[Jewelry making - Article 00622] - [Orchid] Modelmaster training experience

[Jormaloss]

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Dear folks:

    I haven't written for a while, but I am reading most of what goes on
    with the letters.  I have a dilemma that I need help with. 

    Recently, I purchased Modelmaster, the mill and the program.  I must
    say that I think that it is pretty great!! 

    HOWEVER, the training sucked.  My instructor was a very amiable
    person, but he wasn't too interested in his job.  He showed me a lot
    of bells and whistles, wowed me with his facility and overwhelmed me
    with information.  He had no written instructions or handouts, and
    really didn't want to answer my basic questions.  Even so, I went
    home excited and ready to go. 

    Before, I went to class, I was sent my program and told to install
    it wrong, so it screwed up my computer.  This made me very nervous,
    it took me 3 days to get it straightened out.  They didn't seem to
    care much and never apologized or anything.  After returning from my
    class, I received parts piecemeal, and wasn't able to successfully
    do anything for about a week and a half. Consequently I began
    freaking out a little, well a lot really.  After a few loud and
    unpleasant phone calls from me, they did rally and sorted some
    things out for me.  One of the other instructors called and walked
    me thru the steps again. He also faxed me an instruction sheet or 2.
     His way of doing things was quite different from my original
    instructors and my notes. 

    I feel that if they had approached the whole thing from the start
    more professionally, [telling me that I wasn't getting everything I
    needed to begin, writing instructions for complete novices, giving
    me instructions on how to load the program correctly form the start,
    etc.], I would not have had my initial problems. I firmly believe
    that if I had not known how to do AutoCAD, a different but
    conceptually similar program, I would have totally been lost. 

    Brenda, in the office, is very charming and as helpful as she can
    be.  However, they do not have someone in the office full time to
    answer your questions when you call. You have to rely on them to
    return your calls. This is both irritating and frustrating.  Having
    to work for a living, means that you need answers when you need
    them, not when they get around to calling you.  Sometimes they don't
    call back at all.  We paid a huge amount of money for this program. 
    I think they need to get their act together.  Has anyone else had
    this problem?  

    Does anyone know any other instructors of Delcam jewelsmith? They
    told me there, that they were the only ones in the country. If that
    is the case then I may have to go to Canada or Britain, because I
    cannot see giving them more money for poor instruction.  It cost
    $2000. for a 2 day program and will cost $1000. for a 1 day return. 
    This is a pile of money.  This program is huge! It can do all sorts
    of things.  It is really a great tool.  I hope that someone out
    there knows where I can get a 4 or 5 day class.  [I thought about
    buying Imagedomes program it has a 4 day class, but I opted for
    Modelmaster because they were closer, no planes.] 

    When I went for my class I had studied a little sheet that they had
    sent, I had to call them twice to figure the sheet out.  All of
    there information was written as if you already know computer, well
    I am a jeweler not a computer person.  I am sure that many of you
    are the same. They did not have any written lessons or instructions
    at my class.  The book put out by Delcam is really written poorly,
    [they agreed].  Previously, as I mentioned, I had learned to use
    Auto-Cad 2004 from a friend, a college professor, she is a great
    teacher.  Also, Auto-Cad 2004 has a really good text book available.
     It is not a program created to do jewelry though.  

    I am learning to use Jewelsmith now, and have gotten quite a bit
    done with it.  However, there is so much that it can do, I am eager
    to get on with it.  I got the distinct impression from some of my
    questions and vague answers that there teachers don't really know
    all that it is capable of.  

    As I mentioned earlier, They are all nice folks in their ways and I
    do plan on dealing with them in the future.  I feel a little bad
    about writing this letter.  I am glad that I purchased this
    equipment from them, just unhappy with all the problems I
    encountered initially.  I also feel uncomfortable calling them back
    because my instructor is never around. The other guy doesn't like to
    answer questions from folks who weren't his students.  He has told
    me this 2 or 3 times.  I haven't called them really since I got the
    program going.  You are supposed to get 6 monthes desk help or
    something like that. 

    I would really appreciate some feed back from others as to how to
    get more knowledge in using this program.  I would also, like to
    know if anyone else feels the same way or has had similar problems. 

Thanks in advance. 
Dennis

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