Festool’s sibling company Shaper launched a new motorized XY table to allow for hands-free operation of their hand-guided Origin CNC router.
That’s right, for just $1400, you can now use your hand-guided CNC router hands-free! If you’re new to the Shaper Origin, you can buy the base package for $2,899, which doesn’t include a license to their Studio design software.
A reader brought the Shaper BenchPilot to my attention – thank you, Robert! – and mentioned that the new pricey accessory doesn’t do anything to improve z-axis cutting depth controls.
Advertisement
Shaper says that their new Origin BenchPilot accessory “removes physical strain from long hours of Origin operation.”
Features include the ability to quickly remove the Origin CNC router for portable applications, a variable feed rate control knob, timer display, and physical E-stop switch.
Initial assembly is required. It also doesn’t look like the BenchPilot was designed to fit a Systainer tool box.
The Shaper BenchPilot is compatible with Gen 1 and Gen 2 Origin CNC routers.
When attached to the workstation (also sold separately), the BenchPilot has a maximum cutting area of around 18″ wide x 11″ deep. When mounted directly to your workbench, it has a cutting area of around 18″ x 17.5″ deep.
It has a max z-axis travel range of around 1.7″.
Advertisement
Shaper says that you can still cut all of the same materials as when using the tool handheld, but it can make “cutting harder materials significantly more accessible since it can make multiple passes without handheld supervision.” For example, they say that “30 shallow passes on 1/8″ brass [is] no problem.”
In their FAQ, Shaper starts their answer to “does BenchPilot use ball screws or lead screws, belts, or wheels?” with “it doesn’t actually matter here.” They then explain that they use a rack and pinion system with belt drive.
That kind of makes sense. The CNC table basically moves the origin coarsely, and then lets the Origin’s onboard motors handle fine tuning. Because of this, you’ll still need to use their proprietary tapes or accessories.
With respect to the z-axis cutting depth, Shaper reiterates that the Origin still only moves in X and Y directions simultaneously at a set depth. This means you can more easily create set-and-forget signs but still can’t create complex 3D shapes or carvings.
The BenchPilot is launching at $1399, and they say this reflects a $100 introductory savings. There are various package options, ranging up to $4797 for the router, new XY table, and work station with shelf upgrade kit.
BenchPilot comes with a 1-year warranty, or 2 years if you register with Shaper.
ETA: September 2025
Discussion
Shaper’s promotional video shows more about how the router holder slides around on a belted carriage. It looks like you get V-wheels on aluminum extrusions, rather than linear guide rails.
They say that BenchPilot “drives Origin from point A to point B” and that “BenchPilot simply handles the time-consuming aspect of driving Origin around.”
This looks like it could ease fatigue and frustration for Shaper Origin users.
Here’s the launch video:
BobH
I have a Gen 1 Shaper Origin. At the moment I am on the fence about if I need this. I have done some projects where it might be helpful. For example, I made six of one thing, it got tedious after a while.
It could be very useful for moderate size complex designs (like the sign in their video) or to make a small production runs.
I also suspect this may be more attractive for people who currently own a Shaper Origin. Otherwise, if starting from scratch, it might be better to just get a CNC with the same size capacity.
Leon
There is that but CNC machines are not as portable as the Origin if at all. And FWIW CNC machines have a limit to the size of the work, Origin does not.
John
Calling it “Festool’s Shaper” is no more accurate than calling it Sawstop’s Shaper or Tanos’ Shaper; none would be correct.
Jronman
Yeah I was wondering the same thing. Confused why Festool had to be included in the article.
Stuart
Festool’s parent owns the company and Festool manufactures Shaper Origin products.
Goodie
Stuart, would this mean that you would call Ridgid tools “Milwaukee’s Ridgid” because they are owned by TTI? Or Ryobi as “Milwaukee’s Ryobi?”
You wrote on this topic in 2019.
https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/milwaukee-ridgid-ryobi-coordinations/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
I understand your quote above indicates there’s a direct manufacturing linkage, but does this mean that Festool has actual owenership of Origin, or is that exclusively at TTS?
Stuart
Milwaukee doesn’t manufacture Ridgid tools.
Hugo
I like the concept of the Origin and would probably buy one if it wasn’t so aggressively proprietary. In particular, the tape just feels like it’s designed to create an ongoing revenue stream rather than solve an actual technical problem. (The tape is pretty cheap, so it’s not the cost; it’s the principle). If there was something like the Origin that was designed more like a common 3D printer (nonproprietary interfaces, works with industry standard design software, any necessary desktop software is open source and multiplatform, any licenses required are included and perpetual, no internet services etc) I would immediately buy it, even at Festool/Shaper prices.
William Kurtis Cullen
The Shaper Origin is in its own class. The other handheld CNC on the market are bad iterations of what the Origin achieves with great success. The tape rolls are mildly expensive but it’s just the cost of producing items with it. People have replicated the tape using household label printers with success as well. It’s a really a fantastic tool for artisan creations and precise wood joinery.
Stuart
Basically, the Shaper Origin form factor *requires* the marker tape. The Handibot didn’t, and was a portable CNC router, but lack of interest and demand seemed to have led ShopBot to eventually abandon the concept.
Here’s a bunch of reading if you want to understand the tech a bit more:
https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/shopbot-handibot-kickstarter-preview/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/computer-guided-router/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/shaper-origin-handheld-cnc-router/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/compass-router-cnc/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
https://groups.csail.mit.edu/graphics/positioncorrectingtools/files/Position-Correcting%20Tools%20for%202D%20Digital%20Fabrication.pdf
The Origin seems to remain a very pricey and very specialized piece of equipment. It solves very specific problems. The BenchPilot might expand its capabilities, but it also drives up the cost.
I think the repeated mention of how it eliminates user fatigue could make it appealing for existing owners, but to me it gives the perception of being a must-have that drives up the cost of entry.
I wonder if the new XY table will inspire DIYers to make their own machine-guided Origin bench table attachments for less.
Aram
In case anyone is interested, the Compass files (design, BOM, etc) are here:
https://github.com/camchaney/handheld-cnc
…you’ll need to be fairly technical to deal with it, but it’s a reasonably clever system that doesn’t need fiducial marks/tape (like Origin) because it’s using optical flow mouse sensing packages instead.
Hugo
I don’t agree that the form factor implies the use of marker tape, rather, that requirement came from the need to do realtime localization from computer vision with the technology that was available ~15 years ago (in the CSAIL paper, published 2012). Realtime means you need timely (low latency) processing, and they traded off lower computational complexity and simpler optics for a more controlled environment (fiducial tape). With the advances in computer vision tech over the past decade or so, I am confident (my day job is in a related engineering research field) this could now be done with either no added markers (perhaps rest a steel rule on the workpiece during mapping for calibration if necessary) or unconstrained pencil marks (i.e. some scribbles) on the workpiece.
Stuart
Are you confident in computer vision systems being able to control a hypothetical competitive router with the same precision as the Origin, and for all potential types of work materials, such as MDF, finished or unfinished hardwood, stained lumber, veneer, etc?
The Compass project creator mentioned using optical sensors and relying on correction algorithms to reduce drift.
At this time, there is no self-locating portable CNC router. Maybe that’s because Shaper holds patents on key tech, but if not, why else are we not seeing commercialized products that don’t require marker tape? Or do products exist that I’m not aware of?
Leon
Aggressively proprietary is what makes the shaper origin works so well. The shaper origin is simple to use and pretty much bulletproof.
Robert
Shaper Tools has a very “Apple Corp” feel about it. Based in San Francisco, proprietary income business model, good engineering competency, design aesthetic, the feel of their website, their closed mouthiness about future products, and their PR. Not saying it’s necessarily good or bad, just to me eerily similar. I wouldn’t be surprised if there are ex-Apple folks in their core team.
John
This seems like a nice thing to have for someone already invested in the Origin system, but otherwise makes no sense. A standalone wood router CNC can be had for that price and would outperform this in every way. Tracking location using fiducial tape is a great solution for a handheld CNC machine, but not for a fixed one.
Leon
A Stationary CNc machine is not portable like the origin is. That alone makes the origin stand out for taking the tool to the job site. And stationary CNC machines have a limit to the size of the project. The shaper origin has no size limit.
Saulac
Would XY table replaced by the arm (?) form factor in the near future? I have seen videos of CNC metal cutting machines where it is just a torch attached to a robotic arm. The arms seem to be much more compact and robust. XY arms probably not that complicated?
Stuart
Those videos are made by a company trying to sell the arm to manufacturers, and it’s been reshared countless times for the sake of social media virality.
XY is 2-axis movement giving it 2 degrees of freedom. Typical CNC routers and machines have 3 axes (X, Y, Z). Pricier machines have 4 or more axes (X, Y, Z, rotation along 1 or more of those axes).
Robotic arms often have 6 degrees of freedom (X, Y, Z, rotation along each).
XY tables are relatively inexpensive. Arm joints are not, and everything gets incredibly expensive as the payload/working tool size and weight increases.
Plasma tables and waterjets generally work in 2 dimensions, and the same is true about engravers and lasers. CNC routers and mills often have 3.
The Shaper Origin with XY table and some accessories is a $4800 package. Add a 0 to that – an order of magnitude increase – and you might have an arm with the ability to achieve anywhere close to the same results.
When you have say a plasma cutter, that’s a fixed load that you can design a robot payload arm around. Switch that to a cutting tool that can encounter higher torque and loading depending on the material being cut, cutting pathways, or programming details, and you will need larger robot arm joints to maintain positional control.
So no, XY tables won’t be replaced by arm form factors. They *could* but it wouldn’t be practical or economically feasible.