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I'm not sure you understand what this is. It's not a router, it's a handheld 4'x8' CNC. If Makita has a 4x8 CNC for 200 bucks, it's news to me. :-) It doesn

I'm not sure you understand what this is. It's not a router, it's a handheld 4'x8' CNC. If Makita has a 4x8 CNC for 200 bucks, it's news to me. :-) It doesn't have "a little map of where you're supposed to go", it has a display showing where it is going to go. Now, I don't drive my router every day (a Bosch, FYI), so I'll admit I'm not a skilled operator. But my ability to follow a pencil line with a router is iffy at best. You are right that the biggest problem to making cuts with a router is it grabbing and going off path. That isn't so much a problem with a CNC. I don't know how the Shaper, being hand-held rather than a mounted chassis, prevents kicking out like that. I don't know if it stops cutting when you move the body, or is fast enough to move the tool when you are repositioning the body and the tool grabs. The Shaper's goal is that an unskilled operator can do accurate and repeatable cuts. That said, I haven't used the Shaper. I've watched some folks over the years use them on YouTube, and I've half wished I'd bought the older model when they had it for pre-order for $1,500. But the downside of these tools is that you can't just whip them out and start making chips, you've got to have CAD and CAM experience and generate the gcode. I've done a little with 3D printers, and SketchUp, and custom gcode. But I'm far from being able to bang out a set of shapes for a one-off project. I'd have to be making a few or more of something before I even considered it. The Shaper looks insanely cool, and I wish our Maker Space had one, but I also don't have an immediate need for one either. I CAN tell you that I've recently been wishing our 4x8 CNC took up a lot less floor space, it's bigger than either of our workbenches but can't be used as a work surface (policy decision).

gtvwill 9y ago
"It's not a router, it's a handheld 4'x8' CNC." So your telling me its a handheld 4x8 computer numeric controlled... nothing? its a handheld cnc router. I know what cnc mills are having given extensive consideration to building one (bit bigger than 4x8 though as that's too small, maybe more like 2000x6000 because yes I like to build shit and timber comes in 6 metre lengths. Unless the tool has some serious way of gripping it to the surface its milling, its gonna be generally useless for anything other than light timbers/particle board. I'd love to see it try and cut through some tallow wood or iron bark accurately. Hell even a bit of red gum would probably thrash it out.
janekm 9y ago
Actually it's a little of both. You do have to guide it by hand according to the map it shows, however it will correct small deviations from the path allowing relatively accurate cuts. It has two huge downsides over a regular router: you have to place marker tape (quite expensive) all over the workpiece, and it will stop working once the marker tape is cut. Also, you have to keep guiding it throughout the process so you don't get the time benefit (multitasking) of a regular CNC router. I don't think it's a really good choice for a makerspace actually compared to a regular router table, unless there is a serious lack of space.
- otherwiseguy 9y ago
  It does not stop working when the tape is cut, only when there isn't enough visible tape. Also, you can put tape on a place outside where you are cutting and reuse it. The camera isn't pointing down where it is cutting. Also, it'll correct for fairly large deviations. It is more for one-off things as opposed to madd producing something like standard CNC router. Limitless size is nice, I am unlikely to buy a 4'x8' CNC router for my garage.
  - janekm 9y ago
    Indeed, it makes more sense at home rather than in a makerspace. But you'd be very unlikely to make the money back compared to sending it out to a professional shop. It could be perfect for interior designers and similar jobs where one-off pieces have to be cut on the spot and cost isn't a big issue. The issue about the cut tape was brought up in the "Tested" review, and you may not always be able to put tape outside your work area if you are trying to use your whole workpiece.
- linsomniac 9y ago
  I just don't see a router table serving a similar need. Unless by that you mean a CNC like a Shapeoko or similar, rather than one of those tables with a fence and a router poking up underneath it. As far as a lack of space, there's ALWAYS a lack of space at maker spaces. :-)
  - 9y ago

gtvwill 9y ago

"It's not a router, it's a handheld 4'x8' CNC." So your telling me its a handheld 4x8 computer numeric controlled... nothing? its a handheld cnc router. I know what cnc mills are having given extensive consideration to building one (bit bigger than 4x8 though as that's too small, maybe more like 2000x6000 because yes I like to build shit and timber comes in 6 metre lengths. Unless the tool has some serious way of gripping it to the surface its milling, its gonna be generally useless for anything other than light timbers/particle board. I'd love to see it try and cut through some tallow wood or iron bark accurately. Hell even a bit of red gum would probably thrash it out.

janekm 9y ago

Actually it's a little of both. You do have to guide it by hand according to the map it shows, however it will correct small deviations from the path allowing relatively accurate cuts. It has two huge downsides over a regular router: you have to place marker tape (quite expensive) all over the workpiece, and it will stop working once the marker tape is cut. Also, you have to keep guiding it throughout the process so you don't get the time benefit (multitasking) of a regular CNC router. I don't think it's a really good choice for a makerspace actually compared to a regular router table, unless there is a serious lack of space.

otherwiseguy 9y ago
It does not stop working when the tape is cut, only when there isn't enough visible tape. Also, you can put tape on a place outside where you are cutting and reuse it. The camera isn't pointing down where it is cutting. Also, it'll correct for fairly large deviations. It is more for one-off things as opposed to madd producing something like standard CNC router. Limitless size is nice, I am unlikely to buy a 4'x8' CNC router for my garage.
- janekm 9y ago
  Indeed, it makes more sense at home rather than in a makerspace. But you'd be very unlikely to make the money back compared to sending it out to a professional shop. It could be perfect for interior designers and similar jobs where one-off pieces have to be cut on the spot and cost isn't a big issue. The issue about the cut tape was brought up in the "Tested" review, and you may not always be able to put tape outside your work area if you are trying to use your whole workpiece.
linsomniac 9y ago
I just don't see a router table serving a similar need. Unless by that you mean a CNC like a Shapeoko or similar, rather than one of those tables with a fence and a router poking up underneath it. As far as a lack of space, there's ALWAYS a lack of space at maker spaces. :-)
- 9y ago