I’ve been a Glowforge owner since October 2017. (Technically since I ordered during the preorder campaign, I’m an owner since 2015! 6 years?! omg.)
But when recommending a Glowforge compared to the many other machines on the market, there are definitely a few things to consider. In the post below I’ll go through the most important things to consider as you decide whether a Glowforge Laser cutter is right for you.
Please note, I have a Glowforge Basic, and all of my experience will be based on that model only. The opinions expressed in this post are 100% my own and 100% truthful to my experience. I will be discussing both pros and cons of the machine, but if you do decide to buy - please consider using my referral code for a savings of up to $500.
My Background:
Aside from being a Glowforge owner for 4 years, I have been working with laser cutters for fabrication for a decade. I primarily use my laser cutter for miniatures and jewelry, but have used lasers to make furniture, tools, jigs, and more. I have also taught Laser design and use professionally. I love laser cutting and love that it brings the functionality of so many tools to your reach; especially if that laser is in the home,
Glowforge Specs:
Cost: $3,995 (Basic), $4,995 (Plus), $6,995 (Pro)
Body Size: 38" x 20.75" x 8.25"
Maximum material size: 18"x 20” (Basic + Plus), 20” x infinity (Pro)
Cutting Area: 11” x 19.5”
Max Material Height: 2”
Max Material Height with crumb tray: .5”
Maximum material width: 20″ (515 mm)
Power: 40W (Basic), 45W (Plus + Pro)
What a Glowforge can Cut:
Laser cutters in general can cut and engrave on a huge number of materials. Paper, wood, fabric, stone, acrylic, leather - it’s almost limitless. That said, what you plan on cutting will have a huge impact on which Laser cutter brand and model you decide to purchase.
Glowforge has its own brand of materials called “Proofgrade” which are equipped with a QR code that directs the machine to the exact settings needed to cut and score. While this is definitely a unique and helpful feature for new makers, it’s also not the only materials you can cut.
A Glowforge can cut materials of a variety of thicknesses and sizes up to 1/4” including:
Paper goods: Paper, Cardstock, Chipboard, Cereal boxes, Cardboard
Wood Products: Wood Veneer, Hardwood, Plywood, MDF
Plastics: Acrylic, Laser-safe rubber
Fabrics: denim, cotton, 100% Acrylic, chromium-free leather
It can also engrave a large number of materials with thicknesses up to 2”:
Anodized aluminum,
Pre manufactured materials: pencils, leather goods, cutting boards, wood utensils, slate coasters, and so much more.
Note: in order to CUT metal, a laser with a 300W laser is needed. Most lasers in this capacity start at $10,000. A Glowforge cannot cut metal!
My Take: I purchased my Glowforge with the intent of using it to build a business of Modern dollhouse craft kits. I knew I needed to cut 1/4” plywood, leather, and acrylic. My Glowforge does exactly that! With the basic model, dimensions of my dollhouse are a little restricted. If I had known It would still be up and running perfectly 4 years later. I would have just purchased the Glowforge PRO model which would have enabled me to cut larger sheets of material with the passthrough slot. Either way, when I need REALLY big designs cut (4’ x 8’ or larger) I outsource to a local shop that has an industrial machine. Having a machine at home allows me to prototype and test cut without wasting a huge amount of money- but sometimes you can’t compete with the speed of a MASSIVE industrial laser.
Price:
40W lasers that can cut through material as well as engrave and score, range in price dramatically. A lower cost laser is likely un enclosed and requires a separate exhaust and cooling system. Be sure to look at these criteria when comparing and contrasting different machines. An unenclosed laser is best used by experienced users in a highly controlled environment. (no loose materials, and definitely no small hands at play!). Higher priced lasers typically have more flexibility in the size of material they can cut, the speed and power, as well as the bells and whistles associated with the machine. These machines may include air filtration that allow you to filter air directly back into the room (a major perk for anyone who is sick of their house/maker space smelling like a campfire). This also ensures any possibly harmful gas or material isn’t circulating into the workspace.
My Take: Glowforge is not the cheapest laser on the Market. That said, I know a lot of people who purchased a no-name laser to major disappointment; no warranty, no safety checks, no instructions or guidelines for use, and definitely no customer service. Even though it wasn’t my first time using a lasercutter, Glowforge proved to be way more affordable than similarly powered models at the time. I earned back the cost of my Glowforge within the first few months of owning it. Don’t forget that you can save up to $500 using my referral link.
Community:
Owning a Glowforge connects you to the Glowforge Owner forum. In the forum you’ll find answers to all types of design questions, user issues, machine diagnostics, and most importantly; free designs. While there is a whole internet of laser-users, having answers specific to your machine at the touch of a finger makes laser cutting that much more stress free and easy.
My Take: The community and the very active forum was a really great place as I was first getting started. Everyone is extremely generous with their material sources and settings, as well as tips and tricks for Glowforge specific uses.
Repairs + Support:
One of the major “pros” on this list is for support and repairs. Because Glowforge is based in and manufactured in the US, issues of delivery and support are much more easily managed if you are in the US, of course.* You do keep your original box in case you ever need to ship for repairs. This can be a nuisance for someone living in a small space; HOWEVER, as someone who just moved across the country, I was relieved to still have a really sturdy box to protect my machine in transit. Shipping replacement parts and getting clear direction on how to make adjustments is also one of the major benefits you won’t get with a cheap laser.
My Take: I still have my original machine AND laser tube. 4 years in that feels really impressive to me. In the two instances I contact support for minor faulty issues, the replacement parts were mailed to me immediately and at no charge. In an era where companies are constantly trying to get us to dump and upgrade our electronics; I have so much respect for Glowforge and their ongoing efforts to protect your machine and make sure it’s working for years and years to come.
Design Software:
Very few lasers come with a built-in design program. the ones that do…. leave a LOT to be desired. Glowforge has come a long way in this category with their Premium subscription. Glowforge Premium is an in-app design software which includes fonts, vector graphics, and some free designs.
My Take: I primarily design in illustrator or AutoCAD. Both of which are highly customizable but also expensive. For the most part; there are enough free programs (Like Inkscape!) to design for your laser. I do think the huge number of free catalog designs being added for premium users is changing this incentive.
Extras:
A camera on the lid - It has a camera so you can somewhat accurately align your design to the object. I cannot truly express how aggrivating it is to try an align a design to material when you have nothing to go on. The camera isn’t perfect, but it is a huge benefit to see what is n your machine as you place your design.
The ability to save your material settings - I don’t primarily use the Glowforge brand proof-grade materials, so being able to save settings for materials I use all the time is insanely convenient. Without manual adjustments I can quickly set the cut speed, power, and focus height. I don’t know of any other laser that offers this.
Web-based app - This is probably the most controversial opinion I have. I LIKE that Glowforge is web based. As someone who is used to having to constantly run updates for my Cricut cutting machine, I like that I never have to do anything to get the latest and greatest Glowforge tools and upgrades. You do need a good wifi signal though - keep that in mind!
Scan then Cut - Not the most useful aspect of the machine, but Glwoforge allows you to hand draw something, put it in your machine, trace it, and then engrave it on another material. It’s a really simple and thoughtful way to customize gifts.
It’s just really pretty - It looks nice. It’s definitely the most attractive laser cutter on the market. It looks like a large white inkjet printer instead of a huge bulky piece of machinery.
Snapmark - Snapmark allows you to easily align graphics with objects or cuts. For example, say you printed your own business cards on an inkjet printer. You could then use the Glowforge snapmark tool to cut out your card so that the text is perfectly centered.
Power Save Mode - It goes into power save mode. After a few minutes of non-use the Glowforge gets a little quieter and a little dimmer, it’s a small touch but it’s really big difference.Glowforge makes it’s own Laser-safe materials that are designed specifically to work with your machine called “Proof-Grade.” While they are nice, they’re definitely not cheap. Luckily, a number of other materials work just perfectly. Including these common materials listed below.
Anything you still want to know? Ask in the comments!
Glowforge Discount:
If you do decide to get a Glowforge of your very own, you can use my referral code and we’ll each save!
The below Glowforge discount saves you $100 off a Basic, $300 off a Plus, and $500 off a Pro!