During these intensive training courses, you will have the opportunity to practice your skills while receiving personal attention and guidance from expert instructors. Save your spot for these great opportunities by logging into your Expo registration and adding the hands-on sessions to your education calendar.
Please note that Hands On sessions require an additional registration fee. If you have purchased an education pass, you will still need to purchase a Hands On session ticket. The rate for each Hands On class is $150 for nonmembers and $125 for members.
2025 Hands On Session Schedule
Wednesday, February 5
UV Printing from Inception to Production: Hands-On Session
7:30-10 AM
Steve Weist, PDS Equipment
Session Code 401
Join PDS at their booth to learn about the basics of UV printing, target customers, and the ROI of UV printing. Then, work directly at the UV printers including the Mimaki UJF 6042MK2, Mimaki UJF 7151P2, and the Mimaki UCJV300 Print and Cut Machine. You'll get hands on with Steve Weist and his team to do a deep dive into UV Printing. PDS is the number one dealer of UV printers, let them teach you the pros and cons of each of the models that are on display. Each participant will recieve a UV printed tumbler as part of this class.
.25 CEU Technical
Member - $125
Non Member - $150
How to Color Fill Etched Products
7:30-10 AM
Liz Haas, Rayzist Photomask
Session Code 402
In this hands-on session, you'll explore various paint techniques by painting a wine bottle, rock, as well as sandcarving a wine glass for a unique textured (relief carve) appearance. You'll learn the recommended methods for applying paint to different materials, enhancing the value and appeal of your sandcarved products by adding a color fill. Whether it's glass, stone, wood, or metal, a color fill adds contrast and beauty to the etched areas, potentially expanding your product line and increasing profits. You don't need to be an artist—just knowledgeable about your materials!
.25 CEU Technical
Member - $125
Non Member - $150
Thursday, February 6
Blazering: Merging Technologies
7:30-10:00 AM
Darin Jones, IKONICS and Dave Stephens, Trotec
Session Code 403
This hands-on technical session explores the innovative fusion of two distinct but complementary technologies, laser engraving and sandcarving. Seminar participants gain insight on how to upsell to glass customers by transitioning from their laser's shallow etch to the smooth-sanded, deep-carve capabilities of a sandcarver. In addition, participants will work with substrates that were traditionally difficult with lasers, such as polished metals and hard ceramic glazes. Instructors, Darin Jones of IKONICS Imaging and Dave Stevens of Trotec, are experts in their respective technologies. Darin and Dave will empower participants with a working knowledge to combine laser with sandcarving in one process to enhance offerings.
.25 CEU Technical
Member - $125
Non Member - $150
Explore General Education Sessions
Explore common topics in personalization and engage in active discussion with other makers and personalization professionals during our General Education sessions.
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