I received my Foreman Elite this morning and I am so excited. I didn’t expect it until at least August, but I was pleasantly surprised when I got the shipping notification the other day. Before I opened anything up, I decided to print out the manual. I stopped immediately when I realized there were no page numbers on the pages! There are page number references in the index, but why aren’t they on the pages?
I spend enough time on the computer and don’t want to be tied to my laptop looking up information to assemble and operate my machine. I would much rather look at a printed manual. I may be old school, but that’s the way I feel. I’m still excited about the adventures that await me but I was very disappointed with this turn of events. My Adobe Reader wanted to charge me $240 for a year’s subscription to unlock the page numbers option when printing the manual. That is unacceptable after I spent almost $7000 to buy a machine with all the bells and whistles. Page numbers in the manual should NOT be a bell or whistle. Luckily, my wife has the full-version Adobe but she still had to do some work to get me page numbers. PLEASE get this corrected ASAP!
It happens that I print out manuals from time to time, especially since often you buy devices with the manual on a CD in a PDF. But then I do some bookbinding, to put the pages together. If the PDF is in DIN A4, I have a DIN A3 printer to print using the “booklet printing” function of the printer driver, and with a simple long-arm stapler, I join the pages and fold the brochure. I’ve even done real bookbinding with thicker manuals. So I then don’t need the page numbers. Nothing is as annoying as a loose stack of individual loose sheets.
What does the type of binding have to do with the page numbers on the pages? I print the manual, slide the pages into a clear sleeve, and put them into a three-ring binder. I want to be able to go to the index to find what I need to know and then easily flip to that page. It’s that simple.
Really, we need to talk about stuff like this?? The Onefinity machines can do some great stuff
Please lets start getting some better subjects on this forum.
OK, this should be my final reply to this. It’s a bit ridiculous what it’s turned into.
Here is a brief description of what is going on. I am a seasoned woodworker at 60 years old. I have wanted a CNC for years but never pulled the trigger. I joined the Facebook Onefinity group a few months ago and love it. It’s very helpful. (unlike this place so far) I have never used a CNC in my life but I’m eager to learn. They helped me out a lot and guided me through some decisions. About a month ago, I pulled the trigger on a CNC. I didn’t want a basic hobby unit so I ponied up, spent some serious cash, and ordered a Foreman Elite with all the bells and whistles. Top of the line. I was so excited. Shortly after placing my order, Facebook locked me out for no reason. I have been without support since. I hope to get back on there soon because they were MUCH friendlier and accommodating over there!
It’s a little scary being a total noob and facing a big pile of six huge boxes that have to be assembled, adjusted, and calibrated before I can do anything. (having never attempted something like this before) I was very disappointed that the very first step in my journey started with a manual that was not going to be easy to use in helping me conquer the project. The original post was in no way about the program I used to download and print the manual!
Can you at least slightly understand my frustration now?
Thank you, and I’m done with this. I’ll be looking for other options for support from here on out. It’s pretty sad that a supposed support forum from a manufacturer treats new enthusiasts this way!
I have been a regular on this forum and the FB group since getting my first CNC a few years ago - one of the original Woodworkers.
A couple of things come to mind…
putting your concern and frustration over lack of printing page numbers in the Feature Requests was a good choice. The Onefinity team will definately read and consider it here.
the passion you expressed for this topic when you posted it in the Elite Machine category might have caught some users off guard given it was not machine related, and may have come across as an overreaction on your part - returning a new CNC due to no pages in a manual.
I am a member of of many CNC/machining forums, and all of them have passionate contributors, some of them rubbed me the wrong way when they responded to my questions or concerns. Many had very strong opinions on topics, and put varying degrees of effort into presenting cordial answers, but in the end all had something to contribute, which is what a forum like this is all about.
I would ask that you come back when you need support for your machine, either installation or its use. Following the setup in the printed manual (should you choose to print it - I would, and write the numbers by hand as IMO there are relatively few) regardless of pages is a good start. The videos as well if you learn better that way, will get you far, and at your own pace. Please do not dismiss the valuable support you will receive here (even if you do not agree with it), and remember as well this is the official forum, so the Onefinity Team/Staff will also be here for you.
Enjoy your investment - I think you won’t be disappointed once you are up and running.
but have you thought of simply using the manual without page numbers? Could it be that you would succeed easily without page numbers? Onefinity sells this machine with the promise that you will have it assembled and ready to carve something “within one hour”.
As I said above, the Onefinity Setup Manual is a thing you usually use once for this hour, and then usually don’t need it anymore, so why the page numbers. And I already informed you that 95% of the answers to suqsequent questions you may have aren’t even covered in the manual, but can only be found here in the forum. As Onefinity states: “A large “how to” library with a very helpful and supportive community”, well that’s us here. I think all that has happened here is that with your remark if the manual has no page numbers, “if that’s the case, this thing is going back!”, you rather triggered a feeling of amusement here.
I wish you success and joy with your new machine. Don’t worry, a forum user may well make a version with page numbers. Oh! While I was at it, I’ve done that for you:
But for the future, it would be simpler if @Mark simply exports it from his office software now with page numbers, as it’s easier and faster than if I import it to GIMP as graphics layers and add merged down text layers for the numbers.
Look, I was not serious about returning it. If you read my last reply, I was seriously frustrated. In fact, I just ordered a nice laptop/tablet and it will be here tomorrow. There will be no need to tie up my laptop. I’ll keep the tablet by the machine so I’ll have a reference while I build/use it. But I stand by my belief that ANY lengthy manual must have the pages numbered and an index to be of any use at all. It is such a simple and basic requirement of any type of publishing.
My tablet showed up today and it works great. I don’t have to tie up my laptop while learning to use the Foreman. I will leave the tablet in the shop near the CNC and if I have any questions, I can use the tablet instead of running upstairs to the laptop. This makes much more sense. Due to my disability, it takes a bit to get up and down the stairs with my stairlift.
I feel that there are good things to come!
Sorry for being such a pain right from the start but I was extremely frustrated and flew off the handle. I’m looking forward to new adventures with this machine.
Glad you are in a better spot. I think to many of us forget that a cell phone/tablet is not just another appendage connected to our bodies and that we all start from a different place. I have found my own struggles learning to use the machine over time typically around the design software but patience and persevering wins nearly every time… That and a few spare pieces of material and spare bits
