I see all the memes about guillotines for the rich, funny in spirit, but actually building one in the town square is not practical. They take a ton of materials, they are huge, and they do not even work reliably. Would it not make more sense to build one from metal with hydraulic pistons or something? I am not a machinist, but a more mobile unit you could wheel into a square to decapitate a few effigies seems about as effective for sending a message, and easier to remove or relocate if needed.
Wood chippers exist and are pretty much this
While I appreciate the composting efficiency, I was thinking something like this for maximum gruesomeness:
https://youtube.com/shorts/c7lSg0T0dJ0
that’s just a wood chipper on less of an angle and with the blade shown
and a bigger blade because it doesn’t have the stiffening framework behind