They send back an Origin-ready file to your ShaperHub account, along with recommendations for order of operations, cutter sizes, and assembly. An idea can be sent to Assist in whatever form a person is comfortable with (sketch, photo, crayon doodle) along with a brief description of what you want to achieve, and the people at Assist take it from there. Then there’s Assist, the missing link between an idea and a finished project for those of us who are not CAD savvy. Shaper’s website has a wealth of services, including designs and a community page for sharing ideas and asking questions. The Origin works with SVG (scalable vector graphics) format files, but the more common DXF and DWG formats can be converted to SVG, letting them work with the Origin. The removable tape also means the Shaper doesn’t need a dedicated table, like other CNCs do. A camera on the Shaper uses the tape to determine its location, letting it know exactly where to cut-and where not to. But the machine is not a three-axis CNC, as its depth of cut remains constant, so relief sculpting isn’t part of the Origin’s capabilities. The fine adjustment is fantastic for joinery, such as mortises, tenons, and box joints, too. What if the fit is a bit tight? You can adjust the cut to the thousandth of an inch, so it’s nothing to remove just a bit from the inside of the cavity. Files for different Soss hinges are available through ShaperHub, Shaper’s database of CNC files, and within minutes I had routed a cavity that fit the hinge perfectly and had the exact offset needed for flush alignment. They were such a pain to install, the effort wasn’t worth it. I’ve rarely used Soss hinges even though I love their invisible look. I put the Origin to work mortising for some Soss hinges. A dust collection port at the front of the base provides very effective dust control. The Origin’s touch screen is easy to use and navigate. You simply navigate the Origin to the area you want it to rout in. The bit stays down where the Origin is programmed to rout, and it retracts where there’s no cut to be made.
![shape 3d vs aku shaper shape 3d vs aku shaper](https://i5.walmartimages.com/asr/1e1e4a74-e531-49fa-8d0e-cf2602c90c8c_1.cd34d1681beb2a7b8723d2f9600ae8fe.jpeg)
As a result, the tool knows when it should cut. When I say the tape lets the Origin know its position, I mean it knows it exactly. rolls, enough to work one and half 4×8 sheets of plywood. This tape frees the Origin from needing a dedicated table. An onboard camera scans the tape and creates a map for the tool so it’s always aware of its position and where it should be cutting. The Origin is oriented by digital tape that you apply to the workpiece or an adjoining flush surface.
![shape 3d vs aku shaper shape 3d vs aku shaper](https://aexuijsuqo.cloudimg.io/v7/https://www.dermalshop.in/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/3D-Face-Massager-Roller-Electric-Face-Massager3.jpg)
![shape 3d vs aku shaper shape 3d vs aku shaper](https://windows-cdn.softpedia.com/screenshots/Aku-Shaper_2.png)
You can import designs into the machine via Wi-Fi or a thumb drive. Each command opens new screens that allow you to import design files, create basic shapes programmed into the Origin, and set parameters for the cut. After that, I simply plugged the machine into power, the touch screen lit up, and in a few moments I was ready to go. There was no assembly required, other than installing the dust shield, which is held in place by magnets, and connecting the dust-collection hose. The machine’s handles are comfortable, with an orange button on the left handle for retracting the cutter and a green button on the right that starts the cut and is the “Enter” button for various commands. The Origin has a touch screen that controls a small trim type router motor with a 1⁄ 4-in. It’s intuitive, doesn’t require dedicated space, and can provide lots of shortcuts to complete projects quicker and with less stress. The Shaper Origin, a handheld CNC, changes that. But they have also required a lot of space and a large learning curve. They can handle a multitude of tasks quickly and with tremendous precision. I have long admired the capabilities of CNC woodworking machines.