there is a takeover in progress for the APS3000 project and some people will want to know what is going on.
I do not know much myself but if anyone wants to contact me about it, please use only the
following email address
aps3000miki@yahoo.com.au
wow, need another beer now and I look forward to the comment from Ambrose that certainly will come one day soon
as Midget said to me not long ago, “enjoy as long as it lasts”. I did and still do…
I use the machine all the time. Never heard a thing… Do you mind telling us what you know? Thanks
Due to irreconcilable differences we are no longer able to work with Miki Langenbach.
This change will in no way compromise the expertise or customer support that is offered to our existing or new clients.
We will continue to manufacture new machines while maintaining and servicing our current customers.
Mike Rickard will continue to manufacture and service the APS3000 machines, as he’s done for every production machine sold. Ralph Freese and myself will continue to upgrade and improve the software.
We look forward to the many improvements we have coming down the line both with the machine and the software.
Please feel free to contact me should you have any questions.
CarveNalu, you keep making the sick boards that you make. The factory that services you shouldn’t see a hiccup.
–
Jimmy Freese
APS3000
Thanks to both Miki and Jimmy for great work… Hope all goes well for both of you… Sometimes going separate ways is for the best… Thanks for keeping things rolling guys… Saw Chris today and looks like all is doing fine and will continue that way…
Aloha,
Blane
jimmy, when do the updates come for zooming and the board manager, cheers Dave
What’s up Dave?
Still ironing out a couple bugs with those features, not fully ready general release. I’m still not fully happy with the functionality of one of the features and still testing another one.
Soon though, soon.
Do you have a brother named Paul?
No, but you’re not the first to ask. I think that guy Paul might have a sister named Heidi, people ask about her too.
Sorry not related.
Funny thing.
I just had two machines installed by the APS3000 inventor Miki. Both machines were assembled by the person Jimmy credits as being contracted to build Miki’s inventions.
Both machines had many funny problems with them that were discovered during setup. Funny things like loose belts in hard to discover places, grease points that had connections that varied in size, shafts that were not aligned properly, loose screws in places that would cause havoc later. Things that, in my opinion, would point to a sloppy assembly. These were things I had to question. If Miki’s knowledge during set up would have been absent and someone with less care or experience would have set up my machines, than many of these things might well have been missed. Not what I would expect in a new machine. Who assembled these machines?
Miki spent over a week setting up my machines and giving me direction and advice on how to run a top notch cutting center.
My confidence in Miki solving any issue that might occur with my machine was backed by his experiences installing every machine world wide, and from running his own cutting center. Coincidentally also being the inventor of the machine he came up with a few add ons while here. Any questions I have or problems that might pop up are answered by Miki.
My purchase of this machine was and will continue to be a vote of confidence in Miki, not just the system as advertised. The machine is amazing, the software is spectacular, but the system as a whole is nothing without Miki.
I am pretty sure that if Miki used his talents to invent a better Bloody Mary instead of the APS3000 we would have spectacular Bloody Mary’s and many frustrated shapers not getting what they want from existing cutting technologies. But Miki made the right decision and brought the world the APS.
I wonder if I should make sure my internet connection is turned off when I start my APS design program? What can be updated can also be killed. Or is that something we do not have to worry about?
If a party so easily changes the rules of the game with there team mate than what’s stopping them from changing the rules with the rest of us?
Many questions…
Regards,
Chris
My purchase of this machine was and will continue to be a vote of confidence in Miki, not just the system as advertised. The machine is amazing, the software is spectacular, but the system as a whole is nothing without Miki.
What if Miki got run over by a bus?
Shut the whole business down?
I dont own and never seen a APS machine, but I do know a bit about business.
Any company selling sophisticated equipment and relies so heavily on ONE individual, is destined for failure. Unless that individual owned the whole thing, this is bad business.
Not that one couldnt run it successfully that way, its just that with only one key player, the market will not take you very seriously (unless of course the machine is FAR superior and offers FAR more value to its customers). Its one thing to sell a great machine, its quite another to also have a customer support system for such a hefty expense. Frankly, if the customer support system is one guy, I’d be very hesitant to buy one if I was in the market (because people do get run over by buses).
Its just too risky to place all your company knowledge in just one person. If so, then its the customer that assumes much of the risk. Some customers know this, some dont and thus, there’s always a chance for a sale.
So wrt to the underlined statement above, if the ‘system’ is so reliant on one human being, then it is flawed and I wouldnt buy one. Sounds to me like it isnt being run that way so Im not saying APS is good or bad…just my take on this issue.
I totally agree with you, craftee.
because of that I supplied every customer with the contact details for engineers in their different field (mechanical/electronic) as well as the details for the manufacturers support in each country/continent. so, no problems there even if I get run over by a bus (does it have to be a bus?) or…maybe retire.
but this is something to be aware of no matter how “big” the business is you buy from. any business can disappear over night.
what Chris talkes about is the confidence in me to solve whatever problem, my philosophy behind my project, my care. and that has been expressed to me very strong in the last few days by the people I have been dealing with in the last few years.
To the machine owners,
Besides owning an APS I also have done consulting work for technology companies. Simple theory… What can be accessed can also be tampered with, information on the hard drive could be tapped. To protect your machines from a possible attack download www.zonelabs.com This program is easy to download and will ask if you want to connect to the internet or not. No information can be passed if you are not online…
This maybe wise until we learn more…
As a side note… MIki installed our machine in August of 05. The only issue we had was someone forgot to pack the laser guide in the container ( Was not Miki ) . Miki easily found a work around and we were off and running. Not only did he install our machine he also helped us retro fit our shop to accept the machine. ( I would assume he was not to stoked on that but didn’t say a peep ) He has always answered our calls and has been an excellent resource. He has created a tool that has made our lives more enjoyable and our time more well spent…
Whatever may come of this I hope that the intent of the APS3000 project is not compromised by lust of coin, and that the original promises, plans, and goals will not stray…
I am an aps3000 machine owner and have known miki now for about 2 years, my machine is in SF area and i bought the machine after seeing his cutting center in the gold coast, there was not anyone else there manufacturing machines but him, by himself he was managing the cutting of hundreds of boards a week, also building the machines on order, also figuring out upgrades for the future. My father came along because he was an engineer in the computer industry for 30yrs, after seeing miki’s operation he also was blown away, long story short, miki has operated at a high level and i believe this will only be a stepping stone for something better, i cannot wait to see the next generation of APS3000 to come out of this blunder. Rock on miki, see you soon.
matt ambrose
I met Miki in Australia through sailboarding in the early 1980’s.
This passionate kraut came from a popout sailboard culture and was amazed by our custom foam and glass industry.
I showed Miki my very basic 1968 made wooden profile machine. He went back to Germany and immediately produced the Mercedes version suitable for unlimited speed on the autobahn.
Back in Australia for about the third time and permanently, Miki started to sift through what made a good shaping machine. Starting with pantographs he moved to software driven cutters.
Miki’s brain mastered the concepts of holding a blank and then cutting it with the least resistance. Using a laser line and a stop he eliminated the nuisance extended stringer tags. The tags wasted space in a shipping container and were difficult to stack vertically.
Miki’s cutting wheel is so simple it makes you think why wasn’t it done before.
The wheel misses on a few features like channels and swallows, but the overall finish is magic.
Like everything Miki has done the APS3000 is a neat package. It is priced so that a serious shaper can get numbers without a massive capital outlay.
When Miki recently modified his machine so that the deck cuts rolled all the way over the rails to the bottom eliminating the unmatched top and bottom skins he jumped way ahead.
Miki’s restless mind will always drive him to upgrade this machine. He loves the smallest problems and challenges that APS3000 owners can identify.
It is really disappointing to hear there are “irreconcilable differences”. It’s a shame it has to come to this but as the artist behind the APS3000 board logo, it was produced for Miki and Miki only where by I give him the power to legally follow up any misuse, so you will need to remove it from the APS 3000 web page immediatly. It’s an awkward time, which we all would prefer to avoid, but the brainchild of the APS3000 system needs to be recognised (not to take anything away from the software development team) and I hope these differences can be resolved quickly. All the best Miki, I hope to see you back on top soon…
“So, no problems there even if I get run over by a bus (does it have to be a bus?) or…maybe retire.”
Will a car do?
Not sure why you replied to my post with your edited comment. Would you like to try to run me over?
This was a reply to someone elses post in the same thread. (Must have hit the wrong button). But considering I’d probably get a significant amount of jail time as well as the fact that I have no idea of who you are I’d have to say no, I wouldn’t like to run you over. However, if you’re looking for someone to run you down (insurance perhaps?) for the small price of a brand new APS3000 I’d see what I could arrange.
Jail would be the least of your problems.
Hi, just out of curiousity, would your last name be Farrelly?