IMHO there are 2 major innovations in the Shaper, one being the freehand form factor but more importantly for everyday use is the onboard CAM. Anyone who has experience in traditional CAD/CAM workflows should appreciate the ability to have the onboard motion control software take over CAM. The CNC machine uses a drill bit and multi-directional wheels and can automatically measure the size of the material you are cutting. Goliath CNC is on the work surface. That is the innovative model operation, making it a machine tool with a boundless work area. That is because it matches the workpiece’s surface. When I see the comparisons between these two machines as well as what has come before I see a major obstacle that I would have to have time and real life experience provide the ramp to overcome: dealing with workpiece resistance.

Traditional style joinery can be cut using the domino tape on your workbench, or in Shaper Station. No Programming Required On more con to Shaper is that it's actually only 2D. Meaning it uses SVG files for cutting paths, but it's on you to remember the cut depth of your different machining steps. Something a true CNC handles automatically. bobfog - fair point. Not a major concern for me as I expect to use it for a lot of one-off small parts or operations like cutting finger joints or mortises in end/edge grain. Not trying to advocated for one over the other as everyone's use case will vary.Every now and then, a new tool hits the marketplace that changes the way we work. In the last decade or so, CNC routers have been one of those tools. Love them, hate them … want one, don’t want one. Whatever your viewpoint is, you can’t deny that they truly open up a lot of doors in the woodshop. Within the world of CNC’s, there’s one product that stands out, however. That’s Origin, by Shaper Tools. If you don’t know what Origin is, take a minute to watch their video below. I will almost certainly keep the SO3 and work on increasing my CAD/CAM skills. For repetitive runs of the same plywood part the set & forget aspect of that machine is a nice feature.

When Origin is alone, the woodworker applies a tape to the workpiece, and Origin scans that to create a map. The Origin knows where it is and where it needs to go at all times. And when using Workstation as a fixture, do not apply new ShaperTape because Workstation has a permanent and reusable tape array ready to go. The tool has an automatic cut correction. Pros This Shaper Origin handheld precision CNC router offers unparalleled accuracy, flexibility and efficiency. Shaper Origin features a larger 5.5” high resolution screen, a 25% increase in size. The entire assembly is now housed in a sleek, super strong aluminium unibody construction. The Shaper Origin, literally puts CNC routing at your fingertips.

Product/Service Reviews

The Shaper Origin saves time spent in producing templates as the template is stored in the machine’s memory, allowing you to get straight on with the job. This machine offers limitless possibilities. Create complex joinery, intricate inlays, fine engraving, decorative parquet flooring, lettering and sign writing I don't know about this one, they all focus on one hip advantage and hide all the new inconveniences their solution creates. Shaper Origin comes with Origin, a couple of rolls of domino tape, a dust collection hose, and a systainer. The big, big difference between the Origin and a flat-bed CNC is not this, however. It's that you have to move it yourself. If you have an hour of cutting to do, you need to move the machine around for an hour while you're standing next to it with ear protection on. This is tiring and you need absolute concentration the whole time. If you are doing things commercially and have enough shop space, having a flat-bed CNC would enable you use that hour for something else, even if you need to be in the vicinity just to keep an eye on it.