Special Interest Groups
Special Interest Groups differ in structure according to the desires of their members. Some are very loosely structured, while others have a more formal hierarchy. No matter how they are designed, all Guild members are welcome to attend the SIG meetings. SIGs are guaranteed meeting space and time and have their own pages on the web site.
Members with similar interests are encouraged to form their own SIGs.
Select a Box for More Information
The CNC SIG meets on the 3rd Monday of the Month at 6:30 pm.
A CNC is a computer-controlled cutting machine used for cutting various materials, such as wood. CNC routers can perform the tasks of many carpentry shop machines. A CNC router typically produces consistent and high-quality work and improves productivity. A CNC router can reduce waste, the frequency of errors, and the time the project takes to get to completion.
The CNC is controlled by a computer. Coordinates are uploaded into the machine controller from a separate CAD program. Our CNC router configuration has two basic software applications—one program to design (CAD), and another to translate those designs into a ‘G-Code’ program of instructions for the machine (CAM).
In addition to acquiring the CNC hardware, the Guild purchased four software products used in creating CNC projects. They are;
- Vectric VCarve Pro – for creating basic 2 dimensional projects.
- Makerspace – which allows Guild members to design their project at home and then bring them into the shop.
- Aspire – for more complicated project as well as three dimensional projects.
- Mach3 – which is the software that reads instructions created by VCarve Pro or Aspire and translates them to the CNC machine.
For any Guild member to use the CNC, they must be certified in competency with the CNC software and hardware. To certify they must;
– Have a working competency of personal computers
– Be competent in using VCarve pro or/and Aspire to create their projects
– Be trained in using Mach3 (the software that controls the CNC machine) and all operations of the CNC
– Have their own flash drive and CNC cutting bits for which to use on their projects. The Guild does not provide CNC cutting bits.
Below are three instructional documents to introduce you to the CNC design software, to the software that allows you to work at home and then bring your projects into the Guild Library to finish them, and a short step-by-step overview of using the actual CNC machine.
Please send an email to CNCSIG@kcwg.net for assistance and instruction on configurig VCarve Pro Makerspace for your personal use the instructions are currenlty being re-written.
Future classes for CNC certification will be announced via Guild email, in the same manner as all other classes.
For more information, contact CNCSIG
The KCWG Hand Tool SIG meets the 4th Sunday of the Month, 2pm to 4pm.
Interested in stepping up your hand tool game a bit? Forget dovetails, the hip crowd is all up in the mortises. I mean where else besides the abattoir are you going to use the term “pigsticker” and mean it?
We will walk through the process of laying out a mortise and tenon joint, chopping out the mortise, sawing the tenon and fitting the joint. And if you act now without delay, drawboring!
Join us for the KCWG Hand Tool Special Interest Group on Sunday March 25th from 2pm until 4pm and be amazed. And with luck I won’t destroy an antique mortise chisel this time.
(Please be advised, the main shop closes to the use of power tools from 2pm until 4pm during the SIG as there will be no foreman on duty.)
All members of the Guild, guests, and prospective members are invited and welcome and encouraged to attend.
For more information, contact Hand Tool SIG
Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation
Laser Engraver SIG meets the fourth Wednesday of each month at 7:00 pm.
In the Laser Special Interest Group we explore some of the creations and options of using a laser to engrave or cut materials.
For more information, contact Laser SIG
Laser Engraver Checklist – Important information for every User!
The Scroll Saw SIG meets on the 2nd Wednesday of the Month at 7:00 pm.
The scroll saw SIG is a place where members interested in scroll sawing can learn new techniques, improve their skills, share their knowledge, and have a chance to meet people with similar interests and skills. We have an extensive collection of patterns available to member scrollers. Barbara Bruschi has organized and filed these patterns. They are located in the library at the Guild. Barbara will be happy to help you find your pattern. There also is a large collection of scroll saw magazines available for viewing and can be checked out from the library. Some of the areas of interest that we have delved into are listed below. We are always open for new areas as long as they relate to scroll sawing.
For more information, contact John Tegeler or David Roth.
If you belong to Facebook, see the Scroll Saw SIG HERE
See a YouTube video of David Roth discussing Scroll Saw skills HERE.
For more information, contact Scroll Saw SIG
The Woodcarvers’ Special Interest Group meets regularly the fourth Tuesday of the month from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
For more information, contact Carving SIG
Kansas City Woodturners’ Association is our sister club and has a separate membership and rules. They are located in the same building as the Kansas City Woodworkers’ Guild, Inc. Please visit their website for more information.
SIG Photos
