I need help with the Yellow Brick Road

Updates and News
1

I do not want to come off like a crabby old fart, but I have been getting a little discouraged lately.
I have noticed a trend that is increasing for a long while now. New users are getting treated like experienced users. This is leading to a very confusing new user experience. I desperately want the new user to have fun, not be buried under firmware edits more wires extra complications. I want to see test crowns as soon as possible, and that excitement from them doing that.

Jeffeb3 gave us the yellow brick road label. It simply means the clearly defined path to success. I would really like everyone to really take a second to think about the yellow brick road before they answer a question, make a suggestion, or present a mod. Think about how you would answer the questions to your grandmother. If you think you need to include a math formula in your reply… you are probably not on the yellow brick road. If you can link a specific section of the docs…that is the yellow brick road.

A new user has a million questions, they know very little about the V1 systems, and typically just need to get to the point of a working machine. If a user does not get a functional machine they are lost forever, and if they do ever try a CNC again chances are real good it will not be this one, and might even have bad things to say about our experience. We all know this is by far the least expensive, easiest CNC experience out their and I really want to present it that way.

The goal of these forums first and foremost to me is to answer a new user’s question as simply as possible to get them progressing in their CNC journey. Once they are up and running, it is okay to go into a little more detail. If Jamie asks about flux capacitors, by all means go ham and let him have all the data, but JoeBlow72 needs to get told that is not recommended.

So if a new users comes in asking a question and you feel strongly that you need to suggest something that is not in the instructions, please ask me privately or in a new thread so we can discuss it first. I do not want this to sound like I am All knowing, I am open to suggestions and a discussion but the new user does not need to be presented with an extremely detailed discussion amongst the regulars with formulas, charts, tests or anything else. The answer is in the instructions, if it is not I need to get it there.

Mods-
Any and all mods are not for new users. If a new user needs a mod something is wrong. Please do not suggest anything unless it is absolutely necessary. If you think it is please have a discussion with me about it.

Better-
If you think something is better, it might be, but how much better? Are you willing to be everyone’s support channel about that thing? If you leave, can I handle supporting it, or will the user just be left high and dry?
This also goes for recommendations that go against the instructions. If you think the instructions are wrong enough that they need to be changed, it is better to talk to me about it instead of the new user that just wants to build a machine.

I want to give specific examples but I do not want any of you to think I am picking on you. Just know I am going to step in a little more often and lead people to the instructions.

28 Likes
2

I made a FAQ’s, FAQ's - V1 Engineering Documentation, page that I encourage you to take a look at, we can add or edit it very easily and I would love for it to become the source of good answers to common questions.

The goal is for a new user to get to a working machine as quickly, easily, and inexpensively as possible.

10 Likes
3

So Today I told someone the printable for the printed plates was out there, and I was quickly told it was not, is that something that will not be available and I should shut my trap? (or break my fingers as in this case, so I cannot type :slight_smile: )

4

I 100% agree with this. I’m sure I could go find a couple examples of where someone got discouraged finishing their machine because they had way more to go figure out and do, vs getting to the crown.

I recommend we use anchors / headers on the FAQ, so I can link to a specific FAQ when answering a question.

4 Likes
5

I completely agree. I have observed this very often that when someone gives a short, precise answer in one or two sentences with a link, someone else feels obligated to add a 15-paragraph essay saying the same thing in excruciating detail.
But since you also asked us to be nice to each other, we are not telling them to shut up. :stuck_out_tongue:
If you give me a moderator role I will also relentlessly ban any and all threads that mention maths even in his most removed form. :smiley:

There is a saying for roleplaying games like DnD when you are being the GM: Don’t give your players two options, they are going to take the third. Feels like it sometimes as well here. :smiley:

8 Likes
6

This already exists throughout the Docs and the FAQ.

Any of the headers should be linkable

image

2 Likes
7

I mean link me to the FAQ on Pendants
https://docs.v1e.com/learn/faq/#the-faqs

There is no anchor yet

2 Likes
8

They are like, 3 hours old? :smiley:

1 Like
9

Ah… I see what you mean. It didn’t register to me when I read through it

2 Likes
10

Whenever we add the next FAQ or I’ll submit a PR later. Happy to be part of the solution :slight_smile:

2 Likes
11

PR’d already :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:

2 Likes
12

I am not sure a printable plate is viable. Before we tell them it is it needs to be tested. The current instructions say it is not.

They can print one and use to hand cut their own metal ones very easily.

You are right, I looked at it. The FAQ’s will look a bit funny as only big headers become anchors, and I was really worried we would look like punks just linking the FAQ. “like duh did you even, search?” I think it might be better to just use that as a point of reference as to how to answer a question.

13

image

Can I tag a few users? :stuck_out_tongue:

/edit: Sorry, I am going to take it seriously. I am not good dealing with serious issues sometimes.

6 Likes
14

To add to this, if a new users build a machine with printed plates and feel how wobbly it is w might lose them at the point thinking the whole thing is a toy. They need to be metal, metal is the best place to start.

5 Likes
15

Looks like down to h3 is an anchor
https://docs.v1e.com/learn/faq/#an-example

I’ll look more later. I just worry when we have a 100 FAQs. If we can link to official v1 documentation, then we can’t be challenged by our answer.

I don’t want to link to a generic page or “did you search”. I hate when forums ask you to search first.

16

Hope I wasn’t apart of that, I try to clarify to everyone on almost every thread I’m way NEW. I did mention tramming, but I picked that tip up from the forum, might even be in the docs, not sure though.

1 Like
17

Have survived several decades of marriage, and raising two teenagers with my snarky genes. I can handle if you want to share examples of me fluffing up and confusing new users :slight_smile:

3 Likes
18

And smaller too
https://docs.v1e.com/lowrider/#strut-plates

1 Like
19

I just keep seeing new users with pendants, and spindles, LEDs, fancy SSR’s, torsion box tables. The machine works 98% as good on a sheet of plywood on the floor with none of that. People need to see that all the extra BS is just a fun mod to learn with or make things better for their work flow.

I get sick to my stomach thinking about how many new users come in now and get pushed to overkill on all fronts and just leave seeing all the work they think they need to put in and the instructions do not get them all the answers.

I was considering making a whole new forum level you needed to show your working machines to get into to see mods and advanced topics and have public forums only for new users.

12 Likes
20

This is perfect.