Shaper Origin: Rich guy's portable woodworking CNC router toy.

[mxnerd]

Automaticlly adjust human's hand errors.

Really very advanced technology.

Can't afford one.

https://shapertools.com/

 

[BoomerD]

That's way cool. I could ALMOST justify spending the money for one if I was handy enough (or smart enough) to avtually take advantage of it.

 

[twinrider1]

Autotune for the woodworker. Ok, as much as I'd like to dump on this and complain of how it takes the craftsmanship out of woodworking, I have to admit it's pretty darn cool. Makes you examine what it is that you really like about woodworking: Is it act of hand fitting, or is it the result.
I guess it's no more cheating than using a straightedge or a template. Alright, I want one.

 

[mxnerd]

Actually this is a great tool for many small workshops.

Just imagine how much time it can save for woodworkers.

 

[mxnerd]

 

[Kaido]

Actually this is a great tool for many small workshops.

Just imagine how much time it can save for woodworkers.

I got a book on building your own CNC a few years ago. Unfortunately still don't have the space to build one, but they sell kits & pre-assembled models now for really affordable prices:

https://buildyourcnc.com/

 

[highland145]

Tape sold separately. :colebert:


And that's pretty cool.

 

[SearchMaster]

So it basically gives you a visual guide but doesn't actually guide the router? I'd still screw it up lol. My wife's grandfather was a woodworking aficionado and had well over $50,000 in tools and equipment (which my wife's brother sold for like $3K after he died). I wonder if he would have seen this as a good or bad thing; probably the latter.

 

[highland145]

It adjusts the cutter in relation to the piece. You have like 1/2" of play.

 

[Humpy]

Actually this is a great tool for many small workshops.

Just imagine how much time it can save for woodworkers.

I'd be surprised if it saves any time at all.

I assume every piece would first have to be drawn up in CAD software and the feed rate looks slow as heck. And you're still essentially freehanding the work, so don't sneeze or hit any knots or you'll be starting over.

It's very interesting and I could see hobbyists buying this for making klnick-knacks but I can't really see it being useful for anything else.

 

[mxnerd]

I'd be surprised if it saves any time at all.

I assume every piece would first have to be drawn up in CAD software and the feed rate looks slow as heck. And you're still essentially freehanding the work, so don't sneeze or hit any knots or you'll be starting over.

It's very interesting and I could see hobbyists buying this for making klnick-knacks but I can't really see it being useful for anything else.

It probably won't save time. But might save a lot of templates.

And the great thing is that it will remember where it left off and start over from there.

 

[Humpy]

It probably won't save time. But might save a lot of templates.

And the great thing is that it will remember where it left off and start over from there.

It might be the perfect tool for making templates and jigs which could then be used for production work.

It would be great for making test pieces, samples, and prototypes out of less expensive material before building the real thing.

I have to remember that new tools can have all sorts of new uses that I personally am not open minded / smart enough to see.

 

[Kazukian]

Pretty damn slick, especially for one off pieces.

 

[Carson Dyle]

It adjusts the cutter in relation to the piece. You have like 1/2" of play.

And you're still essentially freehanding the work, so don't sneeze or hit any knots or you'll be starting over.

Which is it?

 

[highland145]

Me, of course. :biggrin:

 

[drnickriviera]

Which is it?

I think humpy is saying routers don't always go where you want them. If you hit a knot it could jerk it out of that 1/2" range, but the maker says the bit will automatically retract if you get too far off course. Whether it is fast enough is another question

 

[highland145]

Yeah the video didn't show it retracting very quickly.

 

[Carson Dyle]

I just watched the second video. It actually does move the router. OK, that's pretty g-damned cool.

 

[MrDudeMan]

I just watched the second video. It actually does move the router. OK, that's pretty g-damned cool.

I've been into CNC woodworking for many years and these videos aren't exactly realistic imo. The stiffness of the cutting tool has a huge amount to do with how the final contours actually look and the stiffness of this device will be low. Any actuator that can adjust the placement of the bit is going to flex. Regular run-out is bad enough, but flexing several inches away from the tip is going to make for low quality finishes in any material or on any surface with irregularities, which is most of them.

This device is definitely cool and I love the idea, but it's only good for prototypes or templates that will later be refined with better or manual tools. Trying to use it with the expectation of getting production quality results will probably lead to disappointment. As a prototype tool, though, it's probably very effective.

 

[mxnerd]

See how you can move Shaper Origin in straight line and it still will carve out the pattern for you. Wow!

 

[Yakk]

I work with large-scale CNC machines, but for individuals I have to say this is really neat.

The art of woodworking is unfortunately mostly getting lost in many places in North America as older generations are retiring, I can see something like this would help.

 

[gorcorps]

That's pretty sweet.

I wonder if my buddy wants to go in together for one.