The SDFWA Shop was gifted a Shaper Origin and we've now wrapped classes around it.
On the surface, this tool looks like an odd plunge router. Kind of familiar but with a screen, a USB port, a camera and other features that don't expect to see. This sense of disquiet is because it's a new category of woodworking tool that's a whole lot smarter than a plain plunge router. Better still, that “smarts” also makes it easy to use. With it you can do a myriad of things faster or with greater precision.
All that is pictured above was done using the Shaper Origin in a two-class series. The first class is Intro to Shaper Origin where you get to know the tool while creating the drawer face above. That four-hour session will have you using Origin to cut out the face, add chamfered edges, create a hardware cutout and carve a bead inlay. The follow-on class is End Joinery with Shaper Origin where you'll cut stop dados for the drawer bottom as well as cut mortises with through tenons in a first session followed by cutting box joints in a second session. Upon completion of both classes you will be certified to use the Shaper Origin at the Shop, if you're an SDFWA Shop member.
These new classes will be available to all SDFWA members and they cover all the bases. You'll learn the basic operation of the Origin and how to put the Workstation to use. Better still, you'll learn a series of techniques while building the above drawer. The pictures above show what a student makes, but more importantly, what a student will learn.
Already know CNC inside and out? For you we offer a different class: Shaper Origin for CNC Users. In it we cover all the same material but instead of learning by creating the drawer we simply perform demo cuts. This is a fast-moving class but if you know CNC then it can get you certified on Origin in four hours.
Check out this video from Shaper to get a feel for what's possible.
Like what you see? Click here to sign up for classes.