Full Version: Epilog's owner manual!!!
From: JHayes55 [#21]
7 Apr 2007
To: nischchi [#1] 8 Apr 2007
Nischchi - I would suspect you will get some response from Epilog the first of next week. I have found over the years they have been responsive to my questions and suggestions.
While we wait for a response from Epilog why don't you fill out your profile.
It makes it easier to respond to someone if we have the profile filled out.
Joe
EDITED: 8 Apr 2007 by JHAYES55
From: Mike (MIKED) [#22]
9 Apr 2007
To: ALL
I’ll try to explain our philosophy on manuals. My explanation is not going to be able to provide an immediate solution for nischchi, and it’s not going to change his perception of our manual being “kids stuff’, but I want to at least try to provide an explanation of why we do what we do.
Epilog views the Owner’s Manual as a reference source for operating the laser system, along with basic maintenance guidelines. We have received numerous accolades over the years about the ease of use and the completeness of our manuals, especially when compared to our competition. Because it’s such a good operational manual, some of our distributors actually use it as a sales tool! So, from our point-of-view, we’re doing a really good job of providing what our customers are asking for in an owner’s manual.
What nischchi is asking for is what we would consider a technical manual – which admittedly we don’t have. The biggest reason that we don’t have one is that almost none of our customers want one. They just don’t have an interest in a document like that. They would much rather have instructions available to them on an as needed basis – and this we have.
So, what do we do for nischihi? In the short term we can provide documentation for most of the items that he describes in earlier threads. Some of the information he’s looking for is not documented at all, so it’s not something we can provide. What we do have, we provide freely to all customers that want it. He can contact our technical support team and they will provide him with anything we have. In the long term we’ll have to decide whether we will produce the kind of technical manual he is looking for.
I’m sorry that we don’t have what nichchi is looking for, but when we evaluate what the majority of our customers want and what we provide, most of our customers are telling us that we’re giving them what they expect. For those that aren’t satisfied, we’ve got a ways to go.
Mike Dean
Sales & Marketing
Epilog Laser
From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#23]
9 Apr 2007
To: Mike (MIKED) [#22] 9 Apr 2007
Thank you for the official response. We appreciate it.
From: John (ICTJOHN) [#24]
9 Apr 2007
To: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#23] 9 Apr 2007
I very much agree with Mike Dean,
My laser does not come with a "technical manual" either, if I had an Epilog, I probably would not want the "technical manual". I do want someone telling me what to look out for while removing and replacing a part. That is info that you really can't get in a technical manual. I have a technical manual for my embroidery machine, it was written by someone from Korea (i think) and the use of words and the translation does not make sense, So it is very hard to use and try to figure out what they are meaning.
In this day of information at your fingertips, Sorry, but the comprehensive printed manual is and has been gone for quite sometime. When you buy a car, you don't get a technical manual, you just get a book that tells you where the knobs are.
My 2 cents worth, If you want change, Chuck will give it to ya! :O)
~
EDITED: 9 Apr 2007 by ICTJOHN
From: Cody (BOBTNAILER) [#25]
9 Apr 2007
To: Mike (MIKED) [#22] 9 Apr 2007
Mike,
Excellent explanation! That really made a lot of sense.
I agree that your manual is much more complete and current than some of your competition. At least in my case, it described the machine that I actually have in my shop.....not just older generations of equipment.
There have been a few times that the manual did not give me enough information. These have been instances where I needed to call tech support anyway, such as in replacing the X-axis motor & belt, and in replacing the laser tube. Your tech support team sent all necessary instructions & descriptions with the replacement parts.
I, for one, am VERY pleased with Epilog's support and documentation.
Cody
From: Sei (SEIMA) [#26]
9 Apr 2007
To: John (ICTJOHN) [#24] 10 Apr 2007
Aah, but go to Advance Auto Parts and you can get a full repair manual for the majority of vehicles released in the last two decades. Armed with that I've been able to save hundreds of dollars doing jobs I feel confident doing that I never would have known were so easy without said manual.
That said, I grew up the son of an engineer who wrote technical manuals. As such I'm the sort of person who would very much enjoy having in my hands a book detailing the machine down the the thread count of every bolt holding it together.
Granted that's an unrealistic desire, and I don't expect it. But it would be fun to have. :)
Sei
From: John (ICTJOHN) [#27]
10 Apr 2007
To: Sei (SEIMA) [#26] 10 Apr 2007
Sei,
But, those books at advance Auto parts were not written by Ford, Chevy or Mercedes Benz, they were written by private companies looking to make a buck by selling you a book.
Now, if we could get a company to write manuals for Epilog, Xenetech, Universal, Laser Pro, et al..., then you would have the info all in one place that Nischchi wanted. But in this capitalistic society, I don't think that book would become a BEST SELLER, hence, not much profit for the writer, publisher, distributer, retailer..............
:'-(
So, I guess it's back to getting the tech sheets as we need them from the tech department at each manufacturer. Besides we wouldn't want them to get lonely like the "Maytag Repairman"!
:O)
~
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