# STL: It's Not a Robot, It's a CoBot!

- Show: [Shop Talk Live](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live)
- Published: 2025-08-02
- Length: 45m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2025-08-02-stl-its-not-a-robot-its-a-cobot
- Listen: https://shoptalklive.podcast.static.taunton.com/stl-its-not-a-robot-its-a-cobot

## Summary

Zach Dunham and Sean Kirsch of Shaper Tools join the Shop Talk Live hosts at the AWFS trade show to introduce BenchPilot, an automated motion control system for the Shaper Origin handheld CNC router that enables hands-free operation. The guests explain how BenchPilot integrates with the Origin's vision system to allow users to pause, adjust, and resume cuts, effectively turning the handheld tool into a cobot for production workflows. They highlight community usage by woodworkers like Kyle Kidwell and Aspen Golann, who use the tool for complex joinery and prototyping, and discuss how digital tools are helping to bridge the skills gap in modern woodworking education.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2025-08-02-stl-its-not-a-robot-its-a-cobot#t=6) Introduction: Shaper Tools and BenchPilot Overview
- [2:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2025-08-02-stl-its-not-a-robot-its-a-cobot#t=157) BenchPilot Mechanics: Hands-Free Operation and Tiling
- [6:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2025-08-02-stl-its-not-a-robot-its-a-cobot#t=365) Vision System and Precision: Hardware vs Software Integration
- [11:30](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2025-08-02-stl-its-not-a-robot-its-a-cobot#t=690) Production Workflows: Box Joints and Fixture Cycling
- [16:23](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2025-08-02-stl-its-not-a-robot-its-a-cobot#t=983) Community Spotlight: Kyle Kidwell and Complex Joinery
- [24:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2025-08-02-stl-its-not-a-robot-its-a-cobot#t=1467) Aspen Golann: Bent Laminations and Hand Tool Hybridization
- [29:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2025-08-02-stl-its-not-a-robot-its-a-cobot#t=1775) Education and Accessibility: Die Gute Form and Skills USA
- [35:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2025-08-02-stl-its-not-a-robot-its-a-cobot#t=2149) Bridging the Gap: CNC and Traditional Woodworking Education
- [40:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2025-08-02-stl-its-not-a-robot-its-a-cobot#t=2401) Trade Show Experience and BenchPilot Launch Details

## Topics

- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Design for manufacturing & NPI](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/design-for-manufacturing)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Shaper Origin (product)
- BenchPilot (product)
- Workstation (product)
- Shaper Studio (product)
- Kyle Kidwell (other)
- Aspen Golann (other)
- Kim McIntyre (other)
- Phil Morley (other)
- Adrian Frazouti (other)
- Die Gute Form (other)
- Skills USA (other)
- AWFS (other)
- Ligna (other)
- Holtzan Verk (other)
- IWF (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [539: My Ai Powered Ergonomic Chair](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2026-09-25-539-my-ai-powered-ergonomic-chair) (Making It)
- [A Samurai's Journey to Automation, Ep #5](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2024-11-20-a-samurais-journey-to-automation-ep-5) (Lights Out)
- [Episode 261: Our Favorite Tools](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2020-05-15-episode-261-our-favorite-tools) (Making It)
- [Episode 085: Sometimes I’m really into the laser.](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2016-08-26-episode-085-sometimes-im-really-into-the-laser) (Making It)
- [223: The State of Automation Halfway Through the Decade, Live from the 2025 A3 Business Forum](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2025-02-11-223-the-state-of-automation-halfway-through-the-decade-live-from-the-2025-a3-bus) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2025-08-02-stl-its-not-a-robot-its-a-cobot. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Shop Talk Live.