APS3000 -- Surfboard Shaping Machine

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is your policy on selling machines in same area?

The answer to this depends on how the machine is going to be used. If the machine is going to be used to shape a specific shaper's boards or perhaps a very small number of shapers' boards then we see.

On the other hand if the machine is going to be used mainly to service a number of shapers as a profiling/shaping center then that person would get area protection as long as others in the area would not complain that their needs are not covered.

In short, it's not at all likely that we would sell you two machines to you and then sell two more to your neighbor. We'll work with you on this one.

How long after my order till I receive my machine?

Lately we've had more orders than we've expected, so currently it will take at least several months.

How much is shipping to the US Mainland?

The APS3000 fits easily in a 20' container. It looks like around $ US 1,500.--, but these prices seem to change frequently.

Are you going to sell machines (or have you) to places that have little surf history and surf culture?

No, we have already had to turn down those type of offers and will continue to do so. Our system, in which world class surfboard shapers/designers provided much input, is a tool to design and manufacture accurate custom boards for ideally, whatever the designer can dream up. We didn't design our system with popouts in mind.

Do I need to be an engineer to keep the APS3000 operating?

The APS3000 is an amazingly simple CNC controlled machine. All is within a handymans understanding and, following the basic procedures and troubleshooting techniques it should be no problem to stay on top. Behind the surface you find an extremely complex electronic and computer controlled device which is certainly beyond the non engineer. But do not worry, the system can control and diagnose itself and as you have access to the electronics engineer you will be up and running again in no time. But there is also a computer connected to the system so it is good if you know whom to call when you have a computer problem. I have my laptop setup as a spare computer so in case of trouble production does not suffer.

How many blanks (85%) can be done in an hour?

Right now we call those 85% boards "standard"(see footnote on this page). The machine can do 4 per hour.

How long does it take to position a board in a blank and the blank on the machine ready to go?

Most of this is done within the program and only a few variables change when you change the blank size. The positioning of the board within the blank and the creation of the tool path takes maybe 30 seconds. It takes about the same time to place a blank on the machine, position it and fix it. All that's left to do is press the "Start" button.

My wife and I are thinking of opening up a "Profiling Studio". As I will be busy dealing with customers I wonder if she could operate the machine?

I do the same with my wife. She loves her job and does it better than me.

How dangerous is it to operate the APS3000?

The APS3000 (with computer) is designed in three main parts, the loading bay, the cutting bay and the operator room. It is impossible to have contact with the cutter except you do it on purpose. And trust me, you would loose some skin. But she could not cut you to pieces as you are too soft. And the machine is operated from over 3 meters away, from a separate room. In some countries it might be necessary to install a sensor so it is technically impossible to be in near the cutter. The APS3000 comes with the necessary contact points and relays.

How much electricity does the APS3000 use?

We are running two machines and an average of 60 boards a day and we use an average of 40 kilowatt hour (kWh) a day which amounts to $8 (AUD) per day in electricity. that is the whole factory with lights, computers, machines, compressor, vac system and so on. (This is for our factory on the Gold Coast, your electric bill is likely to vary. The point being is that running the machine won't limit you from doing other things that require electricity.)

Does the APS3000 come with a dust extraction system?

The APS3000 works different than other systems as we do not use a dust extraction at all. The machine is divided in 2 parts, the clean loading bay and the messy machine part in the back. After about 12 boards we give the rear a quick sweep with the broom and at the end of the day we shovel "Mount Fuji" in the bag lined bin. This is the fastest and cleanest way to remove dust, much faster and cleaner than emptying a dust extraction system and filter. Trust us, we've tried it all.

Will I have a blank graveyard after a short time?

It is possible to make mistakes but they are normally minor and the blank is still usable. And if the operator follows procedure it will not happen.

How much work is involved in maintenance?

The dust room must be cleaned out after 12 boards, this takes only a couple of minutes. After 40 hours of operation the machine needs a quick oil and grease and after 400 hours of operation the machine must be cleaned and routine checked. The spindle motor needs servicing after about 400 boards (less than 5 minutes).

To change the spindle motor takes 5 minutes, to change the cutter 2 minutes. All bearings can be taken out for inspection and service, the machine does not have to be re-calibrated. The APS3000 is fully adjusted to the extreme environment she works in and the little bit of dust (tons!!) won't hurt her. The different axes work with different linear motion units, some Teflon coated ceramic bushes, some linear ball bearings. We have successfully integrated dust in our linear motion system, the key to trouble free operation.

On your website you say after 400 hours of operation the machine must be cleaned and routine checked. What exactly does a routine check consist of?

We recommend to quickly blow off the machine and check for visual problems like loose cables, broken seals or things like that. We know it does not make much sense as there is not much to see but we were advised to recommend the routine check and so we do it. It only takes a few minutes anyway.

I was told by one of your competitors that the construction of the APS3000 aluminum frame is weak at best, causing vibration which in turn creates an untrue cutter passes. Is this true?

Interesting statement. Ask yourself: if you have a shake and vibration in your car, do you reinforce the chassis or balance the wheels? The frame and chassis of the APS3000 are well over sized and it is much more the design than the material that give strength.

One of your competitors told me that their machine cuts much faster, is that true?

The speed of a surfboard shaping machine is not determined by its actual cutting speed, there are several more important factors to be considered. It takes the APS3000 just 7 seconds to complete a cut on a 6' 2" board. As the finish of the APS3000 cut is extremely clean, she would need a lot less cuts for a competitive finish. But what really counts is the number of individual boards that can be done in a certain time including blank preparation and blank setup.

Where do I get the blank files from?

You have to design them yourself. The easiest is to get a stringer, measure a series of points, put these points in the design program as guide points and pull the curves through. You only need the profile so it goes very quick. In some extreme cases you may need the full blank shape and you can use the ghost function within the program to determine how the board will fit with outline and slice view.

You also can make a measuring stand, which can be used for measuring up boards. And yes, you can use laser or touch sensors.

How long does the cutter last?

I do not know. A new cutter costs $ AUD 790.00. I use mine for over 6000 boards now and I can not see the difference to a new one. This is especially good news as installing a new cutter often means vibration or readjustment problems. Not so with the APS3000; we trim the cutter to the size.

Is it true that a fishing hook is part of the design?

Yes, that is true. And it has a very important role.

Will the program do notched wings in the out line or do they have to be added?

The program can do the wings and the machine can cut them no worries. See pic.

Can the program do a concave deck?

Yes, they're easily designed and cut with the machine, you can get a really nice with an edge at the top rail if you like. The design would be similar to a concave bottom, seen here.

Why can't I just change the nose rocker by entering the number I want?

If we let you do this we have no way of knowing the profile curve you want from the center to the nose. It's a guessing game, but it puts you, the user, in more control or your design, and avoids us making bad guesses.

Why does the download tell me it is not advised to install this code?

This is because our site does not have something like Verisign. This what happens to sites that have not paid extra money for extra security. Because we do not take credit card orders over the we web, we are not likely to purchase this. It is good practice to only download programs from known sites.

Is it possible to give the design program to customers and friends so that they design their own board?

The design program will be freely available for everyone over the internet. If you use the program while connected to the net it will automatically update to the newest version. The machine version of the program is confidential and carries the owners name. It is subject to the software license agreement as is the controller software.
The only difference between the two versions is the ability to make the files for the machine, design wise, they are the same.

Someone said to me that the APS crew is inexperienced and that your machine is first generation, which usually has many bugs to work out. What is that?

The APS crew has a history of over 200 000 machined boards and has built anything from simple profilers to full 5 axis shaping machines. The first APS3000 was working in May 2000, from there we developed the machine to its state of functionality and reliability it represents today.
The software team has close to 30 years of combined computer programming experience and advanced degrees in mathematics and engineering.

Why would you measure the volume of a surfboard with cans of beer?

What do you mean? Why not?

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