The ink tank system appears to be much better than the cartridge system th-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.
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.
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 :)
"i don't think they're trying to make money of this material, they just do this to make sure you put in the right material" Hate to burst your bubble dude, but you can get that material waaay cheaper in large sheets. Good review tho! Really convinced me not to buy one.
@@goalmind8753 cause i don't want to be dependent on some company keeping their servers up and running, while not being able to make any adjustments to the hardware. Would much rather try to build a laser cutter myself.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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)
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?
The lid design. Lid on my Glowforge is already falling apart, it's either pay $200 to ship it back and they repair it or fix it myself. It's sad... Glowforge clearly has a flaw on there lid design, glass, plastic lid parts & hinge hardware are all poorly glued together. For a company that literally made $28 MILLION during there crowdfunding campaign, at least ship & repair the lid on my Gloglowforge for free. I've met someone locally that also has a Glowforge after the first month of continuous use, her lid separated from the adhesive/glue. She shipped it back for repairs and now the lid is falling apart again. Sorry, I'm just angry.
Why apologize? Anger is a logical and justifiable reaction to a manufacturer who cuts corners on a WAY expensive device. Sometimes anger is enough to propel us to action.
Crazy, I've had my Glowforge for a year now and it is perfectly fine. I have put at least 1,000 hours on it in the past year, the inside is almost completely wood gunk. Everything works like the day I got it.
@@pathfinderLXXIV Since that comment, I've ran the glowforge another 100 hours, and honestly am only now thinking about setting time aside to clean it. Lol. It is going to be an arduous process to deep clean it. Not something worth doing but every few hundred hours probably.
THIS SUCKS ----- The Printer DOES NOT allow a " Local Print " operation. You MUST BE connected to the Internet and Glowforge in order to print. If you buy a machine from them for about $6,000 and they go out of business you end up with a $6,000 BRICK ....... OR ........ If they decide to CHARGE you $$$$$$$$$ to access " enhanced features" ...... well you either pay them or you end up with a $6,000 BRICK ...........
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 !!!!!!!!!
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.
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
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.
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!
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.
It’s a really nice machine until you have low WiFi ... my machine overheated all the time until I elevated it and put a fan on the bottom to cool it off... I sold it and bought the dremel version of it ... this reminds me of the Xcarve with free software then after awhile you have pay a monthly service to use it unless you have the aspire software..
@@jimmieeasterday6755 The problem is your room is too hot. The machine can't operate at over 75-80 degrees ambient temperatures. Either put it in a A/C controlled room, or install it in front of a window and add a Window Unit.
@@jimmieeasterday6755 I would recommend using an infrared thermometer and checking the area around your laser. By keeping your thermostat at 69, that tells me your overall cooling in your house is not that great. For example, my old HVAC I kept the thermostat at 68 because it seemed it was the only thing that would cool the house. New HVAC, I keep at 72, and the whole family is freezing. I keep my laser in a metal shed, in Florida heat, with just a tiny Window unit in front of it, and it has never stalled. The only time my unit has stalled is when I used it outside the day it arrived! It was 90 degrees outside, and I wasn't aware it needed to be cooled down.
You said four grand I ducking sh*t myself I thought it be more like 500 $600 when I saw the ad on TH-cam heck no I’m not getting this such a waste of money
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.
Beware....Glowforge is PC based and not MAC friendly. Using my MAC, I had to apply several workarounds. I guess no one informed Glowforge that most designers use MACs. And as stated in the video, when the Glowforge server goes down, which has occurred numerous times, you are out of business. Lastly, Glowforge will not communicate software updates to users....surprise.
I'm surprised it has an issue with OS considering the damn thing requires the cloud to function. That makes absolutely as much sense to me as an sd card. Jesus, why aren't they building these things with a wifi interface that allows you to dump gcode to the on-board from your client? Yeah, Mac, Win and Linux compatible software would also be required. The cloud piece alone is enough to make me walk away. Scroll up and read Mike Thornbury's comments and you'll be completely educated. Glowforge is ridiculous.
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.
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 don’t know anything about laser printers. With that said. If a company is asking me to give them $4000.00. The lens should be of a higher quality. Great video though. 👍🏾
Wow I thought this would be a really cool machine. The price is high, but the feature set is high, so it might be OK. I was almost sold until I hear the part where an internet connection is required. I would NEVER purchase a device like this that REQUIRED and internet connection to operate. That needs to change before I could ever consider purchasing this.
@@DFullerLisa What the heck does that mean? I have been "computing" since the 70s and have worked at the top of my field for years. I think I know what I am doing. I am simply saying that for a device such as this to require an internet connection for operation is silly. There is nothing about this device that should require a live connection to the internet. I am not sure why you would feel the need to attempt to insult me, you don't know me. Am I not allowed to have an opinion in this matter?
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.
Irene Isbell I’ve always loved making things and I like having the tools to do so. I bought this with the hope of making a business out of it. I’ve done a few jobs so far but haven’t really advertised a whole lot. It’s a significant purchase so you have to decide for yourself if it’s something you’re really passionate about and if you have the time to invest in it.
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.
Yeah. At that price it’s definitely aiming at pro-sumer, but being completely dependent on wireless connectivity places it firmly in the consumer market. So I guess gloforge kinda shot their-self in the foot.
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.
Dacia's D.I.Y's Are u joking? Anyone wanting to cut larger projects. 🤦🏻♂️ If you just want a small machine, there are plenty of them on ebay in the $600 range - and they work!
Already I can tell my questions aren't going to be answered by YOU anyway because I'm not even sure I WANT the glowforge device. You have already decided you want one. So, on to somebody else 😉
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
The ink tank system appears to be much better than the cartridge system th-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.
great review. I like your style. all facts, no wasted time or bad music.
Thanks man
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.
So build a new room in your house and then buy a glowforge. Got it.
MySchizo Buddy namely a basement with a window until you can afford the ventilator.
Garage or basement.
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.
Xr BRP made me smile
"i don't think they're trying to make money of this material, they just do this to make sure you put in the right material" Hate to burst your bubble dude, but you can get that material waaay cheaper in large sheets. Good review tho! Really convinced me not to buy one.
Why not buy one?
@@goalmind8753 cause i don't want to be dependent on some company keeping their servers up and running, while not being able to make any adjustments to the hardware. Would much rather try to build a laser cutter myself.
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.
Perfect review. Thanks for not talking for an hour before jumping into the review. Very concise and clear.
L😄 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
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
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.
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.
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
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
Noise makes this a no for me. :-( Great review and I appreciate the time you took to do this.
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.
$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.
Requires internet connection, sorry I'll pass. If it was supported by octoprint like GRBL based Laser Engravers and CNC routers maybe.
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?
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!
Thank you for the honest review. I used your referral code. :)
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
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?
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.
The lid design.
Lid on my Glowforge is already falling apart, it's either pay $200 to ship it back and they repair it or fix it myself.
It's sad... Glowforge clearly has a flaw on there lid design, glass, plastic lid parts & hinge hardware are all poorly glued together. For a company that literally made $28 MILLION during there crowdfunding campaign, at least ship & repair the lid on my Gloglowforge for free. I've met someone locally that also has a Glowforge after the first month of continuous use, her lid separated from the adhesive/glue. She shipped it back for repairs and now the lid is falling apart again.
Sorry, I'm just angry.
Why apologize? Anger is a logical and justifiable reaction to a manufacturer who cuts corners on a WAY expensive device. Sometimes anger is enough to propel us to action.
Thanks for sharing dont plan on buying one these pretty expensive for little value
Crazy, I've had my Glowforge for a year now and it is perfectly fine. I have put at least 1,000 hours on it in the past year, the inside is almost completely wood gunk. Everything works like the day I got it.
@@lucasward2648 Filled with wood gunk as in you don't clean it after makering?
@@pathfinderLXXIV Since that comment, I've ran the glowforge another 100 hours, and honestly am only now thinking about setting time aside to clean it. Lol. It is going to be an arduous process to deep clean it. Not something worth doing but every few hundred hours probably.
THIS SUCKS ----- The Printer DOES NOT allow a " Local Print " operation. You MUST BE connected to the Internet and Glowforge in order to print. If you buy a machine from them for about $6,000 and they go out of business you end up with a $6,000 BRICK ....... OR ........ If they decide to CHARGE you $$$$$$$$$ to access " enhanced features" ...... well you either pay them or you end up with a $6,000 BRICK ...........
I'll wait til it made a Lil smaller, and price goes down I'll wait
reliant on wifi connection to operate seemless... ill pass....shame.... most game apps need you to be online too.... yay for lo fi graphics..lol
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 yep..
Very expensive, but would love to have one in the waaaay future lol thank you for the detailed review!! Much appreciated!
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
Nice brick...... Won't be buying one of these... Too many downsides.
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
$4K and you have to spend $20 more to get an accessory to make it work properly???!!! WTF Glowforge?
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.
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 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.
It’s a really nice machine until you have low WiFi ... my machine overheated all the time until I elevated it and put a fan on the bottom to cool it off... I sold it and bought the dremel version of it ... this reminds me of the Xcarve with free software then after awhile you have pay a monthly service to use it unless you have the aspire software..
How do you like the Dremel model? Is their software something you can just download so you're not dependent on wifi?
Mine over heats all the time and stalls take 2 hr to cut something that should cut 45 min.. how did you attach a additional fan
@@jimmieeasterday6755 The problem is your room is too hot. The machine can't operate at over 75-80 degrees ambient temperatures. Either put it in a A/C controlled room, or install it in front of a window and add a Window Unit.
Lucas it is in my home and with ac we keep our home at 69 degrees
@@jimmieeasterday6755 I would recommend using an infrared thermometer and checking the area around your laser. By keeping your thermostat at 69, that tells me your overall cooling in your house is not that great. For example, my old HVAC I kept the thermostat at 68 because it seemed it was the only thing that would cool the house. New HVAC, I keep at 72, and the whole family is freezing. I keep my laser in a metal shed, in Florida heat, with just a tiny Window unit in front of it, and it has never stalled. The only time my unit has stalled is when I used it outside the day it arrived! It was 90 degrees outside, and I wasn't aware it needed to be cooled down.
Just found your review... two thumbs up, you totally talked me out of buying one of these pieces of junk. Thank you sincerely.
Why didn't he 3d print that exhaust part
I thought the same thing, 20 bucks.... yeesh!
Dag! I thought the same exact thing. Somebody figured that out and may be rich now!!
You would need a 3D printer for that, the Glowforge is a laser cutter and burner
@@glennd.3124 he owns one
Lol I thought the same thing
You said four grand I ducking sh*t myself I thought it be more like 500 $600 when I saw the ad on TH-cam heck no I’m not getting this such a waste of money
The sound is like an X-Wing heating to take off...
Thank you! I used your code today to purchase the GF for the bookstore I run. I want to be able customize gift items for our customers.
Hey, what a cool idea, and congrats!
thank you. great review
Actually, the GlowForge has two cameras- one is on the edge and one is in the center (the one that you showed). The center camera is a wide-angle lens, so it sees more of the edge than you implied.
Mandatory Internet interface is a scam and a deal breaker.
Beware....Glowforge is PC based and not MAC friendly. Using my MAC, I had to apply several workarounds. I guess no one informed Glowforge that most designers use MACs. And as stated in the video, when the Glowforge server goes down, which has occurred numerous times, you are out of business. Lastly, Glowforge will not communicate software updates to users....surprise.
I'm surprised it has an issue with OS considering the damn thing requires the cloud to function. That makes absolutely as much sense to me as an sd card. Jesus, why aren't they building these things with a wifi interface that allows you to dump gcode to the on-board from your client? Yeah, Mac, Win and Linux compatible software would also be required. The cloud piece alone is enough to make me walk away. Scroll up and read Mike Thornbury's comments and you'll be completely educated. Glowforge is ridiculous.
Close system with no way to upload the file directly into the machine? screw that, they could have easily added a USB module and a screen to select the files. The latest Raspberry Pi for about US$ 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.
$4000.00 and not usb input? LOLOLOLOL And you have three 3D printer and you couldn’t print one of those extensions so you bought one for $20.00? LOLOL
Time to make my Iron Man suit.
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 don’t know anything about laser printers. With that said. If a company is asking me to give them $4000.00. The lens should be of a higher quality. Great video though. 👍🏾
By far the best informational review. Thank you for taking the time.
Wow I thought this would be a really cool machine. The price is high, but the feature set is high, so it might be OK. I was almost sold until I hear the part where an internet connection is required. I would NEVER purchase a device like this that REQUIRED and internet connection to operate. That needs to change before I could ever consider purchasing this.
Cassius Seeley ok stupid question but is it cuz you’re not good at computers or more to break?
@@DFullerLisa What the heck does that mean? I have been "computing" since the 70s and have worked at the top of my field for years. I think I know what I am doing. I am simply saying that for a device such as this to require an internet connection for operation is silly. There is nothing about this device that should require a live connection to the internet. I am not sure why you would feel the need to attempt to insult me, you don't know me. Am I not allowed to have an opinion in this matter?
thanks for the video. While it looks like a very slick product, it seems a bit too proprietary with materials (sounds like HP) and internet only?? wow deal breaker for me.
One would think they'd find something else than 3$ fans running at 6000 rpm for a 4000$ machine
Why did you want this ? Do you sell thing that you cut ? Why would I need One.
Irene Isbell I’ve always loved making things and I like having the tools to do so. I bought this with the hope of making a business out of it. I’ve done a few jobs so far but haven’t really advertised a whole lot. It’s a significant purchase so you have to decide for yourself if it’s something you’re really passionate about and if you have the time to invest in it.
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.
You lost me at 4000 dollars.
Daniel Klem Lost us.
Yeah. At that price it’s definitely aiming at pro-sumer, but being completely dependent on wireless connectivity places it firmly in the consumer market. So I guess gloforge kinda shot their-self in the foot.
Hey, I paid $0k plus for my laser engraver
Angela Walker now that’s the kind of deal I’d like to find. 🤓🤪🤣
Very helpful! Ty!
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.
Requires internet. Moving on. 😒
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.
Needs Internet connection to work? 100% will not buy for me then.
Internet only!. For that reason I'm out
My best solution for noise and smells... install it on the garage... o wait, I don’t have a garage, nor $4k... oh well! I guess I’ll Pass
Thanks man
Glowforge is a racket. You can get a 100W machine 4x that size for the same price. 🤦🏻♂️
dwalden74 may I ask which you’re taking about
Who’s gonna wavnt one 4 times the size?
Idekashia Her Just search then on ebay.
Dacia's D.I.Y's Are u joking? Anyone wanting to cut larger projects. 🤦🏻♂️ If you just want a small machine, there are plenty of them on ebay in the $600 range - and they work!
Already I can tell my questions aren't going to be answered by YOU anyway because I'm not even sure I WANT the glowforge device. You have already decided you want one. So, on to somebody else 😉
great review i think i am choosing glowforge oever the silhoutte
Looked interesting right up until the internet only option came up. No way I'd spend 4-5000 on a cloud dependent device. Disappointing.
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.
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!
Thank you. Jus got mines today. Can't wait get home. Be blessed. Great Vid
Thanks for the info. Appreciate the review. Sounds like this is not the machine for me.
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.
20 BUCKS for that adapter!? Go to Home Depot plumbing section bro
It would be fantastic if you could connect the glowforge directly to your laptop via usb or CATV
You didn't see specs on their website because there aren't any.
Thanks a million for your honest and in depth review.
Confirming my belief that i will NOT buy one of these! I will stick with a Real engraving/cutting Laser Machine!
Dave, like what machine then? There’s soooo many now. You have a recommendation?
Dude with the exhaust port and the hose have you ever heard of duct tape It's literally made for stuff like that
Oh, I was hoping, cause I do my stuff by hand.
But 4k is waay ahead my porch right now.
RGB Crafts 4K is for the pro. There’s one for $2500 too
Great review. Thank for Saving me from my impulsive shopping
That’s what I’m here for :)
Thanks for the review! Very helpful!
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 so much for this.
Reliant on a web connection - wouldn’t touch with a barge pole!
OMG, when that thing went to town I thought there was going to be a liftoff, lol.
Ah, a referral link. Think I’ll pass on this “honest” review.
I created the video before I knew the referral program existed fyi.
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.
hmmm i guess you get what you pay for.. thats why i went with an epilog.
I would never buy a machine that relies 100% on internet
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.
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.
The internet dependency completely puts me off it.
Your repeated use of the word "super" is incorrect! Super is an adjective. Using "super" as an adverb, is very poor English!
This comment is super helpful
Sorry. Not going to be chained to the internet. Next.
You have four 3D printers but you bought a simple hose adapter online? Shouldn't you have made it yourself?
That is an interesting point my friend
lost me at internet only
Sooo helpful! Thank you!!