Shaper Origin thoughts

[ryanjg117]

Thinking about pre-ordering a Shaper Origin and noticed they've partnered with Festool, though I'm not sure exactly how. Does this just mean that my CT dust collector's hose is guaranteed to fit their dust collection port? Is there anything more to this partnership?

Do we know what kind of router motor they're going to be using in the production units?

Do we know how accurate it will be? I'm guessing it won't be "stationary CNC" accurate?

Does anyone have any specifics on how the referral program really works? They won't give the details unless you put in a pre-order, which puts me off a bit. I'm confident I could refer quite a few friends and defray some of the costs, but I'd like to know how credit is given - do they give you the $100 up front, when a friend pre-pays, or only once it's shipped? Since everyone can cancel at any time before the production run, it seems to me they would need to protect themselves and only give the $100 credit once it ships... So basically you wouldn't really know if your referrals are going to pan out until shipping day. Seems a bit risky to me.

Lastly - looking for a good contributing FOG member to send me a referral code. I know this forum has been spammed with a lot of them, from people with 1 Post, and I really don't want to help those people. I'd rather help save a fellow contributing FOG'er. Reply or PM if you'd prefer. Thanks.

 

[ear3]

I would add another question, which is what is the max depth of the unit?  I can't seem to find it anywhere on the website specs, which is strange.  Watching some videos I did see one of the screens which had a few pre-sets, the deepest one of which is 3/4.  But it would be a shame if it were only capable of routing this far and no further.

 

[ryanjg117]

I would add another question, which is what is the max depth of the unit?  I can't seem to find it anywhere on the website specs, which is strange.  Watching some videos I did see one of the screens which had a few pre-sets, the deepest one of which is 3/4.  But it would be a shame if it were only capable of routing this far and no further.

Watch the videos - there was one where he did note the max depth of cut, and then said something to the effect of "we're working on making that even deeper." I can't remember off-hand, but I do want to say it was slightly deeper than 1". But wouldn't that also be dependent upon bit length?

I'm curious what kind of bits can be used here. All of their videos show up-cut spirals and, of course, you can get quite a bit of surface tearout with that kind of bit. I'd love to be able to use a downcut bit, but I know that demands better dust collection. I always get burning when I try to bore a deep hole with a downcut bit, but that might be because my dust collection isn't good enough... I get burning even with the OF1400, dust collection hooked up, CT at max sucking power. The chips just don't get evacuated like an upcut.

 

[antss]

" So basically you wouldn't really know if your referrals are going to pan out until shipping day. Seems a bit risky to me."

Of course it is, but probably no more than the risk that they'll actually deliver a working tool a year from now. 

Seems to me that if your counting on trusting ten to twenty complete strangers to get you a low cost or free router your scheme is doomed.  ShaperO doesn't benefit from wishywashy customers either.  They want QUALIFIED customers and the $100 incentive is their effort to generate leads. 

They've shifted the work load to you to qualify the customer.  You have to earn the discount, it's not just being given.  And let's face it, word of mouth referrals are way better than any print ad or internet blast.

 

[nclemmons]

Ryan - I pre-ordered one after seeing it at the Festool customer event this summer.  I was one of the earlier orders with an expected ship date of September 2017.

Related to your questions, I reached out to them in hopes that they will join the forum and questions.  They are a great group of people and really responsive to input and questions.

I don't know the relationship with Festool other than Festool included them in their Summer customer event.  And that a lot of their videos include Festool tools they use in addition to the Shaper Origin. 

I don't see any reason why the tool would not work with either uncut or downcut bits.  I know they have been working in their prototypes through customer updates around dust collection improvements.  It ships with a 1/4" collet and believe the range of bits could be anything from a v-bit for engraving to ball-end or straight cutters.  At the show they showed a range of bits in the tool.

neil -

EDIT > To conform to a forum policy on Shaper.

 

[ben_r_]

I know enough about it and have had enough past experience trying out other brand new to market products from start-up companies to stay away, hide and watch and wait and see how it pans out.

I buy brands like Festool because they are tried and true and known to be of good quality, lasting presence and to provide good customer service when things go wrong. We know nothing about Shaper other than they have been talking about releasing this product for years now. I have actually played with it twice now at two different Maker Faires and while it seemed cool there it did seem more like a novelty product and that still doesnt tell us how long Shaper will be around nor how good the actual final product will be. I personally would rather put my money towards a CNC machine like a ShopBot, but if I did pick one of these up it would be after a year or two and perhaps the 2nd generation. Give them more time to fix the inevitable bugs that will only show up after hundreds or thousands have owned one, used it and put it through its paces.

 

[Aclaw]

Apparently Festool is supplying the spindle for the Shaper Origin.  You can see the Festool variable speed control in their website while testing.
Festool Spindle created for Shaper Originsts/july-2017-update/