Hands-On with the Glowforge Laser Cutter!

It's finally here! We have a pre-release model of the Glowforge laser cutter in our office to test, and have been running it through its paces. Adam and Norm show off its features and run through a few test cuts, including tracing one of Adam's drawings. Let us know what questions you have about the Glowforge in the comments!
Shot by Adam Isaak and edited by Norman Chan
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Tested is:
Adam Savage / donttrythis
Norman Chan / nchan
Simone Giertz / simonegiertz
Joey Fameli / joeyfameli
Adam Isaak / adamisaak
Kishore Hari / sciencequiche
Frank Ippolito / frankippolito
Sean Charlesworth / cworthdynamics
Jeremy Williams / jerware
Patrick Norton / patricknorton
Thanks for watching!

[@jackielinde7568]

+Tested If you really want to put that machine through it's pace, you should have Adam design and build a dollhouse. Design parameters should include working doors and windows with casements, and it should include materials other than wood (like plexiglass or glass inserts for the windows). Style isn't as important. Sure, a victorian house would definitely put the machine to the test, but everyone builds victorian doll houses. Any Craftsman house would work fine, as would a Frank Lloyd Wright style house.

[@RosieGamgee]

Jack Linde +

[@Waterflame]

OMG! Yes!!!

[@GerBarne]

Jack Linde can anyone say laser cut fallingwater? Or perhaps Robie house?

[@jackielinde7568]

Fallingwater could work.

[@Stevieboy7]

definitely can't cut glass with this laser. A 40watt laser also can really only cut 1/8" soft woods (baltic birch, balsa) and some plastics. In the world of lasercutters, its one of the weakest lasers you can buy that lets you cut through some materials....

[@timlaunyc]

Thanks for the update. I was very much interested in how fine or or thin a cutout could be, and the border coming from Adam's test seemed to be very promising.

[@EddieAdolf]

I'm in the pre-order group, i can't WAIT to receive it this month. I've been waiting for a little more than a year.

[@Ghostrider03Z]

that camera system is really neat, the final ornament looks absolutely incredible also!

[@whatagreatnameaye1169]

YESSSS can we please see more of this machine. I'm really interested in its full capabilities when they become available

[@JurassicCollectables]

Pretty cool! I cant help but notice it offset the etch/cuts from the original sketch drawn on the board. So it isnt 1:1

[@Barnacules]

Which you do you prefer Adam? The GlowForge or the already on the market FSL Muse?

[@theclintified]

It doesn't look to have air assist which has been a must for my laser cutter, just curious how much impact that would have on cutting depth. Thanks for the info!

[@canadianavenger]

Do you ave control over the order of operations? Generally you'd want to do your engrave before the cut pass. [If you cut first, the part could drop and shift, resulting in the engrave not being exactly where you wanted]

[@acopernic]

This... Norm... The last image is just wonderful. Congrats

[@tetohh12]

Great video norm! First time I hear about this but it's amazing!

[@AlexVenz]

I was an early backer of the Glowforge but ended up bailing on the project due to me coming to the conclusion that, while it seems like it would be super easy to use, it wouldn't be large enough or powerful enough for many of the projects I have in mind. I ended up purchasing an enormous 100W laser cutter from a manufacturer in China for around the same price as the Glowforge pre-order (though, what you save in price, you pay for in time spent reverse engineering the machine to make it work correctly). That said, I'm excited that they're finally getting Glowforge units rolling and I hope they become wildly successful--I also wouldn't mind playing around with their Proofgrade line of materials.

[@mr.headcrab31]

thank you much, Tested! I'm a backer for the pro model and been on the fence with a cancellation due to lack of updates from the company. I guess Star Citizen's constant news streams have spoiled me a little. Good to see one in the wild, slower than I was expecting, but still, it's good to see that it's not vaporware. By the way, you guys should do a frequent questions about the glow forge vid. oh, by the way, the company said that the non cloud drivers will be available, but will void the warranty, not a problem if the company goes under. Thanks again

[@darialevi2756]

finaly! I was waiting for this vid 11 months! I love glowforge (I dont have it tho)

[@landlockedviking]

Boy I still want one!

[@harambeexpress]

Hey Norm, I expect the unit has been shipped off to the next reviewer already but if it hasn't I'd like to see Aluminium being cut and engraved.

[@kellysands792]

If you want something cool and groundbreaking, take the chance. My Glowforge is totally amazing and worth the wait. Shipping to the UK was expensive, but worth it. It's very well built, well supported and a great tool for the creative mind.

[@kimchikoalaa714]

I'm a high school student who loves to tinker and build my own machines, I love mechanical engineering, I am ready for this

[@Gonzihh]

In the cloud? So when company goes bust all of a sudden machine stops working? Being there, saw that. No. Thank. You.

[@muh1h1]

exactly what i thought. Or maybe they release an improved version in 5 years and stop supporting the old one then. No thank you.

[@nfwolfpryde]

That's my one real gripe about it. I love the form factor, looks like it works really well, and I'd pay a premium for such a nicely constructed package. But I can't do it if I don't know it will run for 10 years, and we don't know that Glowforge will last that long as a company.

[@xPAKIII]

gnzh My thoughts exactly

[@us3rnam3144]

they allowing for stand alone if you don't want to use the cloud but prefer cloud

[@JorneDeSmedt]

Oh good. That was pretty much my one worry when I saw this before.

[@losangeleskey]

Thanks for the video! Do you think this would cut through 1" wood?

[@SeptrothFFXI]

6:35 it's a touch off of the drawn pattern. Shifted left and up from the original

[@sorcierenblk3000]

Omg!! I want one for jewelry making!

[@chestermicek]

Adam & his buddy Jamy are such smart geeks that they made being a geek cool. By the way, the "Glowforge 3D Laser Printer" is awesome.

[@Flixterino]

Looks really cool, I desperately wanted one during the pre-orders a year ago but just couldn't afford it. There were a few things I noted, the first being that originally I recall it being mentioned that the detail camera in the cutting head would be used for scanning drawings put into the glowforge, but it appeared that this was not the case with this model. Will this be in software shipped on the final version, or a future update? Or has the plan been scrapped? Also I was surprised that the laser cut the vector first before etching the raster. Is this intentional? If the material were to slip after the first cut the raster would then be off position. Is the order of operations changeable, or is there some other reason for it being done this way around?

[@JGunlimited]

How is the ventilation set up? When setting it up in your home, what do you connect it to? Do you just route the pipe to a window?

[@kevincozens6837]

As soon as I saw the purple design at (approximately) 11:30 I knew what you were printing although I was only half right. I knew what the left side was for but I didn't realize that the right side was for a different item. This cutter might be inexpensive for what it is but I bet the price of it is still in the range of a few thousand of dollars.

[@darriusw]

Is it as loud as a vacuum? Or does it just sound like one?

[@amazoncanvas]

Since it has a wide angle camera, wouldn't the scanned image be distorted? Where accuracy is important, such as doing marquetry or inlays, I am wondering if this camera will cause inaccuracy which cause the pieces not to fit properly. This is the case where you would want to use Adobe Illustrator vs. the browser base software. Question, if you just use Adobe Illustrator, can you bypass the internet requirement and print (send the artwork) directly to the laser, similar to sending a print job to a printer?

[@padoco73]

I'm kinda hoping there'll be an SDK available to make drivers accessible directly from Illustrator.

[@trenttt8511]

Etch something into that surface book ;)

[@narcellius]

The surface book is made out of magnesium, depending on the alloy may not be the best idea since it might burst into flames!

[@ashergreenberg]

This Is AWEsome

[@k.s.9279]

This is so awesome! who wouldn't want one for Christmas! you can easily get a kid into making things with this technology or be selfish like me and want to keep it to yourself! haha! that is one gorgeous machine! Nice job Tested:)

[@ulsvencol]

You had to change the outside cut line off camera!

[@OIFEagle]

Will it etch on glass or highly reflective materials?

[@miguelhernandez72]

You should have changed cut order so that it cut last. Also, what are the fume extraction options?

[@EmesiS]

I wonder, since the laser tube is attached to the stepper motors, if that's what's causing the rastering to be so slow? Like most hobbyist laser machines, my tube is stationary. I've had material jams before, so I'm curious what happens when you jam that moving laser tube against something?

[@djp_video]

The fact that it is cloud-based worries me. If the company goes belly-up or decides to stop supporting the device in a few years, you've got one very big, expensive paperweight.

[@voxellab4339]

I agree, I've 2 software programs now on the cloud and they suck. Besides being SLOW (my inter net is fine) the unscheduled update is very time consuming. 2 out 0f 5 time I use the product I have to update it and you have no choice, you have to update to use the product and sometimes the update breaks it.

[@baronjutter]

I don't understand the point of the software being web based. Why not just ship the software with the laser so you can use it at home and tweak it exactly how you like?

[@fishingqna]

Doug Johnson Productions cloud based is a deal breaker for many including me.

[@Pyrex238]

it's gcode based, It's not going to be a paperweight worst case scenario.

[@catherinetodd]

@Rasheed Abdul-Aziz : It's obviously you really know your stuff! Thanks for the explanation. But the comments about the company "going bust" and not being there in the future does worry me. What do you think about this scenario?

[@ChrisRichardsonwtfgamer]

Have you done a follow up video yet Tested? It's been 4 months!

[@ipodfernando]

Awesome!

[@benshepherd2076]

"without revealing what it is..." meanwhile there's a clear stencil of a tiefighter and a X-wing on screen I guess the editor didn't get that memo!

[@lingroup1]

I want to see your comparison of the Gowforge vs a Universal laser or Epilog system.

[@tobiasberg-srensen52]

:O saw that mandala on Adam's macbook in Still Untitled! It all makes sence now

[@justinwilliams7148]

1:50 "Phased Plasma Rifle in the 40 watt range."

[@mattikro]

Were getting one of these at my school

[@draggonhedd]

What if you don't have an internet connection? Is it effectively a paperweight without the internet? What happens when glowforge goes out of business, or the "cloud" service fails or is taken offline? Is your unit now a useless brick? Will there be any support for local system software support? This is a huge futureproofing issue.

[@zachburke8906]

If they didn't add a local system I'd be extremely surprised! Just saying, not everyone is like Apple in removing old things because something new is available!

[@shodanime742]

It would be using google cloud so that will not go out of business. The company glow forge has about $30mill of backers on these device

[@Ghostrider03Z]

draggonhedd it's the same case for a lot of products now, it's just where we are heading

[@davidwelsh6989]

11:40 where did Jeremy get that Death Star computer t-shirt? I want it sooo bad

[@JeffLafferty]

Nice!

[@Tclans]

"Without revealing it" that was funny!

[@dennisnikolaidis1615]

There seems to be a difference between the actual design, and the laser path used to cut or engrave. The two don't match. The laser path looks shifted a bit. Is this something that will be resolved?

[@JonnyRocket77777]

i wanted one so bad. but that waiting period and 5000 dollars man. got a full spectrum and even though weve had some problems with the psu the customer service was great

[@ibreakstuff815]

Never walk away from a laser in operation. FIRE!

[@dangkolache]

As a guy with a business revolving around my laser cutter, this makes me happy but also very nervous, haha. Pretty soon our 10 year olds are going to get a $300 laser cutter for Christmas...

[@alvan1108]

Nice, which model did you test, Pro or Basic?

[@shadowliving6858]

What key or combination of keys did you push to make the cut path?

[@AnthonyGugliotta]

5:20 That etching process is as slow as molasses in winter.

[@npowers1510]

They have one of those at my high school

[@bert3064]

When will they release this?!

[@lollandster]

8:51 Did he say 40 minutes? That's a long time for such a small piece. I have only used a 60w epilog laser, but I didn't think 40w would be that much slower.

[@coryjeffreys5146]

Sweet those bow ships are cool I like...

[@MrHello12314]

so are we gonna have "cut the mystery object" every Friday now?

[@Wiromax3]

Yes please! :)

[@chaztech9824]

I want one!

[@statesmancomics7284]

Still waiting on mine

[@PetCactusA_HarmlessLittlePrick]

You could use this to make plates for an offset printer.With this in your shop copying multiple bills with different serial numbers is not as COST prohibitive.Considering the anti-counterfeiting measures in the larger denominations makes one and five dollar bills more attractive to the cautious (and frugal) felon.

[@LarsSveen]

Do you have a link to the vector file for the "ornament set based on a popular franchise?"

[@UkiMalefu]

The Tie fighter looks cool in natural wood finish, but I'd like you to paint one in the right Star Wars colors. And I want to see the X wing too.

[@chip2567]

This laser mostly works on the cloud. What do you do if you don't have internet availiable. My internet access is spotty at best. Is there software I can install on my computer to run this thing? I have CAD software.

[@Siansonea]

Frickin' laser beams! :)

[@goliiad]

can the laser be removed and used for evil purposes? asking for a friend.

[@SyntheticFuture]

I'd like to know if there is a bracket included to mount it to a shark.

[@hallie6921]

No it won't fit on sharks. it will fit on sea bass tho, if they're horribly mutated.

[@GetOffMyLawnYouDangKids]

Try a pigeon instead, no one will see it coming and the laser doesn't like saltwater anyway.

[@Version0111]

Dorian Gray are they ill tempered?

[@Pathfinder8]

The laser can be removed and mounted and yes, possibly on a pigeon. However it's that 20lb power supply and long cord that is the problem...

[@alphasxsignal]

All the other laser companies need to get this camera idea and software in their system if they want to be up to date. It make it so easy to work with images and objects on the bed. Other compnaies dismiss it because they don't have this feature.

[@Chango110418]

I want to invest in one just not sure which too get.

[@mybike1988]

You guys should do a indoor diy ventilation system

[@ezarrgames3108]

Does it cut and engraves on clear acrylic?

[@dwightcreech]

Does it come with the Black glasses. I notice they kept falling off your head

[@xKatjaxPurrsx]

Seems backwards to cut and then engrave because the workpiece you're about to engrave will have moved.

[@bryanjensen355]

You can order in the software to engrave before you cut. That's pretty much the standard procedure. (You can choose the production order of all elements in your design.)

[@gregeastman6662]

if you look close it did move

[@xKatjaxPurrsx]

Re: laser tube life, I've been using my Shenhui G350 50W with the original tube for a year now and it's still going strong. I don't know how much Glowforge is planning to charge for tubes, but replacing my tube looks like ~$250 so really it's on the order of replacing toner on a couple laser printers. Seems reasonable to me.

[@epilotdk]

Those are pretty good machines for the money and are fine for production work. You can also fit a more powerful tube which will be near impossible in the GF.

[@xKatjaxPurrsx]

I'm quite happy with mine. My only regret was buying one with an irregular rotary attachment device instead of a motorized z-bed.

[@bitsRboolean]

This feels weird. I want the Glowforge to be good. I am interested in tested's opinion of it. But I'm not convinced that there is an opinion here. This feels a little like a commercial to me. I'm not saying it definitively is but knowing they are getting paid by Glowforge definitely doesn't rule it out.

[@JasonBroaddus]

Yeah, feels like sponsored content. I pre-ordered the Glowforge Pro and am soooo tempted to get a refund with all the delays and further research.

[@glennedward2201]

Oddly expensive considering you can buy 40w laser cutters for $280 and 100w for $2k. External appearance isn’t worth the added expense and any decent controller can be upgraded into a preexisitng $300 laser if one wanted to optimize it.

[@TheUndert0ker]

Can this etch and cut metal? Would be sweet to be able to produce your own photo etched brass parts for model kits!

[@courtneykinggard1639]

No it cannot. It can mark metals that have coatings on them like paint or anodizing but no engraving or cutting.

[@richardmolinar3376]

Update on the Glowforge laser cutter?

[@BolFelix]

I did a drawing this monday and it missed a line, the camera isnt quite perfect yet

[@Decenium]

without revealing what it is....we are all nerds here yo, we say that was a Tie fighter in less then a second

[@alexlobodan3652]

You ABSOLUTLY need to make things in SVG.

[@black007die]

Can this machine design on glass like for instance cup glasses

[@kakurerud7516]

'cloud processing' is a huge turnoff, this usually leads to subscriptions and other reoccurring intangible charges.

[@citylockapolytechnikeyllcc7936]

Can this ENGRAVE metal? I am looking for an engraver for keys... trays of keys, up to 30 at a time to cut my time on building master key systems. Engraved images must be cut deep, so image does not wear off. Etching is not good enough.

[@DummyAccount]

03:37 what's up with that Charlie Brown music? XD

[@gfgnickname_not_chosen2598]

Was this the glow forge basic?

[@renebohne]

mmhh. but what is so exciting? any laser cutter with visicut and visicam can do the same. and do they move the laser tube??

[@Caitlinsculpts]

WANT!!

[@keaare9478]

arhg! those hoodie strings

[@BillyVerden]

I finally figured it out.. Norm moves like a Marionette! I can't see the wires yet, but I swear they are there.

[@my3dbase]

Bitter sweet; apparently shipment is delayed again. We were supposed to receive the unit in December (now). Now in December they say there is another delay...between March and July 2017. Man...I am fighting to keep that thing. How am I supposed to justify another delay :(

[@LukasFoukal]

Can it do balsa wood?

[@55yxalaG]

Woah, that's one noice printer. Can anyone tell me the music at 11:30? just wondering if it's copyright-free.

[@nobodyuknow2490]

Would it perhaps be possible to remove the laser in order to mount it to the head of certain aquatic predatory animals?

[@catherinetodd]

This I need to have! So exciting with so many things to be made.UPDATE: Oh, my, reading reviews on Amazon and not good! Especially that you have to buy all the cutting materials from THEM! Plus cloud-based software. Well, I guess I will have to look elsewhere.

[@cuppo124]

Adam is the consultant but it seems like Norm knows a lot more about it

[@TheMcStoners]

what about full spectum 5th gen hobby laser

[@aidanbobhog6303]

I like how the guy who works for them is so surprised and seemingly clueless about some of the most basic features of the only product they sell

[@devilsadvocate1338]

Wow 😲

[@shavono8402]

somewhere around 11:05 the noise gate is too high fyi norm, small mistake