Shaper Trace creates a digital file directly from a sketch or drawing, without any need to resort to a computer. To get a file with the outline of a physical object, you use a pen to draw the object’s outline on paper and then use the Shaper Trace to digitize the drawing. But the digital file will only be as good as the drawing. Tracing an object freehand can be inaccurate because (1) the pen might not be perfectly straight, and (2) the barrel of the pen will make the drawing a little bit larger than the object.
The solution is a gadget I call the “Tracer.” It is a copy of a tool posted on the Shaper Origin user forum (see post 64 of this thread: [ Ссылка ] ). (My version is far more utilitarian than the elegant tool on the forum, but it works.)
The Tracer closely follows the contour of an object. The paper product it creates doesn’t have to be pretty, because the Shaper Trace software lets you keep just the good part – the inside of the pen mark that is closest to the object being traced.
I’m going to have a build video up an about a week if you want to make a Tracer, so please subscribe to my channel if that interests you.
00:05 Introduction and preparing the object to be traced.
00:35 Tracer for better tracing
01:40 Not pretty on paper, but the software keeps the good part
02:15 Straight to the Shaper Origin CNC
02:41 Not perfect but pretty dang good!
Workshop Improvement of the Week is my woodworking and project vlog. Hand tools, power tools, accessories and everything that goes into a shop are my topics. I'm making an upgrade a week (except for vacations!) until I run out of ideas, but there is still a lot more on my improvement and upgrade list. Please like and subscribe, thanks very much!
#trace #shaper #shapertrace #diy #woodworking #tools #cnc #shapertools
