Thank you for that honest and well done review. I'm a software developer by trade and having it only web based doesn't bode well with me. Servers and internet always going down. That's why I'm still employed! :) Plus the noise it generates. I'd have to wear ear plugs.
I got mine 2 years ago and it is the best tool I have ever owned. I am constantly finding new stuff it can do. It was worth every penny. Just the ease of use alone is worth the price. You could train a monkey to use it. That being said, there are a few downsides: The proofgrade materials are no bargain. Draftboard for $4 each? You can get nice ⅛" baltic birch plywood for that price. Amazon has much better deals. You are right about the noise, it sounds like a small jet engine. I will have to try the blanket trick. One downside is cleaning the inside. Everything is in one compartment which means that the burnt resins from the wood get on everything, and while it is pretty easy to clean the lens of the camera, cutting lens and the laser mirrors there is lots of stuff inside that is impossible to get to without taking it apart. The good news is the lenses and mirrors are the most necessary to clean. I use packing tape to cover things like the door on the front so when it gets lots of buildup I just peel the tape off. As far as using a flash drive to move files, since it does all the processing in the cloud it seems unlikely that will be possible, although once a cut has started it does not need a connection.
Forza Golf usuallly for cylinders you need an additional mechanism that turns the cylinder as the laser moves left to right across it. Have not seen that for glowforge but instead for much more expensive professional lasers
The ink tank system appears to be much better than the cartridge system ua-cam.com/users/postUgkxciSwynMJ7PnUvvx11rewiu-yFBkZTl53 and a lot cheaper to run. The machine was easy to set up. A small point but I thought they'd be a USB cable included to help with the set up but there was none. I've been using it now for a few weeks and it seems like a good product and superior to my previous printers which were all troublesome HP machines.
Thanks for review. I will be looking for something else. I do not like being dependent on the Internet, the noise, nor the price tag. Expecting more for my money.
Thank you for showing us product reality. Thankfully, Glowforge and similar laser engravers/cutters, are a worthwhile investment. And more important, they're fun to use!
This was SO HELPFUL! Thank you for your authenticity. I really like the concept of Glowforge and have been watching a lot of their tutorial videos and livestreams...so I may still go for it or wait a little longer with the hopes that they work on some improvements!
@@MartinsonManufacturing Thanks for even asking! After perusing features of other laser printers (& even one that I SWEAR must be a knock-off of glowforge), these are a few improvements that come to mind: 1. A functional exhaust connector 2. Software that run OFFline (this is a make or break for me). 3. Air purifier actually included with the system since it's a necessary component for the fumes no matter what for the same price. 4. It'd be wonderful to see the weight of it be light enough for one person to maneuver w/o breaking the back. ;-)
Please don't tape the gap between the lid and front door. It negates the ability for a negative pressure atmosphere inside the bay. In order for it to pull air out of the GF, there has to be a way for air to come in, or it will create a vacuum and nothing can be sucked out.
wow thanks for posting this. I don't remember seeing anything on the website saying that the machine (and therefore your means of production) is completely dependant on if the internet of things is working that day. Going to have to give this a lot more thought.
It would appear to me that if everything goes through Glowforge via the internet, they have access to what files you are burning. BOOM! Everything just became Glowforge property! Thank you for the review.
Is it you need the internet and actually have to connect to their server, or is it you need a wifi network to wirelessly connect to it from your device?
It needs to connect to their servers. This was a turn off to me at first but a year and a half in and never had a single connection issue. Still would love the USB option, but even if I did I'd still run it via internet 99% of the time.
Good video and a fair review. I've been in this business (more production machines as opposed to a hobby model) for many years. Looks slick. I visited their site. The only comments I would make is; give it offline processing capability (i.e. not just internet driven) and I wish they would not use the term "3D printing". That's a different technology all together and misleading. This is just a flatbed gantry, just like several other manufacturers. Looks like a good little machine for home use but there are others in the same vein, so shop around.
Thanks for your review, and detailed time slots for specific Glowforge reviews. The “ exhaust extension “ can be made from PVC pipe, and cut at places like Home Depot, Lowe’s, and other hardware stores. The cost is less than $20.00.
Thank u sooooooo much for this honest review. I think others who live in my building would hate me if I bought such a noisy machine. Glad I now know how loud it is. You just saved me from getting evicted. Lol
I currently have a K40 laser and was considering an upgrade. With the noise and smell, and with the camera function being not as good as advertised, is the upgrade worth it?
Definitely worth it in my opinion. You can buy a super quiet external exhaust fan for $100 and shut the noisy internal one off. As long as your exhaust hose connections are solid smell won’t be an issue (it hasn’t been an issue for me anymore). But I guess it depends on what you’re using it for. If you’re just tinkering around for fun probably stay with the K40. If you’re wanting to make a business out of it and kick out parts over and over I think it’s worth it. Time is money and the setup time is basically zero.
Boy, it’s really just user preference. I’ve been using AutoCAD but am going to be transitioning over to Adobe Illustrator. It’s an industry standard and a good program to have under your belt.
Now I'm a little wary of getting one. I can't afford it anyway, but wanted a machine that could cut suede leather. But how easy would it be to cut suede? Could I use colorful dyed suede? If not, then this machine wouldn't be much help to me...
That's a great question. I've never done suede myself but I've done leather and it works very well. I've seen many people in the Glowforge community cutting all kinds of fabrics. If suede can be laser cut cleanly and safely (no toxic fumes) on any other laser then it would cut just fine on the Glowforge. Hope that helps and best of luck to you on your making journey.
I see a lot of these reviews saying what a great machine these are - always from people that have never used a laser before. If you’re not technically adept, it’s going to insulate you from the tech, at a cost. And when it breaks, you’ll need to pay someone to sort it out. What you get is a $500 40W laser for $4K. It’s not even a particularly good 40W laser, but it’s simple to use for those that don’t want to put in the time to learn. For $4K you could get a machine that’s almost at industrial grade. Not for everyone, but if you want an appliance with a moderately high maintenance schedule (which 90% of glowforge owners are never going to do) and don’t mind dropping $4K to tool around, then sure - cool toy.
@@marcin97 any Ruida-controlled 60-80W CO2 from a reputable Chinese manufacturer will outperform this significantly, at a much reduced cost. Not an eBay or amazon machine. Not a K40 (although they perform about the same at $500)
Thanks for your review. the noise is not a deal breaker for me as it would go in my garage or the exhaust duct as I have rubber/PVC 4" fittings and adapters all day long since I am mostly into woodworking but recently got into laser engraving with a Sculpfun S9 but looking to expand. The dealbreaker for me right now is the price for the basic model is at around $3,600.00 where a couple years back it was $2,495. After shipping and sales tax I would be looking at over $4,000 out the door. for that I may also shop for and consider a CO2 laser if I am going to make that much of an investment. Trying to keep in under $2,500 so the GF may not be for me. I am not a business just doing it as a hobby and to make stuff for friends and family. Thanks.
I can’t believe this company charges an extra $21 to have an extension pipe on the exhaust port so the hose fits properly. I wonder if Home Depot has a similar fitting that would be cheaper.
The latest Pro version with air filter system is $8290? 45 Watt laser vs. the basic 40 watt ... curious to see if the Pro version is any different especially around noise?
All the units have the same level of noise. In my opinion the Pro is only needed if you plan on doing very large projects like signs or you plan on running your machine 8hrs a day because it has an extra cooling unit for all day use.
Clear, concise review. Although I am surprised that after saying that you have 4 3D printers you didn’t have the wherewithal to design and print your own exhaust duct adapter. It certainly wouldn’t have cost you $22!!!
Awesome! I recently saw on my account that you used the referral code to order one! You'll love it! You should join the "Glowforge User Group" on Facebook. Lots of great info and ideas on there. As far as the noise, many people have been buying a quiet external fan such as this one and using that instead. www.amazon.com/AC-Infinity-CLOUDLINE-S6-Controller/dp/B07FPFVZTZ/ref=sr_1_3?crid=2UADE7FJ2JO33&keywords=ac+infinity+cloudline+t6&qid=1576565424&sprefix=ac+infinity%2Caps%2C233&sr=8-3 There's an option in the GF app to basically turn off the internal fans and just use an external one instead. It quiets your machine tremendously. I'll be picking one up and doing a review on it next month. Please reach out if you have any questions when you get your Glowforge!
The thing you should be nervous about is the reliance of the internet. I note already they have a premium service. The more people that buy this and join the premium service the slower the free service will go because premium users have priority in the processed queue.
Now that you have had for awhile what others issues have you come across? I am looking to buy one for my business. What other Laser printer who you recommend? Looking forward to see what you have to say !!
Great question Nancy. Well, I still absolutely love the machine. I'm currently selling my Plus to a friend and will be putting that money towards the Pro model. I want the capacity to make bigger projects and it has an upgraded cooling system so it can run longer. My craft room here in AZ gets really hot and occasionally my printer needs time to cool down before the next cut. That's really the only issue i've had. (If you're able to keep the room it's in at 75 degrees or cooler you shouldn't have that problem.) Dremel has a comparable machine, but I chose this one because it's cheaper. I've seen a lot of people getting the K40 laser cutter for $400. It has good cutting results. My friend has one and likes it, but you also get what you pay for. Other than that I haven't had much experience with the other lasers out there. I know Epilog is another popular one out there too. Hope that helps :)
thanks for sharing information on the glowforge. In your opinion regarding ventilation, I would be placing it in my craft area in my basement. I have an old unused dryer vent just above where i would place it. From the exhaust port on the glowforge to where the dryer vent hook up is about 5 feet directly above and then there is a run of venting through the ceiling tiles about 14.5 feet across to outdoors. (thus why i moved the dryer vent - too long and was getting clogged). Would this be acceptable for venting the glow forge or would i need some kind of additional fan or something to vent this out? thoughts?
Theresa, that's a very good question. I suppose you can always try it and see how it works. The exhaust fan in the Glowforge is a very powerful high velocity fan and could probably blow through that much ducting no problem. I would guess that you could still feel a good amount of airflow coming out the other end. The nice thing is you should never have to worry about the duct getting clogged because it's just fumes. Hopefully some of those thoughts are helpful.
Actually, the GlowForge has two cameras- one is on the edge and one is in the center (the one that you showed). The center camera is a wide-angle lens, so it sees more of the edge than you implied.
Great review, so I'm curious, when you said it cut through a 1" piece of pine, did you mean that it engraved/carved into it easily, or it actually sliced right through no problem?
No, their is already open source out there, and Glowforge has vowed if they ever were to stop internet support they would release their own stand alone server software.
@@lucasward2648 think about why they haven’t done that already. Do you honestly think a company that is going bust is going to spend time and money developing stand alone software?
thanks for the video. While it looks like a very slick product, it seems a bit too proprietary with materials (sounds like HP) and internet only?? wow deal breaker for me.
Well I see every one disappointing about the internet part. I always have an Internet connection at my house 🤷🏽♀️ I’m buying next week and I’ll use your code! Thanks for review
It’s now about how good your internet. If the company goes bust, you have a 4K brick. They will use the reliance on the internet connection to add charges. As an example, they have already introduced a premium service which gives premium users priority in the job queue on their servers. So if you are not a premium member and you upload your job at the same time as a load of premium members do, your job will be at the back of the queue, so you will be waiting, in addition to that, you are uploading all your designs to their servers where they will be stored and may be used by them or by hackers. This is a very bad investment.
Thanks for the review. Now i have one more reason to purchase a gweike big bad ass Chinese laser for the same price. Unbelievable that you have to stick with the cloud and their material!
Nothing to be nervous about. Our whole lives our internet dependent and we never think about it. I was a little nervous at first too, but over a year later, not a single issue and I love how seamless the experience is with the internet.
As you should be. There is everything to be nervous about. If they go bust you can’t use you machine. They will add additional costs in the future for using their servers. They already have a premium service giving premium members priority on the job queue, so if you are not a premium member and you upload your job at the same time a load of premium members, you will be waiting a while. Then there is the security/privacy part. All your jobs are on their servers as is your information, so it is theirs to do with as they please and if they get hacked, it’s going to be all out there.
Great question Jon! Proof Grade Material is basically material that Glowforge has deemed to be safe, and then they put a QR code on it so the Glowforge calibrates itself automatically to cut that material perfectly. I buy my acrylic from an acrylic sheet supplier down the road from me called Port Plastics. I use Glowforge's proofgrade acrylic settings and it cuts my acrylic perfectly. I think Glowforge is just focused on safety. There may be an acrylic supplier out there that puts chemicals in their acrylic that when cut produce harmful vapors, so Glowforge basically puts their stamp of approval on their material saying that their stuff is safe to use in the Glowforge. Most of us start out with the Proof Grade stuff and then quickly move out to material we source elsewhere. Does that help?
@@MartinsonManufacturing Thanks for the explanation, which makes sense. I was thinking it was about the finish of the materials, kind of like the PROOF GRADE used in coin collecting. I am pretty sure Glowforge does NOT manufacture Arroylic plastic, they source it just like I would, they may purchase large 4' 8' sheets and then cut it down to a size that fits their machine, and mark it up. Here in Central Texas, there are several wholesale plastic sheet supplies and as long as you purchase name brand off the shelf Acrylic sheets, I would bet the material would be just fine to use. Purchasing in bulk always saves money, so purchase large sheets and then cutting them to size to fit your laser using a table same (with the correct blade), will save a lot of money. One of my plastic suppliers offers free shipping with a $100 purchase, they are located 60 miles from me, so that is a great bargain. Do you know if the Glowforge will cut 1/4" Acrylic with a clean edge? How do you keep from getting the burnt edge I have seen in some Gloeforge examples?
@@phototec Sounds like you found a great acrylic supplier! With free shipping even, that's definitely the way to go. I'm moving to Wisconsin next month and i'm hoping I can find a good supplier myself. The Glowforge cuts 1/4" acrylic really well. I just went and looked at my spice rack that I made for out of 1/4" acrylic. The cut edge is pretty clean. It isn't as smooth as glass, but it's pretty clean. The Glowforge will do it in one pass. As far as preventing the burnt edge, masking your materials is the solution. Your acrylic sheets should come pre-masked. However, if you're getting a little more technical (which may have been your previous question) even if you mask your acrylic, the edges will look like they've encountered heat (looking top down on your cut piece, you'll see a faint perimeter - which the average person won't notice. My previous response I was referring to looking at the edge from the side.) To fix these non clean edges (looking at your piece top down) There's something i've started doing which helps. As the laser moves around and hits the metal walls of the honeycomb crumb tray underneath, the laser will flare up causing the edge of the acrylic to degrade and not look like glass anymore (even when it's masked). What you can do is put something underneath the acrylic sheet to raise it up off the crumb tray a little bit and those flares won't hurt it. Hope that helps. Feel free to email me JDM3DContact@gmail.com if you'd like to chat more. I can send some pics of 1/4" acrylic I cut if you'd like.
Hmm, I haven't heard anyone in the community try swapping out the fans so I wouldn't know on that one. Most people pick up an external inline fan (such as this one: amzn.to/33zTNmP) and then shut the internal fan off in the settings. The result is a super quiet machine.
Thank you! I was about to get 1 when u saw it. Im allergic to fumes so that’s a big no for me. And that noise wow, sounds like a plane prepping for take off.
on the dryer vent your suppose too put clamp behind the first or second metal rings in the hose this way the clamp has something too make sure it does not slip just on papper
You could try a white, brown or pink noise generator audio clip to counter the sound and provide anti-sound as noise-cancelling speakers do! Find an audio engineer to help you model the correct sound and create a noise-cancelling audio track for it! That might be an interesting video and educational too!
I would like more information on laser and how long they are expected to last and cost to replace them. But, this video did cover some interesting points that need to be considered before purchasing.
They are expected to last 2000 hours working time before maintenance and Glowforge does not take responsibility for injury caused by their lasers, even if they were otherwise warned about a machine being faulty. After the short 6 month crappy warranty they then charge the user shipping and repair fees if there is an issue and will not sell you spare parts directly or help you work on your machine. They also take weeks if not longer to reply to emails and when they do they barely read what you say. Many users are having issues where Glowforge will not help them or will flat rate invoice $749 for you to send your machine to their repair facility for 6 WEEKS or give you the option of paying the $749 and getting a refurb one sent right out. So, basically you buy the damn thing for top dollar and could be paying them $749 yearly and not even for the machine you originally purchased.
One of my favorite projects was a leather bracelet that I made on the Glowforge. Leather and suede are not a problem. Mine was probably a medium thickness but I've been to the stores and see all the hides that are sold and the GF would be able to cut just fine through the thickest of them. You just want to get veg tanned leather instead of chrome tanned because some of those tanning chemicals cut be harmful if you're breathing them in all day.
Ditto on the internet thing, plus for 4 grand you would think they would throw in that hose extension or do something different. I was thinking about one, not now. I expect them to be somewhat noisy but that sounded like real cheap motors. Thank you very much.
Hey here is an idea to deal with the noise. While you making you cut. Play Microsoft flight sim 2020 and pick a 747 or an A320 and fly a route that is the length of your cut! That way it will fit in perfectly with your sim just remember to mute the engine noises in the sim! LOL!!
I found your review to be very helpful. I've been wanting to get a laser printer/cutter and your review touched on points I wouldn't have even thought of. I live in a small town with slow Internet service and that service goes down fairly often. Because Glowforge is Internet dependent, I would NOT buy it. I don't mean to sound stupid, but with my pyrography I have to be careful to wear a mask, especially because some species of wood produce fumes that are highly toxic. Before burning I always look up the wood species to find out what the dangers are. Since you mentioned smoke escaping from the unit into the room, would this cautionary step be necessary when using the Glowforge?
I’ve personally never worn a mask when I cut, but I’ve also never cut anything toxic either. I changed my exhaust system a bit and currently have no fumes escaping from the unit.
@@MartinsonManufacturing Here's a link to a Sue Walters article (she's an AMAZING pyrographer) about MDF www.suewalters.com/Safety.html#:~:text=Don't%20leave%20them%20unsupervised,and%20other%20serious%20health%20problems. And here's one article related to MDF and laser cutting--it seems that the critical key to toxic fumes is extremely good ventilation, people who are just getting into laser cutting are, hopefully, researching the potential toxicity of what they intend to cut and then taking proper safety precautions and investing in really good ventilation systems. Thank you for listening and for replying! Here's that 2nd link: www.reddit.com/r/lasercutting/comments/adchkn/mdf_question_about_formaldehyde/
What scared me is the comment where you said if their servers are down it won't work. If the products are reliant on the company servers to work then what happens if the company eventually goes bust? I take it you'd be left with a $4000 boat anchor? I'm in the market for a laser engraver, CNC, and 3D printer currently for business purposes and watched this as the Glowforge was one of the products I was looking at. Thank you for your review.
Thousands of dollars but you still have to buy an extra part for the exhaust port to fit correctly and won't operate unless it has internet? ...It also needs it's own room (welp, sorry kids I guess you're sleeping with us) and happens to sound like a jet engine. Ugh. Anyone happen to know of a similar machine with better features?
It is a deal breaker. What an insane business model. If something happens to Glowforge you end up with a $6,000 brick. I suspect that at some time in the future they are going to start charging a fee to access some 'enhanced feature' and you have no choice but to pay them or you cannot use the machine !!!!!!!!!
@@sparky9718 Actually they have committed to releasing the server software if they are no longer hosting it themselves. Also the You can get the base model for about half that. They have released several new features since I have owned mine adding greater precision, enhanced user interface, and just recently boosted the cutting speed.
It looks like the exhaust port is not available from the links your provided. Any other sources we can get this from before I contact someone with a 3D printer?
Sharon Casto The item is currently being switched over to Amazon Prime. It should be up in a week or so. I’ll try to remember to sent you a reply when it comes available. I’ll update the links here when it’s up.
The exhaust port is now available on Amazon if you'd like to get one. www.amazon.com/Glowforge-Exhaust-Port-Extension/dp/B07XM95SBX/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=glowforge&qid=1570389923&s=handmade&sr=1-2
Close system with no way to upload the file directly into the machine? screw that, they could have easily added a USB module and a screen to select the files. The latest Raspberry Pi for about US$ 35 can get you all that functionality even with WIFI module, so that wasn't taken out due to cost but to lock the customers.
Perfect review. Thanks for not talking for an hour before jumping into the review. Very concise and clear.
L😄 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Thank you for that honest and well done review. I'm a software developer by trade and having it only web based doesn't bode well with me. Servers and internet always going down. That's why I'm still employed! :) Plus the noise it generates. I'd have to wear ear plugs.
Great info! Thank you! The fact that it cannot work without being connected to the internet is a deal killer for me.
BLESS YOU for how you demoed the noise levels. Super useful!
Definitely not to be used in an apartment
I got mine 2 years ago and it is the best tool I have ever owned. I am constantly finding new stuff it can do. It was worth every penny. Just the ease of use alone is worth the price. You could train a monkey to use it. That being said, there are a few downsides:
The proofgrade materials are no bargain. Draftboard for $4 each? You can get nice ⅛" baltic birch plywood for that price. Amazon has much better deals. You are right about the noise, it sounds like a small jet engine. I will have to try the blanket trick.
One downside is cleaning the inside. Everything is in one compartment which means that the burnt resins from the wood get on everything, and while it is pretty easy to clean the lens of the camera, cutting lens and the laser mirrors there is lots of stuff inside that is impossible to get to without taking it apart. The good news is the lenses and mirrors are the most necessary to clean. I use packing tape to cover things like the door on the front so when it gets lots of buildup I just peel the tape off.
As far as using a flash drive to move files, since it does all the processing in the cloud it seems unlikely that will be possible, although once a cut has started it does not need a connection.
can you cut on acrylic cylinders? or does it have to be flat?
Forza Golf good question
Forza Golf usuallly for cylinders you need an additional mechanism that turns the cylinder as the laser moves left to right across it. Have not seen that for glowforge but instead for much more expensive professional lasers
great review. I like your style. all facts, no wasted time or bad music.
Thanks man
The ink tank system appears to be much better than the cartridge system ua-cam.com/users/postUgkxciSwynMJ7PnUvvx11rewiu-yFBkZTl53 and a lot cheaper to run. The machine was easy to set up. A small point but I thought they'd be a USB cable included to help with the set up but there was none. I've been using it now for a few weeks and it seems like a good product and superior to my previous printers which were all troublesome HP machines.
Thanks for review. I will be looking for something else. I do not like being dependent on the Internet, the noise, nor the price tag. Expecting more for my money.
Thank you for showing us product reality. Thankfully, Glowforge and similar laser engravers/cutters, are a worthwhile investment. And more important, they're fun to use!
Thank you. Jus got mines today. Can't wait get home. Be blessed. Great Vid
Great review. Thank for Saving me from my impulsive shopping
That’s what I’m here for :)
This is a great video, I've been going back and forth rather I wanted to buy one and this video really helps.
I will not jeopardize my health breathing toxic fumes and for the money issues like noise, etc should be totally worked out
Just buy a chinese k40 and upgrade it if you want to
Buy one. Great investment
Thanks a million for your honest and in depth review.
By far the best informational review. Thank you for taking the time.
This was SO HELPFUL! Thank you for your authenticity. I really like the concept of Glowforge and have been watching a lot of their tutorial videos and livestreams...so I may still go for it or wait a little longer with the hopes that they work on some improvements!
Glad you found it helpful Becca!
What improvements would you like to see?
@@MartinsonManufacturing Thanks for even asking! After perusing features of other laser printers (& even one that I SWEAR must be a knock-off of glowforge), these are a few improvements that come to mind:
1. A functional exhaust connector
2. Software that run OFFline (this is a make or break for me).
3. Air purifier actually included with the system since it's a necessary component for the fumes no matter what for the same price.
4. It'd be wonderful to see the weight of it be light enough for one person to maneuver w/o breaking the back. ;-)
Becca Griffith - I completely agree. Only online is a huge NO for me and the cost for the very necessary air purifier is greed in my opinion
Just found your review... two thumbs up, you totally talked me out of buying one of these pieces of junk. Thank you sincerely.
Please don't tape the gap between the lid and front door. It negates the ability for a negative pressure atmosphere inside the bay. In order for it to pull air out of the GF, there has to be a way for air to come in, or it will create a vacuum and nothing can be sucked out.
The way you demo'd the noise level was pretty spectacular :)
I saw a short ad for this and I wanted to see what it was and when I heard him say it was 4K I was blown away😮😮🥵
Thank you for the good review. I just put one on my list. With a creative mind, this can be a real elevator for inspiration.
Thank you very much for your views on the machine!
A lot of great information. This definitely helps guide me toward making a decision to purchase! Also, very good to the point information. New Sub!
Kitchen Tumblers Hey girl, what are you doing over here...probably the same as me! 😆~your Subbie
Thanks for the review! Very helpful!
wow thanks for posting this. I don't remember seeing anything on the website saying that the machine (and therefore your means of production) is completely dependant on if the internet of things is working that day. Going to have to give this a lot more thought.
Thank you! I used your code today to purchase the GF for the bookstore I run. I want to be able customize gift items for our customers.
Hey, what a cool idea, and congrats!
It would appear to me that if everything goes through Glowforge via the internet, they have access to what files you are
burning. BOOM! Everything just became Glowforge property!
Thank you for the review.
Is it you need the internet and actually have to connect to their server, or is it you need a wifi network to wirelessly connect to it from your device?
It needs to connect to their servers. This was a turn off to me at first but a year and a half in and never had a single connection issue. Still would love the USB option, but even if I did I'd still run it via internet 99% of the time.
Noise makes this a no for me. :-( Great review and I appreciate the time you took to do this.
If it was not for the fact that it becomes a brick if glowforge goes under or there server crashed I would have clicked BUY IT NOW!
Good video and a fair review. I've been in this business (more production machines as opposed to a hobby model) for many years. Looks slick. I visited their site. The only comments I would make is; give it offline processing capability (i.e. not just internet driven) and I wish they would not use the term "3D printing". That's a different technology all together and misleading. This is just a flatbed gantry, just like several other manufacturers. Looks like a good little machine for home use but there are others in the same vein, so shop around.
Hi hru? Do you have any recommendations? I really want to get one of these but it's extremely expensive. Thank you.
Man great reply.
Thanks for your review, and detailed time slots for specific Glowforge reviews.
The “ exhaust extension “ can be made from PVC pipe, and cut at places like Home Depot, Lowe’s, and other hardware stores. The cost is less than $20.00.
Awesome, unbiased review. Thanks!!
Thank u sooooooo much for this honest review. I think others who live in my building would hate me if I bought such a noisy machine. Glad I now know how loud it is. You just saved me from getting evicted. Lol
I currently have a K40 laser and was considering an upgrade. With the noise and smell, and with the camera function being not as good as advertised, is the upgrade worth it?
Definitely worth it in my opinion. You can buy a super quiet external exhaust fan for $100 and shut the noisy internal one off. As long as your exhaust hose connections are solid smell won’t be an issue (it hasn’t been an issue for me anymore). But I guess it depends on what you’re using it for. If you’re just tinkering around for fun probably stay with the K40. If you’re wanting to make a business out of it and kick out parts over and over I think it’s worth it. Time is money and the setup time is basically zero.
Great video! Which system should I purchase to work with the Glowforge? Adobe, Cricut or silhouette?
Boy, it’s really just user preference. I’ve been using AutoCAD but am going to be transitioning over to Adobe Illustrator. It’s an industry standard and a good program to have under your belt.
@@MartinsonManufacturing thank you!!
Excellent review! Had no idea about the exhaust and noise! And the material things!
Now I'm a little wary of getting one. I can't afford it anyway, but wanted a machine that could cut suede leather. But how easy would it be to cut suede? Could I use colorful dyed suede? If not, then this machine wouldn't be much help to me...
That's a great question. I've never done suede myself but I've done leather and it works very well. I've seen many people in the Glowforge community cutting all kinds of fabrics. If suede can be laser cut cleanly and safely (no toxic fumes) on any other laser then it would cut just fine on the Glowforge. Hope that helps and best of luck to you on your making journey.
I see a lot of these reviews saying what a great machine these are - always from people that have never used a laser before. If you’re not technically adept, it’s going to insulate you from the tech, at a cost. And when it breaks, you’ll need to pay someone to sort it out.
What you get is a $500 40W laser for $4K.
It’s not even a particularly good 40W laser, but it’s simple to use for those that don’t want to put in the time to learn.
For $4K you could get a machine that’s almost at industrial grade.
Not for everyone, but if you want an appliance with a moderately high maintenance schedule (which 90% of glowforge owners are never going to do) and don’t mind dropping $4K to tool around, then sure - cool toy.
So what do you recommend instead?
@@marcin97 any Ruida-controlled 60-80W CO2 from a reputable Chinese manufacturer will outperform this significantly, at a much reduced cost.
Not an eBay or amazon machine. Not a K40 (although they perform about the same at $500)
@@Zootalaws Can you give an actual recommendation for a specific laser or a "reputable chinese manufacturer"?
@@kylepayne2820 yes please share
Mike, can you give a name of one of these with the 60-80W co2 Chinese produced $500ish machines Please?
this was a great and honest review. that sound test was hilarious.
Thanks for your review. the noise is not a deal breaker for me as it would go in my garage or the exhaust duct as I have rubber/PVC 4" fittings and adapters all day long since I am mostly into woodworking but recently got into laser engraving with a Sculpfun S9 but looking to expand. The dealbreaker for me right now is the price for the basic model is at around $3,600.00 where a couple years back it was $2,495. After shipping and sales tax I would be looking at over $4,000 out the door. for that I may also shop for and consider a CO2 laser if I am going to make that much of an investment. Trying to keep in under $2,500 so the GF may not be for me. I am not a business just doing it as a hobby and to make stuff for friends and family. Thanks.
I can’t believe this company charges an extra $21 to have an extension pipe on the exhaust port so the hose fits properly. I wonder if Home Depot has a similar fitting that would be cheaper.
Yes Home Depot has PVC you can buy for a lot cheaper
The latest Pro version with air filter system is $8290? 45 Watt laser vs. the basic 40 watt ... curious to see if the Pro version is any different especially around noise?
All the units have the same level of noise. In my opinion the Pro is only needed if you plan on doing very large projects like signs or you plan on running your machine 8hrs a day because it has an extra cooling unit for all day use.
Clear, concise review. Although I am surprised that after saying that you have 4 3D printers you didn’t have the wherewithal to design and print your own exhaust duct adapter. It certainly wouldn’t have cost you $22!!!
Maybe I did :)
thank you. great review
Thanks Joe, just bought the Basic with your link, now to start getting my referrals to help pay for My machine!! :)
Absolutely! Get it!!
Thank you for the referral code! I just ordered the Plus-- really nervous about the noise, but I'll try the insulated dryer duct tip.
Awesome! I recently saw on my account that you used the referral code to order one! You'll love it!
You should join the "Glowforge User Group" on Facebook. Lots of great info and ideas on there.
As far as the noise, many people have been buying a quiet external fan such as this one and using that instead. www.amazon.com/AC-Infinity-CLOUDLINE-S6-Controller/dp/B07FPFVZTZ/ref=sr_1_3?crid=2UADE7FJ2JO33&keywords=ac+infinity+cloudline+t6&qid=1576565424&sprefix=ac+infinity%2Caps%2C233&sr=8-3
There's an option in the GF app to basically turn off the internal fans and just use an external one instead. It quiets your machine tremendously. I'll be picking one up and doing a review on it next month.
Please reach out if you have any questions when you get your Glowforge!
The thing you should be nervous about is the reliance of the internet. I note already they have a premium service. The more people that buy this and join the premium service the slower the free service will go because premium users have priority in the processed queue.
Now that you have had for awhile what others issues have you come across? I am looking to buy one for my business. What other Laser printer who you recommend?
Looking forward to see what you have to say !!
Great question Nancy. Well, I still absolutely love the machine. I'm currently selling my Plus to a friend and will be putting that money towards the Pro model. I want the capacity to make bigger projects and it has an upgraded cooling system so it can run longer. My craft room here in AZ gets really hot and occasionally my printer needs time to cool down before the next cut. That's really the only issue i've had. (If you're able to keep the room it's in at 75 degrees or cooler you shouldn't have that problem.)
Dremel has a comparable machine, but I chose this one because it's cheaper. I've seen a lot of people getting the K40 laser cutter for $400. It has good cutting results. My friend has one and likes it, but you also get what you pay for. Other than that I haven't had much experience with the other lasers out there. I know Epilog is another popular one out there too. Hope that helps :)
Thank you, I will
Keep looking I am needing to start with a small printer that I don’t need to have vent since I will be working in a small area.
thanks for sharing information on the glowforge. In your opinion regarding ventilation, I would be placing it in my craft area in my basement. I have an old unused dryer vent just above where i would place it. From the exhaust port on the glowforge to where the dryer vent hook up is about 5 feet directly above and then there is a run of venting through the ceiling tiles about 14.5 feet across to outdoors. (thus why i moved the dryer vent - too long and was getting clogged). Would this be acceptable for venting the glow forge or would i need some kind of additional fan or something to vent this out? thoughts?
Theresa, that's a very good question. I suppose you can always try it and see how it works. The exhaust fan in the Glowforge is a very powerful high velocity fan and could probably blow through that much ducting no problem. I would guess that you could still feel a good amount of airflow coming out the other end. The nice thing is you should never have to worry about the duct getting clogged because it's just fumes. Hopefully some of those thoughts are helpful.
I'm looking to personalize tumblers and stainless steel cups. Can it handle that?
It can't. I'd look into the MakeBlock or Muse
It would be fantastic if you could connect the glowforge directly to your laptop via usb or CATV
Sooo helpful! Thank you!!
Actually, the GlowForge has two cameras- one is on the edge and one is in the center (the one that you showed). The center camera is a wide-angle lens, so it sees more of the edge than you implied.
Very expensive, but would love to have one in the waaaay future lol thank you for the detailed review!! Much appreciated!
Great review, so I'm curious, when you said it cut through a 1" piece of pine, did you mean that it engraved/carved into it easily, or it actually sliced right through no problem?
I should have clarified a little better on that. The Glowforge "cut" through 1" pine, but it took several passes.
@@MartinsonManufacturing Thanks for the quick response. That is still pretty impressive.
hi ! thanks for the review! 2 questions please: would it fit in travel luggage? maybe in 2? would it work with mac? thanks!
It's much too big to fit in travel luggage and it will work just fine with a Mac.
This was GREAT!! Thank you for posting !
Thank you for the review! This was so helpful!
If I want to engrave tumblers and stainless steel will the 2nd top one work or what do I need ?
For tumblers I would look into a fiber laser with a rotary (4th) axis. The Glowforge really isn't setup well for tumblers.
$4,000 this needs to more than a hobby for that price
Exactly! That's a full on business purchase
No one buys any cutting machine for hobbies. Every one Etsy uses a cutter.
Gorgeousbronze -Madison- I don’t know 🤷🏾♂️
They have one that's about half that price. Glow forge makes 3. I think this is the top of the line model.
@@TARAJOSU a full on business machine is $35,000. This is the hobby version.
It was a NO-GO for me when you stated it's Internet Based! $4000 Brick if you lose Internet or Company goes Bust!
No, their is already open source out there, and Glowforge has vowed if they ever were to stop internet support they would release their own stand alone server software.
I don't have an internet connection where this would be located. They definitely should make it usable without an internet connection.
@@lucasward2648 think about why they haven’t done that already. Do you honestly think a company that is going bust is going to spend time and money developing stand alone software?
Thank you for the honest review. I used your referral code. :)
What about taping the dryer duct? I can't believe they charge so much for their add on duct.
You'd definitely need to clamp it, not sure tape would work well. The add on part is something I 3d print and sell.
This was a very thorough review. One thing I wonder about is, is there a temperature limit (hot or cold) so if I was to use this in the garage?
If yoiir garage is not temp. controlled I would not recommend.
It doesn't operate below 40 degrees or above 75.
Great video and very informative! Thanks for the honest feedback :)
thanks for the video. While it looks like a very slick product, it seems a bit too proprietary with materials (sounds like HP) and internet only?? wow deal breaker for me.
Well I see every one disappointing about the internet part. I always have an Internet connection at my house 🤷🏽♀️ I’m buying next week and I’ll use your code! Thanks for review
Did you end up getting one? How is it?
I think the concern was if glowforge shuts off their server one day then you can’t print anymore even if there was nothing wrong with the cutter
It’s now about how good your internet. If the company goes bust, you have a 4K brick. They will use the reliance on the internet connection to add charges. As an example, they have already introduced a premium service which gives premium users priority in the job queue on their servers. So if you are not a premium member and you upload your job at the same time as a load of premium members do, your job will be at the back of the queue, so you will be waiting, in addition to that, you are uploading all your designs to their servers where they will be stored and may be used by them or by hackers. This is a very bad investment.
Thanks for the review. Now i have one more reason to purchase a gweike big bad ass Chinese laser for the same price. Unbelievable that you have to stick with the cloud and their material!
*Great Video!* _Thank you for you honesty_
Excellent Review! Thank You!
I purchased already but nervous about internet only...
Nothing to be nervous about. Our whole lives our internet dependent and we never think about it. I was a little nervous at first too, but over a year later, not a single issue and I love how seamless the experience is with the internet.
As you should be. There is everything to be nervous about. If they go bust you can’t use you machine. They will add additional costs in the future for using their servers. They already have a premium service giving premium members priority on the job queue, so if you are not a premium member and you upload your job at the same time a load of premium members, you will be waiting a while. Then there is the security/privacy part. All your jobs are on their servers as is your information, so it is theirs to do with as they please and if they get hacked, it’s going to be all out there.
Four 3D printers and you bought the exhaust? ;) I really liked the demonstration of how loud it is.
He is the MFG of the exhaust plenum... LOL, that wasn't stated in this video. He prints them and sells them.
So it doesn’t come with a USB cable to plug into your pc?
Nope.
Thanks for the review, what is PROOF GRADE MATERIAL? What is the difference over regular Acrylic sheets from a plastic sheet retailer?
Great question Jon! Proof Grade Material is basically material that Glowforge has deemed to be safe, and then they put a QR code on it so the Glowforge calibrates itself automatically to cut that material perfectly. I buy my acrylic from an acrylic sheet supplier down the road from me called Port Plastics. I use Glowforge's proofgrade acrylic settings and it cuts my acrylic perfectly. I think Glowforge is just focused on safety. There may be an acrylic supplier out there that puts chemicals in their acrylic that when cut produce harmful vapors, so Glowforge basically puts their stamp of approval on their material saying that their stuff is safe to use in the Glowforge. Most of us start out with the Proof Grade stuff and then quickly move out to material we source elsewhere. Does that help?
@@MartinsonManufacturing Thanks for the explanation, which makes sense. I was thinking it was about the finish of the materials, kind of like the PROOF GRADE used in coin collecting. I am pretty sure Glowforge does NOT manufacture Arroylic plastic, they source it just like I would, they may purchase large 4' 8' sheets and then cut it down to a size that fits their machine, and mark it up. Here in Central Texas, there are several wholesale plastic sheet supplies and as long as you purchase name brand off the shelf Acrylic sheets, I would bet the material would be just fine to use. Purchasing in bulk always saves money, so purchase large sheets and then cutting them to size to fit your laser using a table same (with the correct blade), will save a lot of money. One of my plastic suppliers offers free shipping with a $100 purchase, they are located 60 miles from me, so that is a great bargain.
Do you know if the Glowforge will cut 1/4" Acrylic with a clean edge?
How do you keep from getting the burnt edge I have seen in some Gloeforge examples?
@@phototec Sounds like you found a great acrylic supplier! With free shipping even, that's definitely the way to go.
I'm moving to Wisconsin next month and i'm hoping I can find a good supplier myself.
The Glowforge cuts 1/4" acrylic really well. I just went and looked at my spice rack that I made for out of 1/4" acrylic. The cut edge is pretty clean. It isn't as smooth as glass, but it's pretty clean. The Glowforge will do it in one pass.
As far as preventing the burnt edge, masking your materials is the solution. Your acrylic sheets should come pre-masked.
However, if you're getting a little more technical (which may have been your previous question) even if you mask your acrylic, the edges will look like they've encountered heat (looking top down on your cut piece, you'll see a faint perimeter - which the average person won't notice. My previous response I was referring to looking at the edge from the side.)
To fix these non clean edges (looking at your piece top down) There's something i've started doing which helps. As the laser moves around and hits the metal walls of the honeycomb crumb tray underneath, the laser will flare up causing the edge of the acrylic to degrade and not look like glass anymore (even when it's masked). What you can do is put something underneath the acrylic sheet to raise it up off the crumb tray a little bit and those flares won't hurt it.
Hope that helps. Feel free to email me JDM3DContact@gmail.com if you'd like to chat more. I can send some pics of 1/4" acrylic I cut if you'd like.
Could you swap the louder fans out with quieter high flow pc fans? I did that on a wine fridge I built into my kitchen cabinets.
Hmm, I haven't heard anyone in the community try swapping out the fans so I wouldn't know on that one. Most people pick up an external inline fan (such as this one: amzn.to/33zTNmP) and then shut the internal fan off in the settings. The result is a super quiet machine.
Thank you! I was about to get 1 when u saw it. Im allergic to fumes so that’s a big no for me. And that noise wow, sounds like a plane prepping for take off.
Good review. Your background wall, is that real wood? I love the wall treatment.
Thanks Evelyn. Nope, it's a laminated sheet I found at Home Depot :)
on the dryer vent your suppose too put clamp behind the first or second metal rings in the hose this way the clamp has something too make sure it does not slip just on papper
You could try a white, brown or pink noise generator audio clip to counter the sound and provide anti-sound as noise-cancelling speakers do! Find an audio engineer to help you model the correct sound and create a noise-cancelling audio track for it! That might be an interesting video and educational too!
I would like more information on laser and how long they are expected to last and cost to replace them. But, this video did cover some interesting points that need to be considered before purchasing.
They are expected to last 2000 hours working time before maintenance and Glowforge does not take responsibility for injury caused by their lasers, even if they were otherwise warned about a machine being faulty. After the short 6 month crappy warranty they then charge the user shipping and repair fees if there is an issue and will not sell you spare parts directly or help you work on your machine. They also take weeks if not longer to reply to emails and when they do they barely read what you say. Many users are having issues where Glowforge will not help them or will flat rate invoice $749 for you to send your machine to their repair facility for 6 WEEKS or give you the option of paying the $749 and getting a refurb one sent right out. So, basically you buy the damn thing for top dollar and could be paying them $749 yearly and not even for the machine you originally purchased.
This video was super interesting and informative, I had just seen a commercial for it on CNN and was really curious about it after having seen it
😲 👍🏽
JDM.... What about Leather and Suede?? How Thick or how thin?? Would love to make jewlery.❤ Thk U.
One of my favorite projects was a leather bracelet that I made on the Glowforge. Leather and suede are not a problem. Mine was probably a medium thickness but I've been to the stores and see all the hides that are sold and the GF would be able to cut just fine through the thickest of them. You just want to get veg tanned leather instead of chrome tanned because some of those tanning chemicals cut be harmful if you're breathing them in all day.
Worth every penny in my opinion
Nope
Thank you so much this was truly a great review of the Glowforge!
Ditto on the internet thing, plus for 4 grand you would think they would throw in that hose extension or do something different. I was thinking about one, not now. I expect them to be somewhat noisy but that sounded like real cheap motors. Thank you very much.
Thanks for your honest and thorough review.
Hey here is an idea to deal with the noise. While you making you cut. Play Microsoft flight sim 2020 and pick a 747 or an A320 and fly a route that is the length of your cut! That way it will fit in perfectly with your sim just remember to mute the engine noises in the sim! LOL!!
That’s hilarious!
Your link to credit isn't working
Do you need an opening for an exhaust like a dryer has?
Most of us exhaust through an open window
Requires internet connection, sorry I'll pass. If it was supported by octoprint like GRBL based Laser Engravers and CNC routers maybe.
Thanks for the detailed review!
OMG, when that thing went to town I thought there was going to be a liftoff, lol.
I found your review to be very helpful. I've been wanting to get a laser printer/cutter and your review touched on points I wouldn't have even thought of. I live in a small town with slow Internet service and that service goes down fairly often. Because Glowforge is Internet dependent, I would NOT buy it. I don't mean to sound stupid, but with my pyrography I have to be careful to wear a mask, especially because some species of wood produce fumes that are highly toxic. Before burning I always look up the wood species to find out what the dangers are. Since you mentioned smoke escaping from the unit into the room, would this cautionary step be necessary when using the Glowforge?
I’ve personally never worn a mask when I cut, but I’ve also never cut anything toxic either.
I changed my exhaust system a bit and currently have no fumes escaping from the unit.
@@MartinsonManufacturing Here's a link to a Sue Walters article (she's an AMAZING pyrographer) about MDF www.suewalters.com/Safety.html#:~:text=Don't%20leave%20them%20unsupervised,and%20other%20serious%20health%20problems. And here's one article related to MDF and laser cutting--it seems that the critical key to toxic fumes is extremely good ventilation, people who are just getting into laser cutting are, hopefully, researching the potential toxicity of what they intend to cut and then taking proper safety precautions and investing in really good ventilation systems. Thank you for listening and for replying! Here's that 2nd link: www.reddit.com/r/lasercutting/comments/adchkn/mdf_question_about_formaldehyde/
Great review, informative, thanks!
Was there a significant increase in your utility bill when using it or did you not use it enough in specific time period to notice a difference?
Great question! I don’t use it everyday but there have been big projects I’ve run over the course of several days and I haven’t noticed a difference.
Thinking of buying this for cutting my designs but I will think about it
What scared me is the comment where you said if their servers are down it won't work. If the products are reliant on the company servers to work then what happens if the company eventually goes bust? I take it you'd be left with a $4000 boat anchor? I'm in the market for a laser engraver, CNC, and 3D printer currently for business purposes and watched this as the Glowforge was one of the products I was looking at. Thank you for your review.
Hey hi , am in the market for the same, what did u end up getting of each?
Thousands of dollars but you still have to buy an extra part for the exhaust port to fit correctly and won't operate unless it has internet? ...It also needs it's own room (welp, sorry kids I guess you're sleeping with us) and happens to sound like a jet engine. Ugh. Anyone happen to know of a similar machine with better features?
"I wont buy this cause it needs the internet." - Quote FROM the internet...
Sorry to say this but it's a laser cutter, it's a warehouse/shop machine
@@Dab__Bod More to the point if the company goes out of business and the servers aren't being maintained you're screwed.
Cheers, that was vital info for me, could have wasted 6k on a machine i can only access through the internet.
It is a deal breaker. What an insane business model. If something happens to Glowforge you end up with a $6,000 brick. I suspect that at some time in the future they are going to start charging a fee to access some 'enhanced feature' and you have no choice but to pay them or you cannot use the machine !!!!!!!!!
@@sparky9718 Actually they have committed to releasing the server software if they are no longer hosting it themselves. Also the You can get the base model for about half that. They have released several new features since I have owned mine adding greater precision, enhanced user interface, and just recently boosted the cutting speed.
@@macrumpton Just the fact that you need an update to boost cutting speed has me worried
Does that fumes escape from the joints trigger smoke detector?
I've never had an issue with it
It looks like the exhaust port is not available from the links your provided. Any other sources we can get this from before I contact someone with a 3D printer?
Sharon Casto The item is currently being switched over to Amazon Prime. It should be up in a week or so. I’ll try to remember to sent you a reply when it comes available. I’ll update the links here when it’s up.
It's a 4" dryer hose ..... the plastic doohickey shown is OVERPRICED ...... go to Home Depot or Lowes and get a couple for less than $!0
The exhaust port is now available on Amazon if you'd like to get one.
www.amazon.com/Glowforge-Exhaust-Port-Extension/dp/B07XM95SBX/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=glowforge&qid=1570389923&s=handmade&sr=1-2
@@MartinsonManufacturing Still shows as not available
Close system with no way to upload the file directly into the machine? screw that, they could have easily added a USB module and a screen to select the files. The latest Raspberry Pi for about US$ 35 can get you all that functionality even with WIFI module, so that wasn't taken out due to cost but to lock the customers.