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mikeash

What price are they advertising now? I can’t find it on the linked page.

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$2400 is the expected retail price.

Thanks! Considering what it does, I’m not surprised, but it’s a bit rich for my blood.

Seems about on par with Festool options, and looks like they are partners.

At that price they are competing with options that you don’t have to babysit, which is a big advantage if you are commercial operator.

Yeah, but they're also operating in the "maker space", where ten people all pitch in $250 and buy a tool for everyone else to use. That $2400 buys you a tool that everyone, including kids, can use, as opposed to a real CnC machine that requires someone to become an expert operator needing to babysit anyone else who has an idea that requires CnC work.

This tool has zero appeal to commercial operators. But it's _INCREDIBLE_ for people who just want to make shit at their community center/hacker space/woodworking group/etc.

I dunno that this is really any easier to use than a Shapeoko, which is $1900 for the largest version (33" x 33" x 3" working area) with router included. The software for Shapeoko is pretty idiot proof, it can do a 2D carve from an SVG file with no more difficulty than the Origin, while you also have the ability to do 2.5 and 3D operations, which I don't think the Origin can do very well if at all.

There's some cases where the Origin would be killer (e.g., DIY furniture), but I feel like for most makers a stationary CNC router is a better choice. There are some really good, easy to use options at that price point, $2400 seems a bit crazy.

Idiotproof is in the eye of the beholder. Shapeoko is simple for people already exposed to far more complex tools, like machining centers, knee Mills, etc.

But for people who have never understood any of those tools on a low level, it remains indistinguishable from magic.

Thus, this tool is far more accessible to a complete novice, in terms of what they are comfortable exploring.

I'd say the Shapeoko is actually a bit easier to use than a 3D printer (a makerspace staple)- you don't have to do any of the more complicated CNC/CAM things like creating toolpaths or calculating feedrates if you just want to carve an SVG, the software does it all automatically. The machines are a bit more dangerous so you need to take more safety precautions, but the overall process is less fiddly than a 3D printer or more advanced CNC jobs (though the Shapeoko can also do that).

I mean I get it, the Shaper is neat and I do see the appeal. I just can't help but thinking the price is too high for what you're getting considering that the alternatives are pretty good too, as well as far more capable for a lot of uses. If they had hit the $1500 mark I'd probably be considering one myself but man $2400 is pretty steep for a router with autopilot.

Is this really kid safe ?

I used a band saw as a kid; this is probably at least as safe.

What does "kid safe" mean? Is it safe once you explain the kid how to use it, and supervise while they pay attention to what they're doing? Of course it's kid safe.

Is it safe to go "this is how you use it" and then walk away from your hyperactive kid who doesn't even want to be there? Of course not =)

It's safe for any human who actually wants to use it to make things.

When I was 9, I managed to chop off the last 3/16th of an inch of my left thumb with a simple hatchet.

(Building a fort...)

Pre/post hatchet moment, many many many serious power tools and no incidents.

The key to anything is paying attention.

Depends on your kid

Depends on the parent.

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