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      Setting Up Workstation

      Workstation and Accessories

      Your Workstation includes the following components and accessories:

      • Body: The ShaperTape surface and core of the Workstation.

      • Clamping Face: A versatile clamping platform that attaches to the Body at 90°.

      • Shelf: A height-adjustable surface for fixturing small or difficult-to-hold workpieces.

      • Hold Down Clamps: T-Track Clamps designed for versatile and secure fixturing.

      • Spoilboards: Sacrificial material (MDF) used to minimize tear-out when cutting.

      • Support Bar: An adjustable support for the front edge of Origin.

      • Support Arms: Two arms designed to hold the Support Bar and keep Origin in plane with the ShaperTape surface of the Body.

      • Angle Fence: Easy-to-adjust fence used for simple alignment of a workpiece at an angle.

      • 4mm Wrench: T-Handle Hex Wrench for every commonly used screw on the Workstation.

      Securing Body to Bench

      Use the holes (four total) located in the flanges on the right and left side of the Body to permanently attach the Workstation to your bench with the provided wood screws. Tighten screws until snug, but do not over-tighten.

      Optionally, you can install threaded inserts or bolt holes. 

      Alternatively, you can attach using clamps. This works well for Paulk style tables with dog holes. We recommend either FSZ 120 Screw Clamps or FS-HZ 160 Quick Clamps.

      Attaching the Clamping Face and Using Spoilboards

      Using the Clamping Face Mounts, you can affix the clamping face at three positions:

      • 0mm

      • 25mm

      • 50mm

      Only use the 0mm setting when you do not intend to cut beyond the back edge of your material.

      Once the clamping face is in the desired position, you can also secure the Support Arms to their mounts.

      Using the Support Bar & Support Arms

      The Support Arms attach to the outermost mounting positions on the front of the Body.

      Align the clamping peg and pin on the Support Arm with the corresponding holes on the Body. Insert each Support Arm and slide it down into place.

      Rotate the Lock Screws clockwise until snug, but do not over tighten. Though there is a hard limit built into the Lock Screw, you may not be able to tighten all the way to that limit. Do not force the Lock Screw!

      Once the support arms are in place, you can utilize the support bar.

      Align the two screws on the underside of the Support Bar with the openings at the end of both Support Arms. Insert the screws and slide the Support Bar forward along the tracks.

      Adjust the Support Bar depending on the needs of your project. Always be sure to leave room for your cutter between your workpiece and the Support Bar.

      Press down on the left and right Lock Handles to lock the Support Bar in place.

      Using the Shelf

      The Lock Handle has three distinct stop positions: Unlocked, Adjustable, and Locked.

      • Press the Handle all the way down for the Unlocked position.

      • Pull the Handle towards you to the first stop. This is the Adjustable position. The Adjustable position is snug, but still allows the Shelf to move up and down in the tracks.

      • Pull the Handle towards you to the last stop. This places the Shelf in Locked position.

      Align the T-Slot connectors on the back of the Shelf with the corresponding vertical tracks in the front of the Clamping Face. Slide the Shelf down into the tracks, and hold it in place.

      Secure with the Lock Handle Locate the plastic handle under the top surface of the Shelf. Pull the handle towards you to lock.

      Using the Angle Fence

      The Angle Fence can be used on either the left or right side of the Clamping Face. The Angle Fence can also be used to support short workpieces vertically, when the workpiece is not long enough to make contact with both Vertical Alignment Pins.

      To install the Angle Fence, use the 4mm Wrench to extend the upper and lower Vertical Alignment Pins on the side of the Clamping Face that you will be using. Ensure that the Vertical Alignment Pins are extended until snug before using the Angle Fence.

      Press the Angle Fence on, aligning the upper hole on the Angle Fence with the Upper Vertical Alignment Pin.

      Install the included Lock Screw through the slot on the Angle Fence and into the corresponding threaded hole on the Clamping Face.

      You can find the ShaperHub project for creating custom fixtures similar to the angle fence here:

      Workstation Fixture Creation Kit

      There's also a Shaper Session on making custom fixtures for Workstation:

      And this Session that goes into depth on specific fixtures:More Info

      For a deeper dive into using Workstation, check out this Shaper Session on Day One with Origin and Workstation:

      More questions? Check out our Shaper Workstation FAQs