee depending on what you can do, only spots for about 2-3 people here.
Presenters:If you would like to give a class on a Product, or Subject matter that would be applicable to use with Mach3 let me know, and I will slot you in.
You can Email me at: PoppaBear(at)hughes.net for questions (replace "(at)" with "@" ).
Scott
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