Sorry you're gonna have to listen (read) one of my short replies
EVERY problem I've had is user error, period (and I've only had a handful). But here's the latest that about made me crazy -
Been helping my son remodel his home. The last step was making some "trim" for his fireplace. Maple, 5.5"w x 8 feet l. Simple design, nothing more than a vine running the entire length, with leaves every 6" - he's an ME, I let him do the design - it was perfect.
Now, for the stock - he brought me 6.5" x 9' rough sawn maple. It was crooked, twisted, warped, you name it.
I've got a few tools, so I went about straitening, jointing, planing, etc. Took off as little stock as I could, he wanted it as thick as it could be, etc.
Loaded the stock up, and the machine went to measure, set-up, etc.
What a nightmare - the machine would run the entire length of the board thru the machine (I had proper roller supports in place), then it would go crazy, running back and forth faster and faster.
I KNEW the problem - it was simple - board wasn't true. Re-planed, (both sides this time - duh) placed it back in the machine - off it went - perfect.
Second board - same thing - spent more time with planing, Al's masking tape, etc. - off it went, perfect - till it got to almost the end of the carve - bit went of on a tangent, got a z stall (or X, don't remember) sh**, screwed it up - unfixable carving - ruined the board (and they aren't cheap).
I KNEW what the problem was, one of the outboard supports slipped, the machine was taking the entire load of the board's weight, couldn't handle it, etc. Lucky the backside of the board was good, replaned, turned the board over, made sure the supports were ok, off it went.
All the while my ME son was griping about how over sensitive the machine was - yadda, yadda, yadda. He didn't have an understanding of the machine's capabilities, or it's sensitivities. All he could do was give me the evil eye about how much I praise the thing.
My point here is this - I'm not close to being a brainiac - I just pay attention to this Forum. I can guarantee you, if I had had those problems, and hadn't paid attention, I would be extremely frustrated - I'd blame the machine, not me. But it was me, not the machine.
BTW, the pieces look great - I'll post once they're on the wall.