I purchased this button maker for work and the interns who were assigned to use it said it was broken, did not work, etc. I asked for the machine back. I took the time to look up exactly how to set it up and use (the single page piece of paper that comes with it leaves MUCH to be desired). I spent about 45 minutes total reading and following the directions (plus a little trial and error), and making 2 buttons. After those test buttons it now takes less than a minute to make a button when you have your design cut out. There is a review on one of the product pages for the same punch where the buyer laid out step-by-step how to use it correctly and for the life of me I cannot find it again to link it here. I will tell you this - forget about the free accessory cutter that comes with it. Buy a 1-1/4 inch circle punch along with the machine. Life gets just that much easier. Also, mine did not come as pictured. Instead of the multiple small springs under the dies, it has a single large coil spring on each. Be sure these are not completely compressed, you need the spring to be functional so the outer part of the die actually lowers as you bring down the handle (be careful not to extend TOO far as when you reach the end of the bolt, it WILL pop apart - learned the hard way but it DOES go back together). If the die does not move up and down, the design paper and plastic disk will not fold around the metal disk and then lock into the upper part of the die - yes it should this. When you slide the second die over, the one that puts the pin on the back, it will release from the upper part and the finished piece will be in the lower part.
Michelle 
