If I understand what was said early on, I can buy the Trace package to add to what I already planned on doing for fair season: I have an xTool F1 to personalize items on demand... but if I buy the Trace, I can have people make designs I can then import onto my PC and laser engrave anything (like your signature) in mere moments. Brilliant. One more investment ahead of what promises to be a great holiday season!
LYTOMIZE_Woodshop, That sounds like a fantastic plan! The Trace package will definitely enhance your engraving possibilities, making it easier for you to personalize items quickly and efficiently. It's always exciting to explore new tools that can amplify your creativity, especially with the holiday season approaching! Best of luck with your projects!
dynamicsx, That's a great perspective! Each CNC machine indeed brings its own strengths, and having both allows for a wider range of projects and creative possibilities. It's all about using the right tool for the job!
I have had the Shaper Origin II for about a year and a half now. I found its greatest feature was the ability to cut complex joints for furniture etc. Also, the ability to cut the mortises for hinges. Some of the Soss hinges have complex mortises. On top off that if you have to stop in the middle of a job, you just just do it and walk away. Come back right where you left off. Even if you powered off and put the tool away. They have created a great system that seems to get better and better with all the new updates. A CNC is definitely faster once everything is set up. Once you set the CNC in motion you have limited control until it is finished. With Shaper you have total control through the whole process. Their customer service is one of the best I have dealt with. I have found my CNC and the Shaper Origin compliment each other.
JosephWerle-je4ww, It sounds like you’ve really found a great balance with your Shaper Origin II and CNC! The ability to cut complex joints and pause jobs is indeed a game-changer. Plus, it’s awesome to hear about your positive experiences with customer service and how the updates keep improving the system. It's always nice when tools can work together to enhance your projects. Happy woodworking!
This is the most in-depth demo of the Shaper Origin I've seen. It isn't cheap, especially in the context of the lasers and CNC machine I already own. The mortise and tenon function makes me think I could take traditional woodworking to the next level in my shop. I'm going to see if I can get the Trace package to pay for the Origin over the next year... 🤔
LYTOMIZE_Woodshop, I'm glad you found the demo helpful! The Shaper Origin can definitely elevate your woodworking projects with its versatility. Mortise and tenon joints are a fantastic way to incorporate traditional techniques with modern technology. Best of luck with the Trace package and your woodworking journey!
I could see this being very handy for timber framing. Use it to outline the cuts you need to the depth it's capable of, and use those routed surfaces to guide your saw or chisel.
NSResponder, That’s a great insight! Using this technique can definitely help achieve more precise cuts in timber framing. It’s always nice to find ways to enhance accuracy in projects!
21:09 pretty sure I've seen that done on a NeXT computer around 20 years ago or so. Might have also seen it in a photoshop plugin on the Mac around the same time.
NSResponder, That's really interesting! Technology has definitely evolved over the years, and it's fascinating to see how some concepts come back around in different forms.
lupusk9productions, Thank you for the kind words! The Shaper is indeed an impressive tool that opens up a lot of creative possibilities. Enjoy your woodworking journey!
I have mine and when I made a Humidor I used it to install SAS hinges. It made perfect pockets for the hidden hinges and the alignment was better than .001 location between the door and door facing.
kb6dxn, That sounds fantastic! It's great to hear how precise your CNC machine is for those hinge pockets. Perfect alignment can really make a difference in the overall quality of your projects. Happy woodworking!
davidhittenberger1651, Absolutely! This CNC is a game changer for mobile sign makers, providing versatility for all sorts of projects. It's amazing how many applications there are, from intricate inlays to robust signage. Plus, the USB drive input adds so much convenience for transferring designs on the go! Happy crafting!
Glad you covered this. I bought the Origin instead of a larger format machine. I don't have the room for a big CNC. Partnered with a good dust collector (I use Festool) the Origin provides very clean cuts with minimal clean up. I've used it in a spare room in my house during the winter months. It also uses many of the 1/4" shank bits you sell on your website.
comfortablynumb1934, It's great to hear how well the Origin works for you, especially in a smaller space! The combination of a good dust collector really makes a difference in keeping the workspace clean, too. It sounds like you're getting the most out of your setup!
mikeamescreations, Absolutely! It's amazing how tools like that evolve over time, and it's always fun to see the different ways people use them. Thanks for watching!
TheDudeAbides., It sounds like you have some great experience with CNC woodworking! The versatility of machines like those can really take your projects to the next level, especially for intricate designs. Happy crafting!
It is definitely worth the cost if you’re an installer, need to take CNC precision to the work… floors, large tables, etc… 10-15 IPM is really its max speed and planning the cut from the bottom to the top is very important. It’s important to cut ALL vectors and pockets below a certain X line of tape to maintain accuracy. It is one of the best way to make Festool MFT/3 compatible tables/tops for replacement or using the clamping accessories. It CANNOT VCarve… so that’s the main limitation that lead me to a not so good CNC to learn on (Fox Alien Masuter Pro) and into the Shapeoko 5 Pro (and some of your bits) which I grabbed over Onefinity for the hybrid table and rigidness. AirWeights ordered and waiting on shipping. Appreciate all you do, and I know it’s your “job,” but you give a good differential POV on your topics and it helps us all make informed decisions.
kevinrich4637, It's great to hear you're excited about the Shaper! Both tools have their strengths and can open up a world of possibilities in woodworking. Each has its unique advantages depending on your projects and workflow, so it's all about what suits your needs best.
laynemimstx, You're spot on! While you can achieve some VCarve-like effects, pocketing and profiling are definitely where it shines. It's all about understanding the limitations and making the most of them!
Love the piece on a shaper origin. i have 4 bed style cnc machines and a shaper orign. i have auto pass and all the extra work station and parts. i have shaper trace. i have an original origin, as i was an early adopter. it is good, it does have limtied 2.5 d capacity and no 3d capacity. it is a really good tool, most parts are from festool. festool now owns shaper, but they calibrated on original design. It works very well. best use being vertical joinery. it is very good at that. it will load files over wifi or by usb drive. it will do almost unlimited size, largest i've done is 4'x8' sheet of ply. takes some real work to make sure that is what you want to do. you have to have stragety to cut without cuting up all the domino tape. i've cut speaker boxes on it, and cut them on bed style (cnc4newbie 4x4). took 15 min to cut on bed style, took 2 or 3 days of evenings to cut on shaper. it is not very fast, since you are pushing it. it has limited per pass cut depth, just due to design. to get best accuracy, you cut 1/4 in per pass or less. depends on bit as to how well that works. it is very good to teach you how to feel the bit and how hard cuts are. how grain affects the cut, how hard it takes to push a 1/4 bit through a hardwood(pretty good workout). it lets you know how the bit is wearing vs speed. shaper is not fast, and has limits on accuracy if you start pushing it. best is slow and steady pace. will burn bits up, due to lack of cooking. pros: very portable can work on about any surface, even stuff that is already built that you need to cut out or add feature. very accurate easy to learn great system overall, with sample jobs you can download and run engraves very well. touchoff and control of grid and placement very easy and accurate scanning is very easy scanning is very accurate can apply tape and rescan can start and stop jobs and shaper remembers the tape / work area. comes in great case, sturdy to carry and use from cons: led lights can cause issue to the camera that it operates with(front facing to scan tape and cut area) not very fast have to purchase auto pass to make multiple passes easy to do stuff can get caught in dust extraction hood and clog it up work piece needs to be extremely flat. any bow or not planar causes issue with camera selecting cut type over and over can be a pain. collet selection is a bit less that could be brushes on spindle motor. cannot design job layout in advance, say do inside profile with offset, do final full depth with no offset. have to manually enter val shaper tape is expensive and not made very well(can split down the center when unrolling). uses lots of this. can make own printed but i've not tried. shaper trace works good, can take a bit of work with bitmap settings to import and make the best vectors. not very large area workstation prob one of the best vertical workstations that i've seen. very accurate, very well built, quick changeout of backer mdf to prevent blowout. about as good of joinery setup as ive seen. i leave it up for periods just to do that. downside, issues with larger stock to fit under workstation, as you need hole in floor, or platform to work off of. if i don't use for a few months, still easy to pick up and use. i have used plate but don't own, as i dont' do that using shaper, more save that for bed style cnc my final take, it is another tool in your box. like a domino . not a one size fits all, but even with that, a great tool for adding to your workflow. impressive bit of work went into this.
laynemimstx, Thanks for sharing such an in-depth perspective on the Shaper Origin! It sounds like you've really put it through its paces and have a great understanding of its strengths and weaknesses. It's always interesting to hear how different tools complement each other in a woodworking setup. Your experience with the learning curve and the importance of strategy for accuracy is particularly valuable for anyone considering adding it to their workshop. Keep enjoying your woodworking journey!
Check out the Shaper Origin router → link.idcwoodcraft.com/i5nnwv
If I understand what was said early on, I can buy the Trace package to add to what I already planned on doing for fair season: I have an xTool F1 to personalize items on demand... but if I buy the Trace, I can have people make designs I can then import onto my PC and laser engrave anything (like your signature) in mere moments. Brilliant. One more investment ahead of what promises to be a great holiday season!
LYTOMIZE_Woodshop, That sounds like a fantastic plan! The Trace package will definitely enhance your engraving possibilities, making it easier for you to personalize items quickly and efficiently. It's always exciting to explore new tools that can amplify your creativity, especially with the holiday season approaching! Best of luck with your projects!
I have both a Shaper and a Onefinity. I find both to be useful for specific purposes. One does not replace the other.
i have 2 1f, cnc4newbie and shaper. (also have shapeoko, but don't use it much anymore). i agree on one does not replace other.
dynamicsx, That's a great perspective! Each CNC machine indeed brings its own strengths, and having both allows for a wider range of projects and creative possibilities. It's all about using the right tool for the job!
Hey Garrett, only getting audio out of the right channel from the segments where you're in your shop. Sharing in case thats not by-design.
Thanks for catching that. I caught that as well. Unfortunately the damage was done. Gotta let it ride
I immediately bought the Tracer Tool and am saving money to buy the Origin! Thanks so much for introducing this to me and the great video!
MarkJacob-g1z, That's awesome to hear! I'm glad you found the video helpful and are excited about your new tools. Happy woodworking!
I have had the Shaper Origin II for about a year and a half now. I found its greatest feature was the ability to cut complex joints for furniture etc. Also, the ability to cut the mortises for hinges. Some of the Soss hinges have complex mortises. On top off that if you have to stop in the middle of a job, you just just do it and walk away. Come back right where you left off. Even if you powered off and put the tool away. They have created a great system that seems to get better and better with all the new updates.
A CNC is definitely faster once everything is set up. Once you set the CNC in motion you have limited control until it is finished. With Shaper you have total control through the whole process. Their customer service is one of the best I have dealt with. I have found my CNC and the Shaper Origin compliment each other.
JosephWerle-je4ww, It sounds like you’ve really found a great balance with your Shaper Origin II and CNC! The ability to cut complex joints and pause jobs is indeed a game-changer. Plus, it’s awesome to hear about your positive experiences with customer service and how the updates keep improving the system. It's always nice when tools can work together to enhance your projects. Happy woodworking!
This is the most in-depth demo of the Shaper Origin I've seen. It isn't cheap, especially in the context of the lasers and CNC machine I already own.
The mortise and tenon function makes me think I could take traditional woodworking to the next level in my shop. I'm going to see if I can get the Trace package to pay for the Origin over the next year... 🤔
LYTOMIZE_Woodshop, I'm glad you found the demo helpful! The Shaper Origin can definitely elevate your woodworking projects with its versatility. Mortise and tenon joints are a fantastic way to incorporate traditional techniques with modern technology. Best of luck with the Trace package and your woodworking journey!
I could see this being very handy for timber framing. Use it to outline the cuts you need to the depth it's capable of, and use those routed surfaces to guide your saw or chisel.
NSResponder, That’s a great insight! Using this technique can definitely help achieve more precise cuts in timber framing. It’s always nice to find ways to enhance accuracy in projects!
21:09 pretty sure I've seen that done on a NeXT computer around 20 years ago or so. Might have also seen it in a photoshop plugin on the Mac around the same time.
NSResponder, That's really interesting! Technology has definitely evolved over the years, and it's fascinating to see how some concepts come back around in different forms.
INTERESTING But how do you make a deep pocket cut larger than the router base?
danielstein8320, great question brother. Each tool has its pros and cons and on this one you likely will have trouble!
Very nice !!!! do me a favour Garrett dont confuse me any more than i already am :-) :-)
TheSuperheimwerker, I'm glad you liked it! No worries, I'll keep it clear and simple for you.
mono audio segments :|
but great demonstrations of the capability of the shaper! i want to get one.
lupusk9productions, Thank you for the kind words! The Shaper is indeed an impressive tool that opens up a lot of creative possibilities. Enjoy your woodworking journey!
Thanks for the feature! 💙
Shapertools, You're very welcome! I'm glad you enjoyed it!
I had an Origin follow me home from IWF 2024 too!
CompassCustomCreations, That's awesome to hear! The Origin is a fantastic tool for precision work. Enjoy your projects with it!
Been using it for 3 years now nothing new
johnchapman1231, It's great to hear you've been enjoying it for three years! Consistent experience really adds to your skills.
Great video! Thank you! Garrett don't forget about a CNC MASLOW!
grantpeckford8082, I'm glad you enjoyed the video! The Maslow CNC is definitely an interesting option in the CNC world.
I have mine and when I made a Humidor I used it to install SAS hinges. It made perfect pockets for the hidden hinges and the alignment was better than .001 location between the door and door facing.
kb6dxn, That sounds fantastic! It's great to hear how precise your CNC machine is for those hinge pockets. Perfect alignment can really make a difference in the overall quality of your projects. Happy woodworking!
What a tool for a mobile sign maker!
Craft faires, on site signs, corian counter top inlays, floor inlays, etc…
Usb drive input is a great way to go!!
davidhittenberger1651, Absolutely! This CNC is a game changer for mobile sign makers, providing versatility for all sorts of projects. It's amazing how many applications there are, from intricate inlays to robust signage. Plus, the USB drive input adds so much convenience for transferring designs on the go! Happy crafting!
I have heard of this machine but never had the opportunity to see it working. Thanks for the demonstration.
dwayneiwasuik1831, I'm glad you enjoyed the demonstration! It's always exciting to see a CNC machine in action.
Glad you covered this. I bought the Origin instead of a larger format machine. I don't have the room for a big CNC. Partnered with a good dust collector (I use Festool) the Origin provides very clean cuts with minimal clean up. I've used it in a spare room in my house during the winter months. It also uses many of the 1/4" shank bits you sell on your website.
i use idc for my shaper and they work very well. great bits.
comfortablynumb1934, It's great to hear how well the Origin works for you, especially in a smaller space! The combination of a good dust collector really makes a difference in keeping the workspace clean, too. It sounds like you're getting the most out of your setup!
I think the trace tool for 99.00 is awsome!!
michaellevine6019, I'm glad to hear you think so! The trace tool can really enhance creativity and precision in your projects.
Cool tool. been around for a while. lot's of videos on this.
mikeamescreations, Absolutely! It's amazing how tools like that evolve over time, and it's always fun to see the different ways people use them. Thanks for watching!
Owned one before my shapeoko… for art or decorative projects or onsite inlay work or mortising with the workstation… its awesome.
TheDudeAbides., It sounds like you have some great experience with CNC woodworking! The versatility of machines like those can really take your projects to the next level, especially for intricate designs. Happy crafting!
It is definitely worth the cost if you’re an installer, need to take CNC precision to the work… floors, large tables, etc…
10-15 IPM is really its max speed and planning the cut from the bottom to the top is very important. It’s important to cut ALL vectors and pockets below a certain X line of tape to maintain accuracy.
It is one of the best way to make Festool
MFT/3 compatible tables/tops for replacement or using the clamping accessories.
It CANNOT VCarve… so that’s the main limitation that lead me to a not so good CNC to learn on (Fox Alien Masuter Pro) and into the Shapeoko 5 Pro (and some of your bits) which I grabbed over Onefinity for the hybrid table and rigidness. AirWeights ordered and waiting on shipping.
Appreciate all you do, and I know it’s your “job,” but you give a good differential POV on your topics and it helps us all make informed decisions.
I came very close to getting a shaper instead of my CNC. The Shaper is an awesome tool it is very versatile
Depends on what your doing. CNC big stuff. Shaper mobile small stuff
kevinrich4637, It's great to hear you're excited about the Shaper! Both tools have their strengths and can open up a world of possibilities in woodworking. Each has its unique advantages depending on your projects and workflow, so it's all about what suits your needs best.
No 3D capabilities, correct.
correct, you could trick it into some vcarve style stuff, but not really good for that. think pocket and profile tool, not anything with variable z
laynemimstx, You're spot on! While you can achieve some VCarve-like effects, pocketing and profiling are definitely where it shines. It's all about understanding the limitations and making the most of them!
Love the piece on a shaper origin. i have 4 bed style cnc machines and a shaper orign. i have auto pass and all the extra work station and parts. i have shaper trace. i have an original origin, as i was an early adopter. it is good, it does have limtied 2.5 d capacity and no 3d capacity. it is a really good tool, most parts are from festool. festool now owns shaper, but they calibrated on original design. It works very well. best use being vertical joinery. it is very good at that. it will load files over wifi or by usb drive. it will do almost unlimited size, largest i've done is 4'x8' sheet of ply. takes some real work to make sure that is what you want to do. you have to have stragety to cut without cuting up all the domino tape. i've cut speaker boxes on it, and cut them on bed style (cnc4newbie 4x4). took 15 min to cut on bed style, took 2 or 3 days of evenings to cut on shaper. it is not very fast, since you are pushing it. it has limited per pass cut depth, just due to design. to get best accuracy, you cut 1/4 in per pass or less. depends on bit as to how well that works.
it is very good to teach you how to feel the bit and how hard cuts are. how grain affects the cut, how hard it takes to push a 1/4 bit through a hardwood(pretty good workout). it lets you know how the bit is wearing vs speed. shaper is not fast, and has limits on accuracy if you start pushing it. best is slow and steady pace. will burn bits up, due to lack of cooking.
pros:
very portable
can work on about any surface, even stuff that is already built that you need to cut out or add feature.
very accurate
easy to learn
great system overall, with sample jobs you can download and run
engraves very well.
touchoff and control of grid and placement very easy and accurate
scanning is very easy
scanning is very accurate
can apply tape and rescan
can start and stop jobs and shaper remembers the tape / work area.
comes in great case, sturdy to carry and use from
cons:
led lights can cause issue to the camera that it operates with(front facing to scan tape and cut area)
not very fast
have to purchase auto pass to make multiple passes easy to do
stuff can get caught in dust extraction hood and clog it up
work piece needs to be extremely flat. any bow or not planar causes issue with camera
selecting cut type over and over can be a pain.
collet selection is a bit less that could be
brushes on spindle motor.
cannot design job layout in advance, say do inside profile with offset, do final full depth with no offset. have to manually enter val
shaper tape is expensive and not made very well(can split down the center when unrolling). uses lots of this. can make own printed but i've not tried.
shaper trace
works good, can take a bit of work with bitmap settings to import and make the best vectors.
not very large area
workstation
prob one of the best vertical workstations that i've seen. very accurate, very well built, quick changeout of backer mdf to prevent blowout.
about as good of joinery setup as ive seen. i leave it up for periods just to do that.
downside, issues with larger stock to fit under workstation, as you need hole in floor, or platform to work off of.
if i don't use for a few months, still easy to pick up and use.
i have used plate but don't own, as i dont' do that using shaper, more save that for bed style cnc
my final take, it is another tool in your box. like a domino . not a one size fits all, but even with that, a great tool for adding to your workflow.
impressive bit of work went into this.
laynemimstx, Thanks for sharing such an in-depth perspective on the Shaper Origin! It sounds like you've really put it through its paces and have a great understanding of its strengths and weaknesses. It's always interesting to hear how different tools complement each other in a woodworking setup. Your experience with the learning curve and the importance of strategy for accuracy is particularly valuable for anyone considering adding it to their workshop. Keep enjoying your woodworking journey!