Plate FAQ

Do I need to use Plate with Origin?

Nope! You can use Origin with Workstation or tape boards of your own creation, or just with ShaperTape placed directly on the workpiece. But Plate makes a TON of cutting operations with Origin simpler and more efficient.

Doesn’t this mess up with Origin’s Z-touch?

As long as your tool’s base is entirely supported on Plate and you’re touching off through Plate’s window, you’ll be able to Z-Touch as normal. 

I thought that ShaperTape was supposed to be coplanar with the workpiece?

That’s right! Because Plate is placed on top of your workpiece, its ShaperTape is parallel to the workpiece surface. Parallel = coplanar

What’s the difference between Workstation and Plate? Which one should I get?

Probably both! They have different use-cases–Plate will more often be useful on large workpieces where bringing the fixture to the cut is effective, whereas Workstation will be more useful for smaller workpieces that need to be brought to a fixture or when cutting on vertical stock like mortise and tenon joinery.

Can’t I just make my own?

You can absolutely make your own customized version of Plate to suit your particular needs and workflows, there certainly are a few versions created by customers floating around the Shaper community. Plate is the result of years of development and testing by Shaper engineers to develop the best possible template for Origin. Every element, from the multiple locking Flags to the sliding Reticle, to the composition of the no-skid underside, has been deliberately debated, designed, and engineered.

Where can I learn more about how it works?

You can learn more about Plate here, and you can see a full rundown of its specs here. We also devoted a recent Shaper Session, which you can watch here to see Plate in action on a variety of operations.

How large of a workpiece can I cut on with Plate?

As big as you need! Unlike a traditional CNC machine, there’s no bed-size limitations to your work. If you can rest Plate on the workpiece’s surface, then you can cut on it with Origin!