Glowforge Hack - Engrave Thicker Stuff (Even on a Basic!)

In today's Glowforge Hack I show you how to engrave thicker materials like cutting boards. With a simple, free tool, you can now engrave materials up to 2 inches thick in your Glowforge - even on a Glowforge Basic!
No Math Focus Ruler (the tool I use in the video): tinyurl.com/kc...
Charcuterie Board (US): tinyurl.com/k2...
Charcuterie Board (Canada): tinyurl.com/k2...

[@brandyryan6008]

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU. I've been getting the material too thick error for 3 hours and couldn't figure it out. The tray made it too tall, adding pieces wasn't tall enough! Thank you for the link to the tool!

[@SteelForge1]

You're so welcome! Glad you were able to get it to work for you and thanks so much for watching!

[@markchapman826]

I actually love my Glowforge. I've been doing a Lot of Acrylic LED Lite Signs.

[@SteelForge1]

Fantastic! Those LED lights look really cool. Thanks for watching!!

[@leahronise9983]

thanks for the tool.

[@SteelForge1]

Thanks for watching! 🙂

[@carlosmanjarrez1809]

Have you done granite? Can you make a video on granite for memorial?

[@SteelForge1]

I haven't yet but it is something I've been looking into!

[@lubblyjubblyfurniture]

great video, thanks for sharing

[@SteelForge1]

Thanks for watching!

[@19coyote5oh9]

Great tip! Thank you.

[@SteelForge1]

No worries! Thanks for watching!

[@KevinConner]

what's that little cube and ring around the start button?

[@SteelForge1]

Hey thanks for watching! It's a Switchbot. It pushes the GF button remotely via an app so I didn't have to get up and push it every time.

[@shawnhilliard]

I know that the crumb tray is about 1.32" tall. I have a .65" set of tongue/groove boards that i use as a lift. I measure the item I'm engraving, add .65" than subtract 1.32" from the total so I have the "thickness" of the material I'm trying to engrave.

[@SteelForge1]

Great tip Shawn! Thanks! :)

[@carlosmanjarrez1809]

We’re you get that board like that idea

[@SteelForge1]

Ikea!

[@ByMsQ]

Tool link not there anymore. I definitely need one. 😔

[@SteelForge1]

Yes, I had to remove it from my Drive unfortunately.

[@rosihancock4]

Can you please tell me what font you are using on that board? That is beautiful!

[@SteelForge1]

Thanks souch for watching! I honestly don't know which font that was...if I remember, I'll reply again.

[@Chayo082465]

Good morning. I have a question. What the setting for cutting 1/4 acrylic?

[@SteelForge1]

Hi there! It's been so long since I cut acrylic but I'm pretty sure there's a preset for thick acrylic in the settings.

[@deniseteague8203]

Hello, I love that tool! it is so much easier and faster. i am just starting cutting boards and I was wondering if the settings you mentioned are good for other woods such as olive wood? 😀

[@SteelForge1]

Hi Denise! The setting for each type of wood will be different as the grain of the wood and the hardness will differ. I'm not 100% sure about olive wood.

[@roofrat68]

What setting do you use to engrave a dust cover of an AR15? Or thin metal

[@SteelForge1]

The Glowforge can't actually engrave metal without using a coating first. I would check into what sort would be best for your particular project and do a few test runs with something similar so you don't accidentally ruin your dust cover

[@mreoski]

Would it be simpler to measure the thickness of the crumb tray, then measure the thickness of the substrate (charcuterie board) and do the math. Meaning, subtract the thickness of the substrate from the crumb tray to determine the substrate height?

[@SteelForge1]

I found it pretty simple to download the measuring tool, cut out out and use it every time i needed to. No math required. 🙂

[@doriswilliams5133]

where can i find the tool. I can not find i.and the link come up that it is not active,but i like your video

[@SteelForge1]

Here you go! community.glowforge.com/t/no-math-focus-ruler/39522

[@ninicheezum3215]

Where can I get the tool in the video? Do you have a link to the project? Or a name of the tool I can search for?

[@SteelForge1]

Hi there and thanks for watching! The link for the tool is in the description 🙂

[@rommiemex9532]

Thanks for the vid. Do you just use autofocus or do you measure how tall the material is, and subtract from the original tray height?

[@SteelForge1]

Thanks for watching! I actually just measure using that tool in the video, resting it on the bottom of the GF with the crumb tray removed. As long as the surface of the thing I'm engraving is within that check mark area on the tool, I'm golden.

[@markchapman826]

Just make A Jig at 1-1/4 inch tall=5-1/4 peices of wood.

[@SteelForge1]

Great idea! Thanks for watching!

[@uplaterooster]

I bought the pro but thinking I'm going to return. idk

[@SteelForge1]

Having difficulties? Is there a question I can answer for you maybe?