Hey friends! Someone in the comments brought this to my attention, so I thought I should make a note. Thunder has apparently increased the price of the Nova 35 (80 Watt) a little bit since I ordered my machine in October 2020, due to so much demand. The price bump is pretty small and still seems pretty fair to me, but I apologize that I didn't know that it had increased when I recorded this video.
I started out with a glowforge, and it is great for someone with no laser experience. When I got it the price on the kickstarter campaign was $1900 with a $100 rebate and a big pile of material to cut. At that price it was well worth it. After a few years when I got tired of the limited power and limited size, I looked around and figured with my experience I could handle getting a more industrial machine so I got a Chinese no name brand 100 watt laser with a 38"x24" bed for about $3700, and I spent almost a year figuring out all the quirks of the machine and lightburn. I spent half that year wondering if I had made a huge mistake because everything was a struggle. I could not even access it on the network for almost 2 months. It did not help that the only tech support only spoke google translate English, and if I were to do it again I would spend a few thousand more and get one supported by a US company to preserve my mental health and time.
Totally! I heard similar stories from folks who bought the no-name brands and that was enough for me to decide on a company with North American-based support. Glad you eventually got it working!
I went through much the same research prior to purchasing my Thunder Laser Nova 24. I've owned it for about a year and I remain a very satisfied customer. The machine is stable, the software is easy to use and the support is phenomenal. Thanks for producing a great video that will help others in their decision making process.
Hey Mark! Glad to hear you don't have any complaints a year in! Yes, Brian is a treasure in regards to offering great support, both on and off the webinars. Glad you like the video, that's my hope, that it helps others in their own decision-making process. :)
Glad I watched this. The cloud thing is an absolute show stopper for me. That reminds me of those digital photo frames where they monetize the use of the device.
Absolutely! Hopefully companies will realize that consumers don't want to pay extra fees just to use their already-expensive products! Take care Frank!
Awesome video. After twenty years working in corrections and ten running my own landscaping company I'm looking to find a hobbyjob to supplement my income and provide a creative outlet. I won't be starting on a machine this elaborate but hearing your input has definitely shown me a path forward if my side gig takes off. Thank you.
Hey there Carlos! Awesome, so glad the video could be helpful, even if not right away. Good luck on your laser hobby and enjoy the creativity it will foster! Cheers! :)
Honestly a great video, lots of info about thunder and also about glowforge, Personally I think if you buy something for what a glowforge is valued at then you shouldn't be depending on a cloud based service especially if they try and monetize a "fast lane service" that is just greedy. I have been researching lasers for a while now and thunder seems to be the one I will go for, Many thanks for the video, you have also got a new sub too!!
Hey Alan! Thanks for the kind words! Glad you found my assessment of Glowforge vs. Thunder fair and that it might have helped you decide on a machine! Thanks for the sub! :)
Hey Robert! Of course! I appreciate you, along with Brian, helping to answer all my questions in those early webinars! I had to laugh going back to the archive on Thunder's channel to see that it was all the way back in August 2020 when I first joined! Talk about a long buyer's journey! 😂 Yup - super excited to make all sorts of stuff for future videos with my laser! See you on the next webinar! 😉
Your thoughts on local control are often overlooked and mirror my own. I'm not quite ready to jump on a CO2 laser, but I am investigating them and learning my way around Lightburn with a diode laser.
Hey Erica! Glad my thoughts resonated with your own! Definitely not something to overlook. Lightburn is super easy to learn! Having used Illustrator for so long, a few of the inputs/controls are a little weird to me each time I fire it up, but I quickly get acquainted with it. Good luck! :)
great informative video, especially showing your thinking process of why you didn't go with Glowforge for your application. Love the Makersapce info too... never heard of it here in Scotland, but will look into it more for my projects.
Hey Thomas! Absolutely, glad you found the video helpful and definitely look to see if there's a maker space near you if you're not ready to buy a laser quite yet! Take care! :)
Hey Karen! Haha, that's great - I had sent my video to Brian over at Thunder once I had posted it, but I didn't know they were sending it around to prospects! Hope you found it useful and it helped you learn about the machine a bit! :)
I just got my Nova24-60w. I love it, but it's still a lot bigger than a glowforge. It's not quite a desktop machine. Still i went through exactly the same decision process you did. Glad I'm not alone!
Hey John! That's fair - I suppose the Nova 24 is only a "desktop machine" in that it's too small to sit on the floor, lol. Glad my decision making process resonated and was similar to yours! :)
Thunder is also a Chinese machine all build in China and branded as Thunder. They did upgrade the cosmetics i.e. color, door handles, color of head, but basically there is no difference in Chinese machine on Alibaba than Thunder. The equivalent of this machine directly from the manufacturer is more than half the price. I bought one and they even branded to the name I selected. Absolute best decision I made that saved me thousands of dollars. This is not Trotec or Universal Laser system, same candy in a different wrapper. Only support is US local, which you may not ever use.
From my research, I really don't think that's the case - Thunder is a Chinese brand, yes, but there's clearly more than one manufacturer of laser machines in China, and Thunder Laser is one of the better ones. Everything I read on Reddit, UA-cam, etc. indicated that the ones you buy off eBay are a lesser quality machine that will more likely than not require significant tinkering to get it cutting precisely. The support is US, yes, but they work directly with Thunder Laser in China to make sure that any quality control issues are taken care of ASAP, which in turn, makes Thunder Laser China better and better.
@@FarbulousCreations Sure, there are very large manufacturers than thunder, I’m not saying that thunder is a bad machine, it is just same as any good manufacturer in China. You can customize your machine anyway you want, Reci tube, cw5200 water chiller, Ruida controller and power supplies etc. The cost went up for this customization but than product is far from what USA importer will sell. Your machine is good, I was just giving your viewer an option to by cheap more than half of the price of USA machines and top of the line with linear rails, high power laser tube yet still wayyyy cheaper. If you buy without customization then there is no comparison with thunder
This is the thing Chinese companies have learnt. Open a small office in USA.. Usually California. Hey the project built shipped to them from China.. Do something cosmetic in the USA and then say made in USA.. And charge 2x the price. Just visit their office.. You'll find out
Holy smokes man. For that price difference between the top end glowforge and what you have it's a no brainer. If you have the space for something like that. Great walkthrough, thank you.
I'm looking into a laser for a home side business. I don't won't to go all in money wise but nervous about buying something like an OMTech. But this Thunder laser wiring is very impressive.
This is a great video I’ve been really looking in to laser machine for long term crafting with volume. Our list requirements are super similar and I have some questions. Thank you for such great content.
Hey Keisha, thanks for the comments, I'm glad you found the video helpful! A lot of my projects are more craft-focused too so you're in good company around here! :) I'd be glad to answer some more questions in another video if there's enough interest in that so feel free to ask away! Otherwise, Thunder Laser's weekly webinar is super helpful for asking questions and Brian is great at answering questions from folks looking to buy. Check out the Thunder Laser USA page on Facebook for more info on that! Hope that helps! :)
Great video! I am looking at a Thunder Laser also. You point about local control is well taken. One other thing you may consider is security. While companies may have the best intentions, they might have an unscrupulous employee that could pirate all of your designs and sell them or worse yet, take them and become your competitor. There is enough legitimate competition, no sense opening yourself up to a new one. Just my 2 cents.
Wow, that’s a really good point too that I hadn’t considered! While unlikely, yeah, you’re totally trusting them to protect your designs. Keeping all your files local is the only 100% sure fire way to protect them!
Happy to have you watching! :) I've been a bit busy the last few months with non-laser projects around the house, but here's a playlist of my past laser creations using the laser at my local maker space! ua-cam.com/play/PLu94TEIT_JCyr-OUkC1Qiy5Ty3mFoSVX5.html
Hey Robert! Glad you liked the video! Yep, got a bunch of projects in the pipe, but have also been super busy with some other home projects for the past month and a half so I haven't gotten to play with it as much as I'd have liked! Soon! :)
Early on I bought a Glowforge pro (as an aside I later bought an M3D printer that 4 years on has not made the first thing) At first there were many problems I eventually found that I was causing by using magnets that interfered with the works. However, because most of the software is in the cloud, the machine is constantly improving how it works. If there is anything that is not an improvement they will hear about in minutes and so are both careful and quickly fix any software mistakes. There is a downside to having a piece of technology that you don't have to know how to fix and that is that you cannot fix it, and it needs to be sent to the factory for the slightest repair. A major refit or a frayed wire is the same, but if you cannot figure out how to fix it the result is worse as it is like my 3D printer , just decoration. The Glowforge cannot engrave a Yeti cup and there is a huge demand for engraving a Yeti or similar cup. There are indeed many other lasers that will do that but cannot cut even 1/8" wood . I have cut 1/2" walnut and sculpted that walnut with a 3/8" deep relief carving at 1355 lines per inch, that is very smooth and highly detailed. I haven't tried other lasers so I don't know how that compares but that was a main interest when I purchased the Glowforge. The water cooling system in the pro is much less hassle that all the extra necessary equipment that takes much extra space and are a point of disaster if they fail. I did not know of that issue, but glad I do not have it. The biggest thing I like about the pro is the unlimited bed size as the work can slide any distance that will fit in the room so cutting out a 3 foot long sign is not an issue. I mostly buy 4'x8' sheets of 1/4"ply and haven't it cut into 5 _ 19"x 48" pieces and just use what I need. There are many other advantages but this one alone is well worth the extra money.
Also of note all wattage numbers are not equivalent. Running close to maximum eats the laser's life considerably and I know the Glowforge has considerable (too much?) safety systems to keep you from straining the laser tube. They are claimed to last 2 years but many have been driven hard for over four years and still going.
Thanks for the insight! I have no doubt they're careful about releasing updates and keeping the software working great - my concerns are largely what I mentioned in the video, 1) you shouldn't need to pay for a "fast lane" to send jobs to your laser; and 2) what happens if they go out of business some day or "end of life" older models when they release new, better machines? Those are questions no one can answer definitively, but all we need to do is look at examples of other companies that have done similar things and it's not great for the owner of the equipment.
@@FarbulousCreations The "fast lane" Is incredibly minor. They set up a new system a while back with Google machines that made a much bigger effect, but Google has a "fast lane" on their machines that they charge extra for. That is what part of the premium services are paying for. The entire benefit is the calculations before sending to the machine that is minor at worst and almost indistinguishable. I was at one time on all three "lanes" and that one is the least impressive improvement. What makes the greatest value out of many is thousands of dollars in designs that are free with the premium subscription. As for going out of business, that was a concern as they were late in delivering the first machines having run into unforeseen problems at the last minute (the filter for example needed a total redesign). However, as they are the highest volume of machines in that segment, and have a good market that would sustain them if they never sold another machine (not likely) I think that concern has shrunk past microscopic.
Hey Mark! Sorry for my delayed response! I went with 80 because I didn't really see myself really needing 100W, as I work on mostly smaller-scale projects. I also didn't want to take up space behind/to the side of my machine with the extra area that juts out of the 100W version of the Nova 35. If you get a larger Thunder model than the 35 the 100W tube fits entirely within the machine.
Hey there, great to hear! I love my Nova 35. I didn't purchase any accessories at the time, but I now have the 4 inch lens, the HR lens and the Thunder Cam - I did videos on those semi-recently if you want to check those out! Cheers!
For newbie’s does it come with a pamphlet or something with recommendations on speed, power, etc., for different items such as wood versus glass or do you have to figure it out on your own?
Hey Corey! Nope, they have a material library for each laser wattage they sell, such as the one for my machine found here (80 Watt): support.thunderlaserusa.com/portal/en/kb/articles/80-watt-materials-libraries It's a great starting point, but you'll generally want to still do some tests to see how your exact material density and thickness and whatnot varies from the samples they might have used. :) Good luck!
Thanks Brian! Also thanks for answering my barrage of questions in the weekly webinars over the weeks and months leading up to me pulling the trigger on a machine!
Hey Stephanie! I have my laser in my garage, but I've also built out my garage to be all-season - insulation in the walls and attic, wall coverings, and of course (since I'm in the frigid north that is Minnesota) a ductless mini-split for heat in the winter and A/C in the summer. I've heard of people keeping theirs in the basement, though, and as long as you've got good ventilation, that shouldn't be an issue! Hope that helps! :)
You didn't mention any other uses besides etching the bowls, so I wonder if you could have just gotten a small Diode laser to do the bottom of the bowls. They etch wood just fine and are lightweight and cheap enough you could get several of them so you could do multiple things at the same time. I have a glowforge which I got for $2k on the kickstarter. I got it because I had no experience with lasers and it seemed simple and unthreatening. It has worked out pretty well, although I wish that the software was as full featured as lightburn. I would say it is a good laser to start if you are not very technical, although after a couple of years I am wishing for more power, real air assist and a bigger bed.
Hey Michael! A small diode laser could potentially work for the bottom of bowls, but I knew I'd eventually have projects that I wanted to do that are large, bulky and otherwise unfit for a diode laser too, so I definitely will put the big cut bed and depth to use over the years! Agreed, the Glowforge is a decent starter laser, but I still think the pro model, especially, is very over priced for what you get. People new to laser cutting are better off experimenting at a maker space, university, or tool library if they have one nearby. Because you're right, even if it's a good starter laser, folks who really get into it are going to outgrow it pretty quickly. :)
Thanks for the video, great Information. I am hoping to purchase a Nova 24 for school in the near future. I see you are in Minnesota as am I, is there any opportunity to be able to see the laser in person or do you know of other in the area that have a Thunder Laser?
Hey Mark, I'm so, so sorry I never got back to you! If you're still interested, I believe Twin Cities Maker near downtown Minneapolis has a Thunder Nova now. That's where I used to attend before I bought my own and I've heard rumblings that they replaced their aging Full Spectrum machine.
Such a fantastic video! We are about to outgrow our Glowforge and have been looking into other options! I was thrilled to open UA-cam and see your video suggested on my home page. Here is my question. After a few months of use, what is the worst thing you have found with your Thunder?
Thanks for the kind words on the video, Jay! As for "what's the worst thing I've found so far" - honestly, not much that I can think of! The only thing that comes to mind is a few times where I've tried doing a super high speed (300-500mm/s) vector/cut pass (for a kiss cut), the line doesn't register in some places. I honestly think it's because the laser's traveling too fast for the low power I was cutting at to even register. I meant to ask about it on the weekly sales/tech webinar but I've been busy lately and haven't had the chance. My guess is that if I turned the power up a bit, that wouldn't be an issue. Never thought I'd have a problem with it being "too fast." 😂
Hey Michael! It comes ready to go with the exception of cleaning the mirrors - in case dust or salty sea air settles on them during transport across the ocean, despite being in a shipping crate and many layers of plastic, they recommend cleaning the mirrors before first use. My mirrors looked perfect and flawless when I unpacked the machine, but I took the advice to clean them before use anyway. But no adjustment to the alignment of the mirrors or leveling of the bed was necessary! Hope that helps!
Cost, size, and wattage were all concerns for me with the Glowforge, but the cloud based software was a serious deal breaker for me. Needing to always be connected to the internet is ridiculous but I have absolutely no interest in anyone having access to my entire file folder of projects or my history of printing. No thanks. They can keep it.
Hi! That was such a great and informative video! Thanks so much for posting! I currently use a Boss Laser at my college and have been shopping for my own. One question: does the Thunder have a camera for alignment? Not a deal breaker, I'm just wondering...
Hi Harmony! Glad the video was informative and that you found it useful! Great question! Thunder Laser does sell a camera add-on, but it doesn't have one built in. I'll likely get one in-time, so if I do, I'll do a review/overview video of that! :) Thanks for watching!
I have 2 Glowforge Plus and I just ordered a Nove35. One of my GF has never been used. Turned on for the set up only. It's for sale if anyone wants it.
Thank you for your VERY thorough review of the Thunder Laser. I was literally just made aware of this company last night.... Awesome machine. I need to ask if you also looked into AP Lazer? If so, what were thoughts?
Hey Mike! Glad my review helped! I've not looked into AP Lazer unfortunately, so I can't help there. Until I wanna dabble with Fiber lasers at some point in the future (which I inevitably will), the Thunder one satisfies my needs! 😉 Thanks for watching!
@@FarbulousCreations ... I ended up getting a 51/100 Nova!!! It will arrive early December. Thank you for the insight and all of your testing vids!! They help me tremendously!
HI, i'm looking at starting my own business but it will only be small and don't have the room for one that big, do you still recommend the smaller Nova 24 over any other machines? I have no idea where to start as I've never done anything like this
Hi Lara, I've never used the Nova 24 personally, but based on every other factor - local control software, z-depth (not as deep as the 35, obviously, but deeper than a Glowforge), speed, etc, I think the Nova 24 would be a great option. Check out the video I have linked in the description - it's by another Thunder user who has a 24 inch model and loves it! Good luck with your small business! :)
Thanks for the valuable information looks like you have had the nova 35 for a while now how have you liked it so far ? Have you had any issue or have you had to modify it in any way for it to function properly? Also this I’m sure no one has asked this question yet but does it consume a lot of power ? Do you notice a substantial increase on your power bill?
Hey Jack! I've loved it so far! It's never failed to do anything I've wanted to do with it, and I haven't had to modify it in any way...though I have made a few jigs for myself for repeatable projects! I'm also looking into getting a camera for it soon and will definitely do a video when I install that. As for power, to be honest, I'm not running it enough to have any noticeable impact on our power bill - I'm not running it for hours on end, each and every day, as this is mostly a side hobby for me. Down the line, I'd love to start a small engraving business where I'm operating it for hours and hours a day, and then it might have a small impact, but it still doesn't strike me as overly power-hungry - the lights in the shop have never flickered when I turn it on, and I'm running the laser, fan and air assist all on the same 20 amp circuit without it ever tripping.
some are finding out that cloud based systems, even when the companies are bought out, are not supported by the buyer (a case of eliminating the competition outright) I will never buy anything I don't have 100% ownership of.
Yep, same here! We installed security cameras last summer and 100% avoided cloud-based subscription camera companies. Looking to get a video doorbell soon but will be avoiding Ring because of that. Such a shame.
So I hear! Aaron from the maker space reached out to me to chat about my experience with Thunder so far as it's on their short list for a new maker space machine! I still need to connect with him, but that's super exciting!
Hey that's a great question! In general, all CO2 laser can cut the same materials, but I think that'd be a great video topic for me to cover in an upcoming video. Thanks for the idea, and stay tuned! :)
I am planning on purchasing a nova 35 as well but I do have a question. How long did it took for your machine to arrive after purchasing? Did you use and import broker and then a company to ship it to your place? How much more money did that ended adding to the overall price of the laser. Thank you
Hey Ivan! Good question! I ordered around mid-October of 2020 and it got delivered December 20th, a few months later. I didn't have to deal with an import broker or shipping company at all, as I live in the US and Thunder Laser has a US presence. If you live outside the US, that may be different. But because I live in the US, the price on the website included shipping and everything - I didn't have to pay anything extra for all that. Hope that helps! :)
You don't have to buy from Thunder, but I don't think every camera is compatible. It needs to be a certain field of view in order to capture the entire laser bed when the lid is up. Hope that helps!
Hey Hi, I am from Down Under (Australia) and a complete novice in laser printers. However, my research has got me this far. I am down to two, but leaning heavily towards the Thunder. Thanks for your insights, they are extremely helpful. One question though, is about camera's. Some of the printers and UA-cam's I have watched seem to make a deal of camera's or no camera. Some seem to be able to 'add on'. My question, please, if you do not mind, is does the Thunder have a camera? Should it have a 'add on' camera? lol and quite frankly do I need a camera. Please I would very much appreciate an experienced response. Thank you again. Donna
Hi Donna! No problem at all! The Thunder lasers don't come with a camera built in, but Thunder sells a camera add-on kit (and you can also get them from a few other places). As for whether you "need" a camera or not kind of depends on your use-cases. If you're regularly going to be engraving odd items like guitars, laptops, phone cases or other "customer-provided" items, you probably want a camera, so you don't have to fuss with measurements. But if you're only cutting /etching your own stock materials and they're a predictable size/shape and you're not afraid to do a few measurements once in a while, you can get by without a camera. I don't have one on mine yet, but I'm not currently doing any customer-provided etchings - if I were to do that, I'd get a camera in a heartbeat. I still might get a camera as a nice-to-have. Hope that helps! :)
@@FarbulousCreations Hey Hi, wow, thank you, your helpfulness is a blessing. I really appreciate your response and the advise. Again straightforward and in easy to understand (for us beginners) information. I have subscribed and look forward to further mentoring via your UA-cams. Thank you so much :-)
I'm brand new to laser cutting and etching, but looking to get into the business side of things. I would agree, a better quality laser would be much better suited for me, like the Thunder 24. I'm super close to placing my order with them for that model. But, I'm wondering - as a complete novice, would learning how to operate the machine as well as using Lightburn as a software be pretty difficult? You started out with experience so it wasn't as hard for you to buy your first machine at this level of difficulty. Could you shed some light on how steep of a learning curve I'd be in for? Again, TOTAL novice!
Hey Christine, sorry for the late reply! Was on vacation for a few weeks there! It's honestly a bit hard to speak to how hard it would be as a total novice nowadays, what with the "curse of knowledge" - i.e. forgetting what it was like for me before I know what I know now. That said, I do remember it coming to me fairly quickly, through lots of trial and error. Like I mentioned in the video, if you have any way to play with a laser prior to buying your own, such as at a local maker space or such, I HIGHLY recommend doing that first, before jumping in and buying your own machine. That way you'll know a lot more what to expect Hope that helps! Good luck, and take care!
I'm ditching my Glowforge and looking at this one. Huge buyers remorse from the Glowforge. The lid came unglued after a year and a half and the repair is $1600!
Dang, I hadn't heard of quality issues with Glowforge - my biggest gripe was the high price for limited features. Good luck deciding on a replacement machine! Thunder has gone up in price over the 2 years since I made this video but still seems pretty reasonable to me. Cheers!
Hey Richard! You can use either USB or Ethernet over a local IP address. I do the latter; I found the IP of my laser in my router, and use that IP address in the Lightburn setup steps. Hope that helps!
In the market for a laser in this category. Already own a glowforge which is awesome... just need a larger cutting capacity and faster laser. Would be very interested in a video of why Thunder over other lasers in its category.
Hey there, thanks for the comment and suggestion! Unfortunately that would be kind of a hard video for me to make from an "experience" stand point, since I've never used a Trotec, Epilog, Boss, etc. I could see what data I could gather to make an "on paper" comparison though. 🤔
@@FarbulousCreations Oh, i was thinking more along the lines of why you chose thunder over Boss, aeon, etc. Essentially the other Chinese lasers that have a US presence... Trotec/Epilog are the ideal choice if you can afford them but at this point I cannot.
Ok I have officially watched all your videos. Found you because I was searching info on lasers and got sucked into watching all the rest. Look Fwd to the next video and would love to see you do videos on your laser (I am saving for the Nova-24).
Hey again Richard! That's great, I'm glad you like my videos. :) And great to heard your saving for your own Nova 24 laser! They're definitely a fun powerhorse to get to play and be creative with!
Do you still stand behind your decision? We watched your video, still ended up buying the glowforge, and after 2 weeks of ownership it bricked. This led us to finding out about a class action in progress for 3-5k people who have experienced the same issue with no support resolution without an average $1500 repair charge. In any case we are now looking for alternatives that will be more reliable long term
Hey David! I'm so sorry to hear about your troubles! Yes, I've had my Thunder for coming on two years now and haven't had any issues with it! To be completely transparent, I don't use mine every day for a business or anything, so mine definitely has "less miles" on it than some people who buy the machines, but from everything I can tell in Thunder user groups on Facebook and the like, everyone is pretty darn pleased with their Thunder machines. Hope that helps! Good luck!
You mentioned $8700 all in tax , shipping. I looked today and there price listed before tax and shipping no extras $9100. Did you use a promo code or did they discount it for you? I'm looking to buy but your price sounds way better lol. Thanks
Hey there! Thanks for the comment - someone else called this out recently and I made a pinned comment about it, but it seems as though they've raised their price a bit to better keep up with demand as they get more popular, but I still think $9100 is a pretty good price. Hope that helps!
I wasn’t going to ask you why you didn’t go with Glowforge. I have read their reviews. From the reviews I have read I would say the Glowforge has an average of maybe 2 to 2.5 out of 5 stars overall. You just mentioned the price of your laser. Could you please tell me where you purchased from? Also you mentioned your lasers wattage. Is that true? I mean the actual watts you laser is putting out to the workpiece? Thank you friend!!
Hey Rob! Sorry for my late reply! I purchased it straight from Thunder Laser USA by contacting their sales team on their website. For what it's worth, it does look like the price increased a bit since I bought my machine, but it's still a fair price in my opinion. Yes, the machine is 80W, so when the software instructs it to output at 100% power, it should be outputting a full 80W to the workpiece. Hope that helps! Thanks for stopping by!
loved the video, thank you.. and subscribed to your channel. Im new to lasers and in the uk. Considered glowforge for months and months, but glad I didnt go ahead for many reasons. My personal opinion, is good base machine, but the total lack of support makes it a no no for me. They seem to haver spent all their money on fantastic marketing and making the machine look decent - but then nothing left to spend on support... just doesn't sit right with me. Anyhow, I haven't gone with Thunder, but do love the sound of them. Im a subscriber to Robert at computer creations, and he has been so amazingly helpful with my many questions about lightburn - great guy, and helps so much. My laser will be here the end of this month and cant wait to play :-) very much look forward to seeing more from your channel..take care.... Terry
Hey Terry! Sorry for my late reply! I hope you enjoy your new laser when it gets there! Thanks for stopping by and, for sure, stay tuned for more laser content from me! :)
Glowforge support is actually very responsive in my experience. Between their tech team and the huge community forums, there haven't been any problems I couldn't solve.
Thanks for posting, I have a GF basic and the software can be a bit glitchy! I am thinking about getting a backup laser, how is the software and precision on this I use it on Bibles/leather and it has to be exact,
Well, I was starting to get interested so I went to their website. This machine's cost has now risen to $9900! I get it that costs to build and deliver may have gone up since this video posted. However, I'd be willing to guess most of our wages and incomes haven't increased this much (12%) in this time frame. I guess I could be the only person who doesn't make more money than before Covid, but I doubt it. Also, I wonder if the market value for the products produced by these machines has risen this much? Again, I doubt it. But, I'm also continually amazed at what people are willing to spend on these machines and the products they make, so there is that! Am I out of touch that bad? I am a little taken aback that you spent at least $8700 on equipment you use infrequently, and not to produce income.
Hey Lynn! Yes, it's unfortunate that the prices have risen that much since I posted this video, but I think it's largely related to supply chains still being a mess from covid. Hopefully inflation calms down soon and supply chain issues resolve themselves. I've been noticing it the most with small things like eggs and potatoes, currently priced higher than I've ever seen in my adult life (each about $1-2 more than they were a year ago). I apologize if my comment about buying the machine despite not currently having a business use-case came off as a little privileged. For what it's worth, I do intend to put it to business use soon, but with my day job, all of those goals are kind of back-burnered, requiring me to move super slowly into it all. The income-earning projects I want to do with my laser also requires me to have the rest of my shop built out (table saw, dust collection, work surfaces, etc.), otherwise I'll quickly find myself in over my head and not be able to keep up with business-projects. So it's kind of a game of getting all my chess pieces where I need them before making my move. In the meantime, the laser brings me joy (my only expensive hobby) and allows me to make gifts for family and friends and allows me to make laser-focused videos for my channel without needing to make the trek to my local maker space. Hope that provides some additional context. 😊 Thanks for watching!
@@FarbulousCreations Thanks for the reply. To me you did not project "privilege" in any of your remarks. Really, I'm honestly taken aback by so many folks on UA-cam that spend this kind of money and it is really a hobby to them. To me, the $500 units are hobby units. I thought I was "privileged" too when I built my hobby CNC and over 2 years ended up with about $3K invested. And it is comparable to having a horse in that it "eats" quite a bit if you don't be careful! You can just spend and spend making it better and more capable. But there is always something I want to do that it can't do. This is why some folks wind up with several different machines I guess (all in the same category I mean). Thanks again and I wish you the best with your endeavors. I'll be watching for updates.
Can you tell me what kind of air exhaust fan comes with the Thunder Laser? Is it the small round inline or the large noisy thing that sets on the floor? thanks
Hey Roger! Very timely question! I just uploaded a new video last week that talks about installing a roof ventilation system. I touch on it briefly in that video, but yes, the Thunder Laser comes with the noisier-style exhaust fan. That type of fan is fine if you can mount it somewhere further away from where you'll be working, such as an attic that you have access to for cleaning it occasionally, but if you have an enclosed attic or it can only be in the same room as you, they're not the best. I opted to buy a separate inline fan from AC Infinity that works great for the "being in the same room" factor. Here's that video if you want to check it out: ua-cam.com/video/vmPFehZgv6o/v-deo.html
Hey Albert! If you are talking about the wooden handle of a gun, yes that shouldn't be a problem at all, I'd just advise getting a camera system for your laser to make sure that the placement of the artwork is exactly where you need it to be - there probably aren't any do-overs with something like that, right? :)
I need a mentor. I'm having to start over in a new career because I was in an accident that has left me....not completely disabled but more....diminished...in my physical abilities. It's a situation where its not that I can't move a box off a pallet....I can't move ALL the boxes off a palette before my back goes into shut down mode. So I'm trying to find a way to go back into business working for myself to earn a living. Is there any guidance you can give me? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Hey there, so sorry to hear about your diminished physical abilities. 😔 In terms of "mentorship" it's funny you mention that; I've been thinking about starting to live stream from the shop while working with the laser (in addition to my regular, voice-over'd videos) to let people ask questions and whatnot. If there are any particular topics you know you'd like answered right off the bat, feel free to reply with them or shoot me a DM on Instagram or such. I'd love to make it a regular thing and hopefully it can be the type of mentorship you might be looking for. 😊 I plan to do the first one within the next few weeks, so stay tuned!
Hey Michelle! The laser doesn't really care what computer you have, as far as I know, it's the laser control software that needs to be compatible. In this case, the Lightburn software I discuss in the video is compatible with both PC and Mac! I have a MacBook Pro myself and I simply connected to the laser via an ethernet connection to my router, then input the laser's IP address into Lightburn, and boom, works like a charm! I believe you can do it without the router, but then you need to mess with network settings on your computer to change the networking mode - the router does this for you automatically. And for what it's worth, the router doesn't need to be connected to the internet, so you can use an old unused router like I am to basically act as an "adapter." Hope that helps!
Hey Kayla, I've been traveling the past few weeks so I didn't see this until now, but I'm glad the video was useful to you and thanks for the tip! Super motivating to know this type of content is useful! 🥰
I'm very interested in this machine I've researched and I could only find it for over 9,000. If you don't mind can you share with me the way you purchased for less? Greatly appreciated thank you. Great video
Hi Daisy! Glad you liked the video! So I just checked, and you're right - looks like the price for the Nova 35 (80 watt) is $9100 now. I bought mine in October 2020 (though it didn't get delivered until December), and when I placed my order it was $8700. Brian, the Thunder Laser rep who hosts their weekly webinar did mention the price may go up a little bit at some point since they had such a big demand for the machines at the time - hence the 2 month lead time - so I guess that's happened between then and now. Thanks for pointing this out - I'll make a pinned comment to let others know too. :)
@@FarbulousCreations no way bro , I been lasering since 2003 and universal tops them both , probably less known to the public but in the lasering field it is daddy
It's really not that bad once you get into it! I may do some tutorial videos on Lightburn at some point down the line, so subscribe if you're interested in that! :)
I almost bought the glowforge, but i do agree that for $6000 plus its not worth it. My biggest problem with it is the fact that you have to be connected to the internet. No Internet = giant expensive paper weight
Seems silly, but I honestly didn't want the extra length jutting out the back of the machine to accommodate the longer tube, which is necessary with the Nova 35. Totally a personal preference though, and the 80 Watt has been more than capable of cutting everything I need it to. Hope that helps!
Great vedio!! Just found you and subscribed. I want to purchase it just for .marquetry, creating pictures with wood veneer. 1/28th inch thick veneer. So of course there is a kerf gap of probably 1,000 th if an inch that I will need to compensate for. Hopefully with the software? I could send pictures if you like. Thoughts...? Thanks just jim
Hey Jim! I've been interested in giving marquetry a try at some point too - it's a beautiful art form! You would likely handle the kerf gap by applying an "offset" to the path based on whatever you determine the kerf of the laser beam to be. I don't do much designing in Lightburn, as I'm trained in Illustrator, but I believe this type of thing is possible in both! I'd love to see what you create!
Hey there! Yes, someone else brought this to my attention a few weeks ago in another comment. From what I heard their demand increased such that they had to increase the price a bit to keep up. Still a pretty fair price, IMO. :)
@@FarbulousCreations same here- and that little "portable" diode one (name escapes me). Makes you wonder with all that advertising $ what the machine is really worth...
Drives me nuts when I see having to "subscribe" to anything to do the most rudimentary tasks, or having to send money to anyone for something that I own. "CLOUD" based anything I do not trust. I feel like I'm being watched or someone is hacking my personal stuff. What I do is nobody's business.
Yeah I'm much more a "let me pay for it once, use it forever type of guy" even with software. If it's good, I'll upgrade my license every year to support development and get the latest features. Glad Lightburn chose that model. :)
Ya...Glowforge is like the Cricut of laser engraver but I'm sure it's more user friendly. It's too limiting for such an awful price. I keep going back and forth between this and Boss Laser. More importantly also, because of the similar speed in engraving.
For sure, Glowforge may be more user friendly at the beginning, but Lightburn is a great tool to buckle down and learn because it's so cross platform! Good luck in making a decision on which one to get and happy lasering once you do. ;)
True, but I feel like a lot of people associate the cheaply made "eBay lasers" I was talking about when they hear a machine is made in China, which is why I felt the need to add some distinction.
Thanks for posting this. I am looking into laser cutters for a new home based business I'm just starting up. I also have reservations about buying hardware that is dependent on a cloud based software scenario.
That is so lame that you have to first upload your project to their server before you can run the job on your cutter. I would not buy Glowforge or any other product that operates this way. Thanks for vid.
Hey Dennis, I totally agree. I know Glowforge is super popular right now, but curious what will happen to the machines if they were to cease operations or go out of business many years from now. There are printers from the 90s still in operation today because you can effectively print to them from any computer, even a modern one. That's how I think CNC and laser cutting machines should work too.
I came to the conclusion that Glowforge is way overpriced for what they are. Much better deals out there that can be made to be very comparable to Glowforge
It does need to stay above freezing, as the laser tube uses a water chiller and pump system to cool the laser tube during use. If that were to freeze, it would likely crack the glass of the laser tube. So it doesn't need to be kept warm enough to satisfy a person, but definitely above freezing by a safe margin. Hope that helps! :)
DAMN DUDE, I was really into your presentation until you mentioned that it is Chinese. I simply cannot / will not buy Chinese as it is a security risk. Are you talking about just the tube is from China? I thought they were assembled and calibrated in Texas....
Hey Genda! Yep, it's a Chinese-made machine, with their support division located in Texas. If your concerned about security of it being a Chinese-made product, you can simply not have it connected to the internet, or manage your router settings to not allow it to talk to anything but the computer it's connected to. I know some people do this with Chinese-made smart home devices. Hope that helps! :)
@@FarbulousCreations what a shame. No it's more like we cannot buy anything that might require support that is made in China. We'll look for US or Japanese product.
Hey friends! Someone in the comments brought this to my attention, so I thought I should make a note. Thunder has apparently increased the price of the Nova 35 (80 Watt) a little bit since I ordered my machine in October 2020, due to so much demand. The price bump is pretty small and still seems pretty fair to me, but I apologize that I didn't know that it had increased when I recorded this video.
As of 6/14/2022, their website shows the Nova 35-80 priced at $9,900.
I started out with a glowforge, and it is great for someone with no laser experience. When I got it the price on the kickstarter campaign was $1900 with a $100 rebate and a big pile of material to cut. At that price it was well worth it. After a few years when I got tired of the limited power and limited size, I looked around and figured with my experience I could handle getting a more industrial machine so I got a Chinese no name brand 100 watt laser with a 38"x24" bed for about $3700, and I spent almost a year figuring out all the quirks of the machine and lightburn. I spent half that year wondering if I had made a huge mistake because everything was a struggle. I could not even access it on the network for almost 2 months. It did not help that the only tech support only spoke google translate English, and if I were to do it again I would spend a few thousand more and get one supported by a US company to preserve my mental health and time.
Totally! I heard similar stories from folks who bought the no-name brands and that was enough for me to decide on a company with North American-based support. Glad you eventually got it working!
I went through much the same research prior to purchasing my Thunder Laser Nova 24. I've owned it for about a year and I remain a very satisfied customer. The machine is stable, the software is easy to use and the support is phenomenal. Thanks for producing a great video that will help others in their decision making process.
Hey Mark! Glad to hear you don't have any complaints a year in! Yes, Brian is a treasure in regards to offering great support, both on and off the webinars.
Glad you like the video, that's my hope, that it helps others in their own decision-making process. :)
Glad I watched this. The cloud thing is an absolute show stopper for me. That reminds me of those digital photo frames where they monetize the use of the device.
Absolutely! Hopefully companies will realize that consumers don't want to pay extra fees just to use their already-expensive products! Take care Frank!
Awesome video.
After twenty years working in corrections and ten running my own landscaping company I'm looking to find a hobbyjob to supplement my income and provide a creative outlet. I won't be starting on a machine this elaborate but hearing your input has definitely shown me a path forward if my side gig takes off.
Thank you.
Hey there Carlos! Awesome, so glad the video could be helpful, even if not right away. Good luck on your laser hobby and enjoy the creativity it will foster! Cheers! :)
Honestly a great video, lots of info about thunder and also about glowforge, Personally I think if you buy something for what a glowforge is valued at then you shouldn't be depending on a cloud based service especially if they try and monetize a "fast lane service" that is just greedy. I have been researching lasers for a while now and thunder seems to be the one I will go for, Many thanks for the video, you have also got a new sub too!!
Hey Alan! Thanks for the kind words! Glad you found my assessment of Glowforge vs. Thunder fair and that it might have helped you decide on a machine! Thanks for the sub! :)
I agree with you that local control is an absolute must. Very good video, by the way.
Yup, that's the one thing I would never budge on! Thanks for the kind words! :)
I just ordered my nova 35 can't wait to get it!! great video by the way..
That's awesome Eric! Congrats! You're going to love it! Take care, and thanks for the kind words! :)
How long until it was delivered?
I took about two months before I received it.
Congrats on getting your 35 all setup. I appreciate the shout out on the video. Looking forward to what your going to make with the 35.
Hey Robert! Of course! I appreciate you, along with Brian, helping to answer all my questions in those early webinars! I had to laugh going back to the archive on Thunder's channel to see that it was all the way back in August 2020 when I first joined! Talk about a long buyer's journey! 😂
Yup - super excited to make all sorts of stuff for future videos with my laser! See you on the next webinar! 😉
Your thoughts on local control are often overlooked and mirror my own. I'm not quite ready to jump on a CO2 laser, but I am investigating them and learning my way around Lightburn with a diode laser.
Hey Erica! Glad my thoughts resonated with your own! Definitely not something to overlook. Lightburn is super easy to learn! Having used Illustrator for so long, a few of the inputs/controls are a little weird to me each time I fire it up, but I quickly get acquainted with it. Good luck! :)
great informative video, especially showing your thinking process of why you didn't go with Glowforge for your application. Love the Makersapce info too... never heard of it here in Scotland, but will look into it more for my projects.
Hey Thomas! Absolutely, glad you found the video helpful and definitely look to see if there's a maker space near you if you're not ready to buy a laser quite yet! Take care! :)
Great vid! Looking into Thunder laser and their rep sent me a bunch of vids to check out including yours. Thanks for the info!
Hey Karen! Haha, that's great - I had sent my video to Brian over at Thunder once I had posted it, but I didn't know they were sending it around to prospects! Hope you found it useful and it helped you learn about the machine a bit! :)
I just got my Nova24-60w. I love it, but it's still a lot bigger than a glowforge. It's not quite a desktop machine. Still i went through exactly the same decision process you did. Glad I'm not alone!
Hey John! That's fair - I suppose the Nova 24 is only a "desktop machine" in that it's too small to sit on the floor, lol. Glad my decision making process resonated and was similar to yours! :)
Thunder is also a Chinese machine all build in China and branded as Thunder. They did upgrade the cosmetics i.e. color, door handles, color of head, but basically there is no difference in Chinese machine on Alibaba than Thunder. The equivalent of this machine directly from the manufacturer is more than half the price. I bought one and they even branded to the name I selected. Absolute best decision I made that saved me thousands of dollars. This is not Trotec or Universal Laser system, same candy in a different wrapper. Only support is US local, which you may not ever use.
From my research, I really don't think that's the case - Thunder is a Chinese brand, yes, but there's clearly more than one manufacturer of laser machines in China, and Thunder Laser is one of the better ones. Everything I read on Reddit, UA-cam, etc. indicated that the ones you buy off eBay are a lesser quality machine that will more likely than not require significant tinkering to get it cutting precisely. The support is US, yes, but they work directly with Thunder Laser in China to make sure that any quality control issues are taken care of ASAP, which in turn, makes Thunder Laser China better and better.
@@FarbulousCreations Sure, there are very large manufacturers than thunder, I’m not saying that thunder is a bad machine, it is just same as any good manufacturer in China. You can customize your machine anyway you want, Reci tube, cw5200 water chiller, Ruida controller and power supplies etc. The cost went up for this customization but than product is far from what USA importer will sell. Your machine is good, I was just giving your viewer an option to by cheap more than half of the price of USA machines and top of the line with linear rails, high power laser tube yet still wayyyy cheaper.
If you buy without customization then there is no comparison with thunder
This is the thing Chinese companies have learnt. Open a small office in USA.. Usually California. Hey the project built shipped to them from China.. Do something cosmetic in the USA and then say made in USA.. And charge 2x the price. Just visit their office.. You'll find out
Well spoken with many valid points brought up as far as choosing a laser correct for the person, thank you
You're very welcome, Dave! Glad the discussion points were helpful!
Great video and thanks for sharing! Nova 35-100 on its way and am super excited. I've been watching the webinars for info as well.
Hey Scott! The webinars are great, aren't they? Excited for you to get your Nova 35-100!
Holy smokes man. For that price difference between the top end glowforge and what you have it's a no brainer. If you have the space for something like that. Great walkthrough, thank you.
Hey David! Glad you agree with my findings and enjoyed the video! Hope it was helpful! Thanks for watching! :)
I appreciate the video. Thank you for the Maker Space suggestion.
Absolutely, you're welcome! Hope you find a maker space near you! :)
What an excellent video! Right on target. Really helped me make my decision.
Hey Ray! So glad to help! Have fun with your new laser! ;)
I'm looking into a laser for a home side business. I don't won't to go all in money wise but nervous about buying something like an OMTech. But this Thunder laser wiring is very impressive.
Yeah they're great machines! Much more for your money than a Glowforge; I don't have any experience with OMTech though. Good luck in your decision!
This is a great video I’ve been really looking in to laser machine for long term crafting with volume. Our list requirements are super similar and I have some questions. Thank you for such great content.
Hey Keisha, thanks for the comments, I'm glad you found the video helpful! A lot of my projects are more craft-focused too so you're in good company around here! :) I'd be glad to answer some more questions in another video if there's enough interest in that so feel free to ask away! Otherwise, Thunder Laser's weekly webinar is super helpful for asking questions and Brian is great at answering questions from folks looking to buy. Check out the Thunder Laser USA page on Facebook for more info on that! Hope that helps! :)
Thank you for the no BS straight info! so rad!!
You're very welcome, Christian! That's exactly what I wanted the video to be, so I'm glad you found it useful! :)
Great video! I am looking at a Thunder Laser also. You point about local control is well taken. One other thing you may consider is security. While companies may have the best intentions, they might have an unscrupulous employee that could pirate all of your designs and sell them or worse yet, take them and become your competitor. There is enough legitimate competition, no sense opening yourself up to a new one. Just my 2 cents.
Wow, that’s a really good point too that I hadn’t considered! While unlikely, yeah, you’re totally trusting them to protect your designs. Keeping all your files local is the only 100% sure fire way to protect them!
Yes, I would love to see some of your laser creations.
Happy to have you watching! :) I've been a bit busy the last few months with non-laser projects around the house, but here's a playlist of my past laser creations using the laser at my local maker space!
ua-cam.com/play/PLu94TEIT_JCyr-OUkC1Qiy5Ty3mFoSVX5.html
Thank you for getting some honest info on slowforge out there! Pricing is absolutely not worth it.
Haha, fun nickname for them! ;) Glad you enjoyed the video!
Ron time to post a video of you using the thunder? We are thinking of getting a thunder laser as well largely due to this video, so thanks. Good video
Hey Robert! Glad you liked the video! Yep, got a bunch of projects in the pipe, but have also been super busy with some other home projects for the past month and a half so I haven't gotten to play with it as much as I'd have liked! Soon! :)
Early on I bought a Glowforge pro (as an aside I later bought an M3D printer that 4 years on has not made the first thing) At first there were many problems I eventually found that I was causing by using magnets that interfered with the works. However, because most of the software is in the cloud, the machine is constantly improving how it works. If there is anything that is not an improvement they will hear about in minutes and so are both careful and quickly fix any software mistakes. There is a downside to having a piece of technology that you don't have to know how to fix and that is that you cannot fix it, and it needs to be sent to the factory for the slightest repair. A major refit or a frayed wire is the same, but if you cannot figure out how to fix it the result is worse as it is like my 3D printer , just decoration.
The Glowforge cannot engrave a Yeti cup and there is a huge demand for engraving a Yeti or similar cup. There are indeed many other lasers that will do that but cannot cut even 1/8" wood . I have cut 1/2" walnut and sculpted that walnut with a 3/8" deep relief carving at 1355 lines per inch, that is very smooth and highly detailed. I haven't tried other lasers so I don't know how that compares but that was a main interest when I purchased the Glowforge. The water cooling system in the pro is much less hassle that all the extra necessary equipment that takes much extra space and are a point of disaster if they fail. I did not know of that issue, but glad I do not have it.
The biggest thing I like about the pro is the unlimited bed size as the work can slide any distance that will fit in the room so cutting out a 3 foot long sign is not an issue. I mostly buy 4'x8' sheets of 1/4"ply and haven't it cut into 5 _ 19"x 48" pieces and just use what I need. There are many other advantages but this one alone is well worth the extra money.
Also of note all wattage numbers are not equivalent. Running close to maximum eats the laser's life considerably and I know the Glowforge has considerable (too much?) safety systems to keep you from straining the laser tube. They are claimed to last 2 years but many have been driven hard for over four years and still going.
Thanks for the insight! I have no doubt they're careful about releasing updates and keeping the software working great - my concerns are largely what I mentioned in the video, 1) you shouldn't need to pay for a "fast lane" to send jobs to your laser; and 2) what happens if they go out of business some day or "end of life" older models when they release new, better machines? Those are questions no one can answer definitively, but all we need to do is look at examples of other companies that have done similar things and it's not great for the owner of the equipment.
@@FarbulousCreations The "fast lane" Is incredibly minor. They set up a new system a while back with Google machines that made a much bigger effect, but Google has a "fast lane" on their machines that they charge extra for. That is what part of the premium services are paying for. The entire benefit is the calculations before sending to the machine that is minor at worst and almost indistinguishable. I was at one time on all three "lanes" and that one is the least impressive improvement. What makes the greatest value out of many is thousands of dollars in designs that are free with the premium subscription.
As for going out of business, that was a concern as they were late in delivering the first machines having run into unforeseen problems at the last minute (the filter for example needed a total redesign).
However, as they are the highest volume of machines in that segment, and have a good market that would sustain them if they never sold another machine (not likely) I think that concern has shrunk past microscopic.
Great informative video. I'm going with Thunder Laser, but wasn't sure whether to go up to a higher wattage. Why did you select 80W?
Hey Mark! Sorry for my delayed response! I went with 80 because I didn't really see myself really needing 100W, as I work on mostly smaller-scale projects. I also didn't want to take up space behind/to the side of my machine with the extra area that juts out of the 100W version of the Nova 35. If you get a larger Thunder model than the 35 the 100W tube fits entirely within the machine.
Great advice!!We are considering purchasing a Nova 35 as well. What accessories did you purchase with your machine?
Hey there, great to hear! I love my Nova 35. I didn't purchase any accessories at the time, but I now have the 4 inch lens, the HR lens and the Thunder Cam - I did videos on those semi-recently if you want to check those out! Cheers!
Thank you for the information. 😊
My pleasure 😊 Hope you found it helpful!
Excellent discussion . . .
Hey Don, glad you liked the discussion; hope it was helpful!
Makes complete sense to me!
Great! I'm glad! 😊
For newbie’s does it come with a pamphlet or something with recommendations on speed, power, etc., for different items such as wood versus glass or do you have to figure it out on your own?
Hey Corey! Nope, they have a material library for each laser wattage they sell, such as the one for my machine found here (80 Watt): support.thunderlaserusa.com/portal/en/kb/articles/80-watt-materials-libraries
It's a great starting point, but you'll generally want to still do some tests to see how your exact material density and thickness and whatnot varies from the samples they might have used. :) Good luck!
Thank you for this informative video! You have just earned another sub!
Awesome, thank you for the kind words Mickey! See you in the next one! :)
Great video!
Thanks Brian! Also thanks for answering my barrage of questions in the weekly webinars over the weeks and months leading up to me pulling the trigger on a machine!
Thanks for the Video, I liked it.
Glad you liked it, Mike! Cheers!
Can I ask where you have your laser at? I am terrified to move mine into my basement, but my garage gets pretty chilly.
Hey Stephanie! I have my laser in my garage, but I've also built out my garage to be all-season - insulation in the walls and attic, wall coverings, and of course (since I'm in the frigid north that is Minnesota) a ductless mini-split for heat in the winter and A/C in the summer. I've heard of people keeping theirs in the basement, though, and as long as you've got good ventilation, that shouldn't be an issue! Hope that helps! :)
You didn't mention any other uses besides etching the bowls, so I wonder if you could have just gotten a small Diode laser to do the bottom of the bowls. They etch wood just fine and are lightweight and cheap enough you could get several of them so you could do multiple things at the same time. I have a glowforge which I got for $2k on the kickstarter. I got it because I had no experience with lasers and it seemed simple and unthreatening. It has worked out pretty well, although I wish that the software was as full featured as lightburn. I would say it is a good laser to start if you are not very technical, although after a couple of years I am wishing for more power, real air assist and a bigger bed.
Hey Michael! A small diode laser could potentially work for the bottom of bowls, but I knew I'd eventually have projects that I wanted to do that are large, bulky and otherwise unfit for a diode laser too, so I definitely will put the big cut bed and depth to use over the years!
Agreed, the Glowforge is a decent starter laser, but I still think the pro model, especially, is very over priced for what you get. People new to laser cutting are better off experimenting at a maker space, university, or tool library if they have one nearby. Because you're right, even if it's a good starter laser, folks who really get into it are going to outgrow it pretty quickly. :)
Thanks for the video, great Information. I am hoping to purchase a Nova 24 for school in the near future. I see you are in Minnesota as am I, is there any opportunity to be able to see the laser in person or do you know of other in the area that have a Thunder Laser?
Hey Mark, I'm so, so sorry I never got back to you! If you're still interested, I believe Twin Cities Maker near downtown Minneapolis has a Thunder Nova now. That's where I used to attend before I bought my own and I've heard rumblings that they replaced their aging Full Spectrum machine.
Such a fantastic video! We are about to outgrow our Glowforge and have been looking into other options! I was thrilled to open UA-cam and see your video suggested on my home page. Here is my question. After a few months of use, what is the worst thing you have found with your Thunder?
Thanks for the kind words on the video, Jay! As for "what's the worst thing I've found so far" - honestly, not much that I can think of! The only thing that comes to mind is a few times where I've tried doing a super high speed (300-500mm/s) vector/cut pass (for a kiss cut), the line doesn't register in some places. I honestly think it's because the laser's traveling too fast for the low power I was cutting at to even register. I meant to ask about it on the weekly sales/tech webinar but I've been busy lately and haven't had the chance.
My guess is that if I turned the power up a bit, that wouldn't be an issue. Never thought I'd have a problem with it being "too fast." 😂
@@FarbulousCreations thank you for your reply! I appreciate that!
Does it come ready to ready to go? I was looking into the omtech lasers but you have to adjust the mirrors, level the bed.
Hey Michael! It comes ready to go with the exception of cleaning the mirrors - in case dust or salty sea air settles on them during transport across the ocean, despite being in a shipping crate and many layers of plastic, they recommend cleaning the mirrors before first use. My mirrors looked perfect and flawless when I unpacked the machine, but I took the advice to clean them before use anyway. But no adjustment to the alignment of the mirrors or leveling of the bed was necessary! Hope that helps!
Cost, size, and wattage were all concerns for me with the Glowforge, but the cloud based software was a serious deal breaker for me. Needing to always be connected to the internet is ridiculous but I have absolutely no interest in anyone having access to my entire file folder of projects or my history of printing. No thanks. They can keep it.
Absolutely agree on the cloud connectivity. Local or bust! ;)
Fantastic video so glad I found this. I am a noob and great thoughts.
Glad to help Nick! Cheers!
Hi! That was such a great and informative video! Thanks so much for posting! I currently use a Boss Laser at my college and have been shopping for my own. One question: does the Thunder have a camera for alignment? Not a deal breaker, I'm just wondering...
Hi Harmony! Glad the video was informative and that you found it useful! Great question! Thunder Laser does sell a camera add-on, but it doesn't have one built in. I'll likely get one in-time, so if I do, I'll do a review/overview video of that! :) Thanks for watching!
both brand laser is also nice i think
I have 2 Glowforge Plus and I just ordered a Nove35. One of my GF has never been used. Turned on for the set up only. It's for sale if anyone wants it.
Enjoy your Nova 35!
Thank you for your VERY thorough review of the Thunder Laser. I was literally just made aware of this company last night.... Awesome machine. I need to ask if you also looked into AP Lazer? If so, what were thoughts?
Hey Mike! Glad my review helped! I've not looked into AP Lazer unfortunately, so I can't help there. Until I wanna dabble with Fiber lasers at some point in the future (which I inevitably will), the Thunder one satisfies my needs! 😉 Thanks for watching!
@@FarbulousCreations ... I ended up getting a 51/100 Nova!!! It will arrive early December. Thank you for the insight and all of your testing vids!! They help me tremendously!
HI, i'm looking at starting my own business but it will only be small and don't have the room for one that big, do you still recommend the smaller Nova 24 over any other machines? I have no idea where to start as I've never done anything like this
Hi Lara, I've never used the Nova 24 personally, but based on every other factor - local control software, z-depth (not as deep as the 35, obviously, but deeper than a Glowforge), speed, etc, I think the Nova 24 would be a great option. Check out the video I have linked in the description - it's by another Thunder user who has a 24 inch model and loves it! Good luck with your small business! :)
Thanks for the valuable information looks like you have had the nova 35 for a while now how have you liked it so far ? Have you had any issue or have you had to modify it in any way for it to function properly? Also this I’m sure no one has asked this question yet but does it consume a lot of power ? Do you notice a substantial increase on your power bill?
Hey Jack! I've loved it so far! It's never failed to do anything I've wanted to do with it, and I haven't had to modify it in any way...though I have made a few jigs for myself for repeatable projects! I'm also looking into getting a camera for it soon and will definitely do a video when I install that.
As for power, to be honest, I'm not running it enough to have any noticeable impact on our power bill - I'm not running it for hours on end, each and every day, as this is mostly a side hobby for me. Down the line, I'd love to start a small engraving business where I'm operating it for hours and hours a day, and then it might have a small impact, but it still doesn't strike me as overly power-hungry - the lights in the shop have never flickered when I turn it on, and I'm running the laser, fan and air assist all on the same 20 amp circuit without it ever tripping.
some are finding out that cloud based systems, even when the companies are bought out, are not supported by the buyer (a case of eliminating the competition outright) I will never buy anything I don't have 100% ownership of.
Yep, same here! We installed security cameras last summer and 100% avoided cloud-based subscription camera companies. Looking to get a video doorbell soon but will be avoiding Ring because of that. Such a shame.
FYI, good ol' Betsy is very likely getting a new Thunder-friend this summer...
So I hear! Aaron from the maker space reached out to me to chat about my experience with Thunder so far as it's on their short list for a new maker space machine! I still need to connect with him, but that's super exciting!
I dont see it on their website nor did you talk about it in the video but what materials can the Thunder cut?
Hey that's a great question! In general, all CO2 laser can cut the same materials, but I think that'd be a great video topic for me to cover in an upcoming video. Thanks for the idea, and stay tuned! :)
I am planning on purchasing a nova 35 as well but I do have a question. How long did it took for your machine to arrive after purchasing? Did you use and import broker and then a company to ship it to your place? How much more money did that ended adding to the overall price of the laser. Thank you
Hey Ivan! Good question! I ordered around mid-October of 2020 and it got delivered December 20th, a few months later. I didn't have to deal with an import broker or shipping company at all, as I live in the US and Thunder Laser has a US presence. If you live outside the US, that may be different. But because I live in the US, the price on the website included shipping and everything - I didn't have to pay anything extra for all that. Hope that helps! :)
@@FarbulousCreations the one you got from Thunderlaser USA is the same that Thunder laser China sells?
HI ,,, About camera you have to buy from Thunderlaser or can use any ?
You don't have to buy from Thunder, but I don't think every camera is compatible. It needs to be a certain field of view in order to capture the entire laser bed when the lid is up. Hope that helps!
Hey Hi, I am from Down Under (Australia) and a complete novice in laser printers. However, my research has got me this far. I am down to two, but leaning heavily towards the Thunder. Thanks for your insights, they are extremely helpful. One question though, is about camera's. Some of the printers and UA-cam's I have watched seem to make a deal of camera's or no camera. Some seem to be able to 'add on'. My question, please, if you do not mind, is does the Thunder have a camera? Should it have a 'add on' camera? lol and quite frankly do I need a camera. Please I would very much appreciate an experienced response. Thank you again. Donna
Hi Donna! No problem at all! The Thunder lasers don't come with a camera built in, but Thunder sells a camera add-on kit (and you can also get them from a few other places). As for whether you "need" a camera or not kind of depends on your use-cases. If you're regularly going to be engraving odd items like guitars, laptops, phone cases or other "customer-provided" items, you probably want a camera, so you don't have to fuss with measurements. But if you're only cutting /etching your own stock materials and they're a predictable size/shape and you're not afraid to do a few measurements once in a while, you can get by without a camera. I don't have one on mine yet, but I'm not currently doing any customer-provided etchings - if I were to do that, I'd get a camera in a heartbeat. I still might get a camera as a nice-to-have. Hope that helps! :)
@@FarbulousCreations Hey Hi, wow, thank you, your helpfulness is a blessing. I really appreciate your response and the advise. Again straightforward and in easy to understand (for us beginners) information. I have subscribed and look forward to further mentoring via your UA-cams. Thank you so much :-)
I'm brand new to laser cutting and etching, but looking to get into the business side of things. I would agree, a better quality laser would be much better suited for me, like the Thunder 24. I'm super close to placing my order with them for that model. But, I'm wondering - as a complete novice, would learning how to operate the machine as well as using Lightburn as a software be pretty difficult? You started out with experience so it wasn't as hard for you to buy your first machine at this level of difficulty. Could you shed some light on how steep of a learning curve I'd be in for? Again, TOTAL novice!
Hey Christine, sorry for the late reply! Was on vacation for a few weeks there! It's honestly a bit hard to speak to how hard it would be as a total novice nowadays, what with the "curse of knowledge" - i.e. forgetting what it was like for me before I know what I know now. That said, I do remember it coming to me fairly quickly, through lots of trial and error. Like I mentioned in the video, if you have any way to play with a laser prior to buying your own, such as at a local maker space or such, I HIGHLY recommend doing that first, before jumping in and buying your own machine. That way you'll know a lot more what to expect Hope that helps! Good luck, and take care!
I'm ditching my Glowforge and looking at this one. Huge buyers remorse from the Glowforge. The lid came unglued after a year and a half and the repair is $1600!
Dang, I hadn't heard of quality issues with Glowforge - my biggest gripe was the high price for limited features. Good luck deciding on a replacement machine! Thunder has gone up in price over the 2 years since I made this video but still seems pretty reasonable to me. Cheers!
What does the laser hook up too. Laptop or desktop? usb cord to laptop?
Hey Richard! You can use either USB or Ethernet over a local IP address. I do the latter; I found the IP of my laser in my router, and use that IP address in the Lightburn setup steps. Hope that helps!
In the market for a laser in this category. Already own a glowforge which is awesome... just need a larger cutting capacity and faster laser. Would be very interested in a video of why Thunder over other lasers in its category.
Hey there, thanks for the comment and suggestion! Unfortunately that would be kind of a hard video for me to make from an "experience" stand point, since I've never used a Trotec, Epilog, Boss, etc. I could see what data I could gather to make an "on paper" comparison though. 🤔
@@FarbulousCreations Oh, i was thinking more along the lines of why you chose thunder over Boss, aeon, etc. Essentially the other Chinese lasers that have a US presence... Trotec/Epilog are the ideal choice if you can afford them but at this point I cannot.
Do you have the glowforger Pro that allows you to use the pass through?
@@michelle9828 no, just the basic. Not interested in the pass though capabilities but rather a larger bed.
Ok I have officially watched all your videos. Found you because I was searching info on lasers and got sucked into watching all the rest. Look Fwd to the next video and would love to see you do videos on your laser (I am saving for the Nova-24).
Hey again Richard! That's great, I'm glad you like my videos. :) And great to heard your saving for your own Nova 24 laser! They're definitely a fun powerhorse to get to play and be creative with!
Do you still stand behind your decision? We watched your video, still ended up buying the glowforge, and after 2 weeks of ownership it bricked. This led us to finding out about a class action in progress for 3-5k people who have experienced the same issue with no support resolution without an average $1500 repair charge. In any case we are now looking for alternatives that will be more reliable long term
Hey David! I'm so sorry to hear about your troubles! Yes, I've had my Thunder for coming on two years now and haven't had any issues with it! To be completely transparent, I don't use mine every day for a business or anything, so mine definitely has "less miles" on it than some people who buy the machines, but from everything I can tell in Thunder user groups on Facebook and the like, everyone is pretty darn pleased with their Thunder machines. Hope that helps! Good luck!
we will see how this works in the future as its put through its workloads.
Yup! Super excited to put it through it's paces! :)
Prices have went way up since this video was made. Glowforge is now $3995 basic to $6995 pro.
Oof, inflation is striking everywhere! 😔
You mentioned $8700 all in tax , shipping.
I looked today and there price listed before tax and shipping no extras $9100.
Did you use a promo code or did they discount it for you?
I'm looking to buy but your price sounds way better lol.
Thanks
Hey there! Thanks for the comment - someone else called this out recently and I made a pinned comment about it, but it seems as though they've raised their price a bit to better keep up with demand as they get more popular, but I still think $9100 is a pretty good price. Hope that helps!
I wasn’t going to ask you why you didn’t go with Glowforge. I have read their reviews. From the reviews I have read I would say the Glowforge has an average of maybe 2 to 2.5 out of 5 stars overall. You just mentioned the price of your laser. Could you please tell me where you purchased from? Also you mentioned your lasers wattage. Is that true? I mean the actual watts you laser is putting out to the workpiece? Thank you friend!!
Hey Rob! Sorry for my late reply! I purchased it straight from Thunder Laser USA by contacting their sales team on their website. For what it's worth, it does look like the price increased a bit since I bought my machine, but it's still a fair price in my opinion.
Yes, the machine is 80W, so when the software instructs it to output at 100% power, it should be outputting a full 80W to the workpiece. Hope that helps! Thanks for stopping by!
@@FarbulousCreations Thank you so much friend!!..
loved the video, thank you.. and subscribed to your channel. Im new to lasers and in the uk. Considered glowforge for months and months, but glad I didnt go ahead for many reasons. My personal opinion, is good base machine, but the total lack of support makes it a no no for me. They seem to haver spent all their money on fantastic marketing and making the machine look decent - but then nothing left to spend on support... just doesn't sit right with me.
Anyhow, I haven't gone with Thunder, but do love the sound of them. Im a subscriber to Robert at computer creations, and he has been so amazingly helpful with my many questions about lightburn - great guy, and helps so much. My laser will be here the end of this month and cant wait to play :-) very much look forward to seeing more from your channel..take care.... Terry
Hey Terry! Sorry for my late reply! I hope you enjoy your new laser when it gets there! Thanks for stopping by and, for sure, stay tuned for more laser content from me! :)
Glowforge support is actually very responsive in my experience. Between their tech team and the huge community forums, there haven't been any problems I couldn't solve.
Thanks for posting, I have a GF basic and the software can be a bit glitchy! I am thinking about getting a backup laser, how is the software and precision on this I use it on Bibles/leather and it has to be exact,
Hey there! It's been flawless and precise for me thus far! It uses Lightburn, which is a well-maintained laser control software. Good luck!
Well, I was starting to get interested so I went to their website. This machine's cost has now risen to $9900! I get it that costs to build and deliver may have gone up since this video posted. However, I'd be willing to guess most of our wages and incomes haven't increased this much (12%) in this time frame. I guess I could be the only person who doesn't make more money than before Covid, but I doubt it. Also, I wonder if the market value for the products produced by these machines has risen this much? Again, I doubt it. But, I'm also continually amazed at what people are willing to spend on these machines and the products they make, so there is that! Am I out of touch that bad? I am a little taken aback that you spent at least $8700 on equipment you use infrequently, and not to produce income.
Hey Lynn! Yes, it's unfortunate that the prices have risen that much since I posted this video, but I think it's largely related to supply chains still being a mess from covid. Hopefully inflation calms down soon and supply chain issues resolve themselves. I've been noticing it the most with small things like eggs and potatoes, currently priced higher than I've ever seen in my adult life (each about $1-2 more than they were a year ago).
I apologize if my comment about buying the machine despite not currently having a business use-case came off as a little privileged. For what it's worth, I do intend to put it to business use soon, but with my day job, all of those goals are kind of back-burnered, requiring me to move super slowly into it all. The income-earning projects I want to do with my laser also requires me to have the rest of my shop built out (table saw, dust collection, work surfaces, etc.), otherwise I'll quickly find myself in over my head and not be able to keep up with business-projects. So it's kind of a game of getting all my chess pieces where I need them before making my move.
In the meantime, the laser brings me joy (my only expensive hobby) and allows me to make gifts for family and friends and allows me to make laser-focused videos for my channel without needing to make the trek to my local maker space. Hope that provides some additional context. 😊 Thanks for watching!
@@FarbulousCreations Thanks for the reply. To me you did not project "privilege" in any of your remarks. Really, I'm honestly taken aback by so many folks on UA-cam that spend this kind of money and it is really a hobby to them. To me, the $500 units are hobby units. I thought I was "privileged" too when I built my hobby CNC and over 2 years ended up with about $3K invested. And it is comparable to having a horse in that it "eats" quite a bit if you don't be careful! You can just spend and spend making it better and more capable. But there is always something I want to do that it can't do. This is why some folks wind up with several different machines I guess (all in the same category I mean). Thanks again and I wish you the best with your endeavors. I'll be watching for updates.
Can you tell me what kind of air exhaust fan comes with the Thunder Laser? Is it the small round inline or the large noisy thing that sets on the floor? thanks
Hey Roger! Very timely question! I just uploaded a new video last week that talks about installing a roof ventilation system. I touch on it briefly in that video, but yes, the Thunder Laser comes with the noisier-style exhaust fan. That type of fan is fine if you can mount it somewhere further away from where you'll be working, such as an attic that you have access to for cleaning it occasionally, but if you have an enclosed attic or it can only be in the same room as you, they're not the best. I opted to buy a separate inline fan from AC Infinity that works great for the "being in the same room" factor. Here's that video if you want to check it out:
ua-cam.com/video/vmPFehZgv6o/v-deo.html
@@FarbulousCreations Thank you for your response and great videos. Now I know what kind of fan to get when I order my Thunder Laser.
Hi nice video will be able to use this with gun etching?
Hey Albert! If you are talking about the wooden handle of a gun, yes that shouldn't be a problem at all, I'd just advise getting a camera system for your laser to make sure that the placement of the artwork is exactly where you need it to be - there probably aren't any do-overs with something like that, right? :)
I need a mentor. I'm having to start over in a new career because I was in an accident that has left me....not completely disabled but more....diminished...in my physical abilities. It's a situation where its not that I can't move a box off a pallet....I can't move ALL the boxes off a palette before my back goes into shut down mode. So I'm trying to find a way to go back into business working for myself to earn a living. Is there any guidance you can give me? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Hey there, so sorry to hear about your diminished physical abilities. 😔 In terms of "mentorship" it's funny you mention that; I've been thinking about starting to live stream from the shop while working with the laser (in addition to my regular, voice-over'd videos) to let people ask questions and whatnot. If there are any particular topics you know you'd like answered right off the bat, feel free to reply with them or shoot me a DM on Instagram or such. I'd love to make it a regular thing and hopefully it can be the type of mentorship you might be looking for. 😊 I plan to do the first one within the next few weeks, so stay tuned!
I recommend the latest Boss
I've heard good things about Boss lasers too, but have never used one personally. :)
Is this only compatible with windows computer? I own a MacBook but don’t see that it’s compatible?
Hey Michelle! The laser doesn't really care what computer you have, as far as I know, it's the laser control software that needs to be compatible. In this case, the Lightburn software I discuss in the video is compatible with both PC and Mac!
I have a MacBook Pro myself and I simply connected to the laser via an ethernet connection to my router, then input the laser's IP address into Lightburn, and boom, works like a charm!
I believe you can do it without the router, but then you need to mess with network settings on your computer to change the networking mode - the router does this for you automatically. And for what it's worth, the router doesn't need to be connected to the internet, so you can use an old unused router like I am to basically act as an "adapter." Hope that helps!
@@FarbulousCreations Ok thank you, great information!
Thanks!
Hey Kayla, I've been traveling the past few weeks so I didn't see this until now, but I'm glad the video was useful to you and thanks for the tip! Super motivating to know this type of content is useful! 🥰
I'm very interested in this machine I've researched and I could only find it for over 9,000. If you don't mind can you share with me the way you purchased for less? Greatly appreciated thank you. Great video
Hi Daisy! Glad you liked the video! So I just checked, and you're right - looks like the price for the Nova 35 (80 watt) is $9100 now. I bought mine in October 2020 (though it didn't get delivered until December), and when I placed my order it was $8700.
Brian, the Thunder Laser rep who hosts their weekly webinar did mention the price may go up a little bit at some point since they had such a big demand for the machines at the time - hence the 2 month lead time - so I guess that's happened between then and now.
Thanks for pointing this out - I'll make a pinned comment to let others know too. :)
epilog/trotec/ . dont forget the mighty universal laser systems ! ULS
Yup, another good brand, but from my experience, lesser known than the big E and big T, haha.
@@FarbulousCreations no way bro , I been lasering since 2003 and universal tops them both , probably less known to the public but in the lasering field it is daddy
Im scared of lightburn... i need something easy to learn and use
It's really not that bad once you get into it! I may do some tutorial videos on Lightburn at some point down the line, so subscribe if you're interested in that! :)
I almost bought the glowforge, but i do agree that for $6000 plus its not worth it. My biggest problem with it is the fact that you have to be connected to the internet. No Internet = giant expensive paper weight
Absolutely! Local control is a must!
Wait with thunder laser you don't need wifi but with glow you do?
Why 80 over 100 watts?
Seems silly, but I honestly didn't want the extra length jutting out the back of the machine to accommodate the longer tube, which is necessary with the Nova 35. Totally a personal preference though, and the 80 Watt has been more than capable of cutting everything I need it to. Hope that helps!
Great vedio!! Just found you and subscribed.
I want to purchase it just for .marquetry, creating pictures with wood veneer. 1/28th inch thick veneer. So of course there is a kerf gap of probably 1,000 th if an inch that I will need to compensate for. Hopefully with the software?
I could send pictures if you like.
Thoughts...?
Thanks
just jim
Hey Jim! I've been interested in giving marquetry a try at some point too - it's a beautiful art form! You would likely handle the kerf gap by applying an "offset" to the path based on whatever you determine the kerf of the laser beam to be. I don't do much designing in Lightburn, as I'm trained in Illustrator, but I believe this type of thing is possible in both! I'd love to see what you create!
the price has increased - basic 35 is now $9100.
Hey there! Yes, someone else brought this to my attention a few weeks ago in another comment. From what I heard their demand increased such that they had to increase the price a bit to keep up. Still a pretty fair price, IMO. :)
@@FarbulousCreations maybe because of your review :)? How to compare the thunder alser to the Aeon Mira same size?
Does it bother you that the mid-video advertisement I got was for a glowforge?
Haha, not at all - they're like the only advertisement I get on videos I watch about laser cutting too. 😂 Their marketing budget must be insane.
@@FarbulousCreations same here- and that little "portable" diode one (name escapes me). Makes you wonder with all that advertising $ what the machine is really worth...
Drives me nuts when I see having to "subscribe" to anything to do the most rudimentary tasks, or having to send money to anyone for something that I own. "CLOUD" based anything I do not trust. I feel like I'm being watched or someone is hacking my personal stuff. What I do is nobody's business.
Yeah I'm much more a "let me pay for it once, use it forever type of guy" even with software. If it's good, I'll upgrade my license every year to support development and get the latest features. Glad Lightburn chose that model. :)
Ya...Glowforge is like the Cricut of laser engraver but I'm sure it's more user friendly. It's too limiting for such an awful price. I keep going back and forth between this and Boss Laser. More importantly also, because of the similar speed in engraving.
For sure, Glowforge may be more user friendly at the beginning, but Lightburn is a great tool to buckle down and learn because it's so cross platform! Good luck in making a decision on which one to get and happy lasering once you do. ;)
awesome
Thanks! :)
You can not say that about Chinese laser cutters, most machines are made in China and just rebranded for the home market.
True, but I feel like a lot of people associate the cheaply made "eBay lasers" I was talking about when they hear a machine is made in China, which is why I felt the need to add some distinction.
Thanks for posting this. I am looking into laser cutters for a new home based business I'm just starting up. I also have reservations about buying hardware that is dependent on a cloud based software scenario.
Hey Wayne! Glad you found the video helpful! Good luck with your home-based business! Have fun with it too! :)
You should get more rest "your hat is on backwards"
Haha, I could always use a little more sleep. ;)
That is so lame that you have to first upload your project to their server before you can run the job on your cutter. I would not buy Glowforge or any other product that operates this way. Thanks for vid.
Hey Dennis, I totally agree. I know Glowforge is super popular right now, but curious what will happen to the machines if they were to cease operations or go out of business many years from now. There are printers from the 90s still in operation today because you can effectively print to them from any computer, even a modern one. That's how I think CNC and laser cutting machines should work too.
Wow! Glow forge cloud is lame! I own a Gravograph and it doesn’t use cloud which is nice.
Any cloud reliance is mega-lame! Glad Gravograph doesn't use one either!
I came to the conclusion that Glowforge is way overpriced for what they are. Much better deals out there that can be made to be very comparable to Glowforge
Exactly! Good call.
The glowforge model differences are a joke for the cost
Yeah it's definitely not worth it. They should offer way more for that jump in price.
good！
Thanks!
how in the world did you get this for 8k.... lol. That's their Nova 24 price right now.... Tell us your secret... :D
Well it was $8700, so closer to $9K... but my not-so-secret secret otherwise is that I bought it 3 years ago! 🙈
@@FarbulousCreations You end up financing it? Or?
does it have to be in a climate controlled environment
It does need to stay above freezing, as the laser tube uses a water chiller and pump system to cool the laser tube during use. If that were to freeze, it would likely crack the glass of the laser tube. So it doesn't need to be kept warm enough to satisfy a person, but definitely above freezing by a safe margin. Hope that helps! :)
DAMN DUDE, I was really into your presentation until you mentioned that it is Chinese. I simply cannot / will not buy Chinese as it is a security risk. Are you talking about just the tube is from China? I thought they were assembled and calibrated in Texas....
Hey Genda! Yep, it's a Chinese-made machine, with their support division located in Texas. If your concerned about security of it being a Chinese-made product, you can simply not have it connected to the internet, or manage your router settings to not allow it to talk to anything but the computer it's connected to. I know some people do this with Chinese-made smart home devices. Hope that helps! :)
@@FarbulousCreations what a shame. No it's more like we cannot buy anything that might require support that is made in China. We'll look for US or Japanese product.
Put all your designs on the cloud...... those people must be ****ing insane...... Upload it to the CLOWN it'll be safe there.......
Haha, yeah I'll keep my designs on my own machine thankyouverymuch!