Check over your Rigol - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: ToBeFrank
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 21, 2011, 11:07:52 pm
content: I have a Rigol DS1052e, and I noticed that one of my knobs is cracked. I finally got hold of Rigol for warranty and while looking over the scope more carefully I noticedallof the small knobs are cracked. I haven't banged or dropped my scope in any way so it had to come from the factory this way. I'm guessing they pressed them on too hard. You may want to look over your scope to look for cracked knobs.

author: saturation
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 22, 2011, 11:23:24 am
content: Thanks for the headsup. I don't have this problem. Worse case it can be glued together. I wouldn't be surprised if this was a quality control problem from one of their suppliers making the knobs; I've noticed many Chinese branded products have defects here and there that differ in the same product line, its sometimes easy to fix, and commonly usually not catastrophic [ causing a major malfunction.]Just looking at the new batch of 1052e with the 2.05 firmware is another case point, prior models, at least 2.02 and 2.04 were mostly bug free, but 2.05 has serious annoyances.

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 22, 2011, 12:50:22 pm
content: well, just to add up. this cracked knobs is not really much (easily repair and glue back together) compared to the sticky press buttons on the knobs which will show a help msg most of the time now on my rigol. within these few days, i dont know how many times it popped out already (maybe more than 10x already), a hard push several times on the knob will fix it though, temporarily.ps: maybe one day i'll smash it with a hammer and dont care if its cracked like in that picture, i hope not.

author: ToBeFrank
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 22, 2011, 02:51:36 pm
content: Yep, the cracked knobs are a cosmetic issue as the scope otherwise works fine. Rigol is sending me 4 replacement knobs and a spare under warranty. Hopefully I won't crack any replacing them.

author: DavidDLC
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 22, 2011, 03:41:38 pm
content: Well, I don't like glued knobs, it is much better to get Rigol to know about this problem and get replacement ones.

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 22, 2011, 04:01:48 pm
content: yup. get the warranty claim while you can.

author: saturation
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 22, 2011, 04:53:25 pm
content: Great to hear, what you've been able to tell us all is even in this small way, Rigol does honor its warranty, and you've been able to reach them. Perseverance and diplomacy are rewarded, and good tools to use in life.There is another thread on this forum also posted by the OP that lamented reaching Rigol as a futile effort.https://www.eevblog.com/forum/index.php?topic=3178.new;topicseen#newQuote from: ToBeFrank on April 22, 2011, 02:51:36 pm

author: drieg
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 23, 2011, 08:58:15 pm
content: Unfortunately this is not so unusual with latest Rigol units. I don't know what are they doing...

author: saturation
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 24, 2011, 10:59:51 pm
content: Sadly, its quality control. Its fairly minor, but they should have caught such a simple item at the factory.

author: flolic
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 25, 2011, 06:20:55 pm
content: I don't think that is directly related to quality control at (Rigol) factory. I believe crack developed some time after scope assembly, due to wrong tolerances on that knobs couplings, or because of using bad quality plastics. Rigol most likely source that knobs from another manufacturer.Of course, that can not be excuse for Rigol, and I believe they will (or already are) fixed that.

author: Teknotronix
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 04, 2012, 01:39:48 pm
content: Sorry to bring up and old thread.My new 1102E I received during the Christmas period also came with 2 of the 4 small knobs cracked right out of the box. I will attempt to get them replaced under warranty once Emona start back up again in the new year. Something to look out for.

author: AJ4OM
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: January 14, 2012, 02:23:55 pm
content: One of mine is cracked. I contacted Rigol and they said I would have to deal with the seller. I thought for sure they would just drop some new ones in the mail. Maybe I can get Dave to print some for me on his new MakerBot.

author: PeteInTexas
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 15, 2012, 05:29:19 am
content: Got my DS1102E a couple of weeks ago! $402 with 2-day shipping! Generally rather pleased with it so far except for the damn probe ground leads. The plastic boot is shrunk so tight the alligator clips cannot close aligned. It skews a good 2 to 3 teeth to the left. Both probes! It can't even grab a piece of wire without going through a test of finger strength and agility.Still deciding if I should go through the exercise of a warranty claim or just mod it already. I'm sure I'm not the only one that snapped up these things over the holidays and if I'm not the only with this issue I would definitely make a claim to set Rigol right. To think they used ask over $700 for this product.

author: Teknotronix
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 15, 2012, 06:48:02 am
content: Quote from: Teknotronix on January 04, 2012, 01:39:48 pmEmona were very helpful and sent me replacements in the mail. Glad I bought locally in Australia, makes service fast and easy.

author: wkb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 15, 2012, 03:54:09 pm
content: Quote from: PeteInTexas on January 15, 2012, 05:29:19 amThe alligator clips are, hmm, crud. I already replaced one on one of my DS1052E probes. Not worth claiming warranty for if you ask me.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 15, 2012, 04:09:16 pm
content: I've read multiple complaints about those ground leads. Not much point in asking for new ones if you just receive the same low quality ones.

author: JBeale
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 07, 2012, 01:40:42 am
content: We have a Rigol DS1204B which is only a few months old. The knobs were all OK to start, but already two of the smaller knobs (Intensity/menu select, and Ch.1 Position) are cracked. This is not just cosmetic; you have to push the knob in for menu selection, and the cracked one just splits open sideways when pressed down, instead of actuating the button. Not impressed.We also have a DS1104B which is about 6 months older, and it does not have this problem (yet, at least).

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 07, 2012, 06:28:48 am
content: Quote from: JBeale on March 07, 2012, 01:40:42 ami gues the cheapest solution right now is super glue. anyway nothing can stop you from using the "norm way", ie complaining and asking for warranty replacement.

author: JBeale
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 14, 2012, 05:36:39 pm
content: I've found that sometimes glues don't bond well to some plastics when there's some force applied, but anyway there's a happy ending. I contacted Jason Chonko at Rigol Support in Oakwood Village, Ohio and he confirmed there was a bad batch of plastic used for the knobs. I sent him the serial number of the scope, and he sent me a set of replacement knobs the following day. The new knobs are good so far, so the problem is solved.So, if you're in the US and have an issue with your Rigol you can reach them athttp://www.rigolna.com/contact-us/

author: Ajahn Lambda
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 14, 2012, 05:45:24 pm
content: Hey, thanks for the follow-up on this. I've been wondering since Christmas whether I needed to be extra-careful using my brand spankin' new oscilloscope (I haven't been! lol). But now that I read Rigol's providing good customer service and honest feedback (which Igreatlyrespect), I think I can thrash it a bit more.I really wonder if they have a show room, or anything of the sort, in their Oakwood Village office, or if it's just a warehouse and an office staff. It's only a few hours away from me, and I'd love nothing more than to at least play around with their equipment before putting down thousands on another instrument.

author: rbola35618
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 14, 2012, 11:52:37 pm
content: I too had cracked knobs on my DS1164B scope. Called Jason Chanko from Rigol and he mailed me replacement knobs. Had the replacements on my scope in three days.

author: olsenn
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 15, 2012, 12:07:39 am
content: I'm not sure how you guys managed to make good of Rigol's warranty... I didn't know they even responded to their customers. That being said, I own several of their products (DS1052E, DM3058, DG2041A, and I have a DSA815-TG in the mail), and apart from the DG2041A being partially hand soldered (poorly) and having abysmal driver support, I haven't had any major problems with their products.I imagine the knobs for the DS1000E oscilloscope are generic, and can be replaced by brand name ones if you are fed up with the Rigol furnished ones cracking, but as a previous poster mentioned, it sounds to be purely cosmetic.

author: ToBeFrank
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 15, 2012, 04:20:49 am
content: Quote from: olsenn on March 15, 2012, 12:07:39 amIt appears you have to get hold of the right person. I tried several different ways to contact them with no success until I finally hit the right method. I don't recall what it was though.

author: AlphZeta
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 15, 2012, 01:16:03 pm
content: I wonder if this cracked-knob issue is more prevalent in some batches than others. I've had my Rigol 1052E for more than a year now and have been using it for at least an hour a day and haven't noticed any cracks on the knobs. But I know at least one buddy's Rigol scope had cracked knobs only after a couple of months' casual use.So maybe Rigol is trying to cut cost by sourcing cheaper components?

author: Ajahn Lambda
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 15, 2012, 09:12:44 pm
content: Quote from: AlphZeta on March 15, 2012, 01:16:03 pmItmight bethe other way 'round. Your friends' scope may have sat on a shelf for a long time, whereas yours may have been manufactured after his, and didn't sit on a shelf for long at all.In mere business terms, it wouldn't make sense to go with a cheaper knob if it's a) known to be defective, and b) results in the company having to eat the cost through warranty claims of broken ones, i.e. giving away better, more-costly parts. ToBeFrank makes the good point that maybe it's a matter of reaching the right people, but I hope that changes in favor of assisting (and keeping!) customers.{rant}In my own designs, I try to use the very best parts I can find while maintaining cost consciousness. I don't want any customer to feel they've been cheated, or given inferior equipment, just to save a few pennies. Rigol probably feels the same way, since they're not too old a company, and the market is virtually saturated with instruments they're trying to sell; HP, Agilent, Tektronix, etc. are all formidable players, so I do wish them the best of luck. They're going to stay profitable, i.e. in business, as long as quality, service, and the 'bang-for-the-buck' is maintained.A few things which make me worry about their long-term health are:The dropping of support for 'legacy' equipment (how hard is it to keep a darn 'archive' web page for that kind of stuff?).Not maintaining availability of firmware revisions.Changing firmware to make user-upgrades impossible or difficult (this is debatable).Non-uniformity between rigol.com and rigolna.com. WHY?!? Let ME choose a region, and make the languages the ONLY difference!Lack of repair information, schematics, etc. If you expect to have long-term users, you have to accept that your equipment WILL need to be repaired in the future, possibly NOT by you (the manufacturer). It's ignorant, if not conceded, to believe otherwise.Lack of a discussion forum. The company appears monolithic, not customer-oriented, without user forums, IMO.User manuals: not exactly the 'caliber' of an Agilent or Tek manual; most of these could be resolved by employing a native-language technical writer to create higher quality manuals with better software, e.g. Adobe Illustrator, and more concise descriptions. It may be a personal preference, but I often judge the quality of a company and its products by the quality of its user manuals.{/rant}