Glowforge: 2 Year Review

[@brandyrocs8784]

This was so helpful thank you for the review. I have been trying to decide on my options and think the Pro is the way to go. Thank you for the discount code as well.

[@imagineform]

Glad it was helpful! And thank you. This month marks my third year with my glowforge and I still love it every day.

[@heathertaylor-willockx3632]

Thank you for posting this. I keep looking at the Glowforge, but it's still out of my price range at the moment. I'm saving up, but looking around at all my options. Thank you for the honest opinion.

[@debaserNYC]

Thanks for the video, I used your referral code for a Pro.. thanks for that!

[@imagineform]

Thanks so Much! Feel free to email me with any questions tom @ imagineform.com

[@ScottRedstone]

Glad I stumbled across your video. I have GF. The basic one. I use it often and it performs well. I didn’t know about the upgrades. Have to explore the UI tomorrow.

[@imagineform]

They might be still rolling them out, but I love the new scoring!

[@stevedippert5337]

Hey Tom I'm assuming you have the pro model. Do you use the pass through much and if not is the pro model still worth the extra money? thx Steve

[@imagineform]

I have used the pass thru a couple times, but only because I was too lazy to cut the material smaller on the table saw. I think it has a slightly more powerful laser but I don’t think that matters too much. If I were to purchase another I would probably get the plus.

[@corty1980]

Hey Tom have you still got the origional tube in the glowforge and if so how many hows have you done on the machine? If not how long did the tube last? thanks.

[@imagineform]

Yes still the same tube, no idea on how many hours but I use it nearly everyday. I recently cut some 3/8” acrylic and used the same settings as when I first got it. So I haven’t seen any loss of power yet.

[@lilycakes569]

Have you had to replace the filter yet after two years? My big concern is having to change the filter often which is almost $1000 for a filter. I’m thinking of investing but need to know when a new filter is needed and how many times it needs to be changed. Thank you!

[@imagineform]

Sorry for the late response, I have mine vented out the window so I don’t even use the filter. It you are in a place where that is not an option then yes you will need yo replace the filter cartridge only ($250). How often you need to do this depends on what you are cutting. Things like acrylic won’t plug up the filter too fast, but cutting or engraving wood or MDF will shorten its life.

[@ThePurplePupUwU]

Hi, I'm an 8th grader that is helping setup a makerspace for our school, one of the things In our makerspace is a glowforge pro, but I need to find some tutorials so people can learn how to use the 4 thousand dollar machine lol so if you can or have made a learning video for this cutter of if you know of articles/videos that really helped you could you please link those as those would also be helpful for teaching 6-8th graders

[@imagineform]

If you look at my channel I have a couple, also on the Glowforge forum there is a ton of info, I believe there is something called the matrix on there that has a bunch of useful links.

[@ThePurplePupUwU]

@@imagineform oh cool, I'll look into that, thanks!

[@imagineform]

Here is the link to the forum page that has all the links to google sheets community.glowforge.com/t/community-glowforge-tutorials-table-of-contents/7339

[@musickmann]

Thanks for the 2 year in review. One thing that stopped me from jumping in was not being able to engrave curved surfaces, especially for cups, tumblers, etc. Has there been any improvements that would change that?

[@imagineform]

It has a shallow depth, 2” max with the tray removed, I’m not sure if they have auto focus working yet, I know there are a few folks that have successfully engraved shot glasses

[@musickmann]

Tom Stringham thanks. I’ve been practicing with my snapmaker and just this weekend had some good success engraving and cutting 3mm wood. One day I’ll grow up to get a big boy laser, and glow forge is still top of my list.

[@marykochaney2783]

When updates are made is it on all models? In particular, the update you mentioned about the inside corners cutting cleaner. Thank you.

[@imagineform]

Different updates will go out to the different models, but mostly they are the same. They will often do a beta first on a handful of machines to get feedback before rolling it out to everyone. Any core update does go out to all machines.

[@albionofjay5536]

what do you recommend basic or plus? planning on getting one for side business.mainly for engraving and laser printing?

[@imagineform]

If your climate is hot I would definitely recommend the plus, the extra cooling will help you out, where I am in the northeast I have never had a problem. But I know some people in hotter climates have not been able cut when it gets really hot. That said if it’s in a room with AC the basic would be fine.

[@albionofjay5536]

@@imagineform thank you for the answer

[@kyleboyher3706]

Thank you very much for the video, it was quite helpful. I'm looking into getting either the Plus or Pro. I would like to cut 1/4" plywood with ease, is the Plus capable of this? Is the Pro really worth the extra $2000?

[@imagineform]

Your welcome! I cut a ton of 1/4 ply. The advantage of the pro is it’s got a little more power, 45w instead of 40w and the pass thru slot for cutting bigger things. I have never used the basic so I’m not sure how much difference the 5w makes. On thing if you buy plywood from HD or Lowe’s it will have spots of filler in the cores that the laser doesn’t cut, this can be a PITA. If you get proofgrade ply from glowforge it won’t be a problem. Hope that helps. Tom

[@kyleboyher3706]

@@imagineform One other question I had is do you know how much humidity affects the laser. I plan to put it in my basement and vent it out the window. The basement isn't damp really and has never flooded to my knowledge, but is still an unfinished basement. Kind of musty, do you think I would run into any issues? I live in Northeast Ohio about a half hour south of Cleveland. Lastly, how deep is the z axis on the laser, in other words how thick of material am i able to lay on the bed and engrave onto?

[@imagineform]

I know several owner that have them in their basements and haven’t heard any complaints. Only place I have heard of issues is further south where it’s really humid and they have AC blasting in the room. A couple people got condensation on the inside due to hot humid air coming in the vent hose and hitting the chilled Glowforge. With the tray in you have .5” with it out you have 2”

[@imranchaudhry9699]

Hey Tom.. thanks for the great video. Can it cut through 1 or 2mm magnetic sheets (Rubber material) the ones which we stick on fridge and ovens...

[@imranchaudhry9699]

tried to drop you an email, it bounced back. any alternative?

[@imagineform]

I’ll give it a try tomorrow, sorry about the email, my domain is temporarily disabled, should back up Monday

[@imagineform]

You can also email me at [e-mail]

[@logcabinleatherbyjan]

Does the Glowforge require any maintenance? Any problems in 2 years?

[@imagineform]

So far just cleaning, nothing major. CO2 lasers do lose power over time and will need to be replaced, however I have recently cut out repeat jobs that I did when I first got the Glowforge and used the same settings, so I have seen no loss of power yet.

[@DRRV88]

@@imagineform in case i have to replace the C02 laser, when can i buy it and which C02 tube i have to buy?

[@imagineform]

Just looked, you can send your machine in and they will replace it for $500, shipping included. But I also believe they will be selling just the tube.

[@Fiestafunjumps]

Hello, in starting my Business doing leather patches and sewing them on hats , which machine would you recommend me ?

[@imagineform]

The basic will probably be fine for that, the pro would give you extra cooling but you would only need that if you were running A LOT in a warm environment

[@jayeogarcia]

Are the filters an issue ?

[@imagineform]

I have mine vented outside so I don’t know, I did just receive the air filter but have not unboxed it yet.

[@jayeogarcia]

Tom Stringham So it’s not Necessary? As long as I vent it outside I won’t need to buy one?

[@imagineform]

That’s correct! Out the window is best.