I'm not seeing that --- sounds interesting! Link?

You can get a very nice router for $300-ish; the Shaper Origin is 3k.

https://handibot.com/

I am working on putting out more videos! Definitely aiming to address the accuracy and answer some other FAQ. As far as 3D printed parts go, tbh I'm just going that route for now because it's easier. Less hassle to deal with another manufacturer (or build out my own print farm, which is a whole other thing) and have to go through all the quality control that comes with that. Definitely planning on incorporating 3DP parts in the future, but saving that for when other stuff is more dialed in. Good idea to include a link to 3DP supplier.

It’s on the compass home page. Admittedly the Play button does blend into the background image of the router a bit.

You can cut objects in place, including irregularly shaped stuff you'd need to disassemble to put on your gantry. That comes up frequently for engraving but it's not exclusive to it.

The whole device is basically the size of a sewing machine. Yet it can cut parts that won't fit on an gantry you're able to fit in your garage.

It's quite tedious for repeated work. So I think it's really more in the class of manual power tools than in the same class as a CNC setup.

As far as accuracy goes, the tracking tape eliminates some source of errors. Say your clamping is not 100% and the part shifts slightly while being worked-- tape the part moves with it and all is still happy. Of course, it introduces some of its own problems too.

So in summary:

1. Very small device, yet can work with arbitrarily large pieces. 2. Good workflow means very fast setup suitable for one offs. 3. Works in situ, especially useful for engraving things in place.

I imagine that if it weren't a bit pricey that many people who do CNC woodworking would also have a shaper origin like device-- much like you probably have a skillsaw in spite of owning a CNC router.

Plus the simplicity of setup and the size makes it attractive to anyone who only wants a tiny amount of CNC for precision engraving, hole positioning, or cutting an inset for a hinge... and would never own a CNC gantry.

> It automatically adjusts the cutting tool to stay on the programmed design path, enabling a significantly smaller device footprint while still handling large-scale cuts.

I don't know how many people it concerns but the use case is very clear

1.) Cuts that are not easy on a gantry. It would be very difficult to do a tenon on a gantry. You could do one side and then flip the piece. Or maybe you could have a special bed with a void for putting stock in that direction. Either way would be difficult to get just right. With the Shaper and their workstation this is a 60 second operation.

2.) Cuts in the real world. If your stock fits into a gantry, great. But if it doesn't then you're going to have to dismantle the thing to get it into your CNC. With the Shaper I've done inlays on-site, in hardwood floors, kitchen counters, on walls, and on a rough surface picnic table.

3.) Sneaking up on tolerances. Again, if you're batching out a ton of stuff you'll get your tolerances once and everything will be set. But when I use a gantry getting the tolerances just right takes a ton of time. On the Shaper you cut a pocket, test fit, bump the tolerance by a thou or two, recut, and re-fit. This is fast on the Shaper.

4.) Storage space. I don't have a ton of space. I have a small CNC (~15" x 15") for small stuff that I want to batch out, but I work out of my garage. I'd love to drop a 4' x 8' CNC in there, but it isn't going to happen. With the Shaper it all goes into a systainer box and sits on a shelf. When I want to do something big I lay some foam down on the driveway to use as a backer, drop the wood, lay out the tape, and go.

It's crazy pricey. But that's more because it's owned by Festool than any inherent reason. If you're the kind of prosumer who goes for Festool-grade tools then it's probably a decent fit.