Laser cutters generate smoke (with possibly toxic particles). They have air extraction attached to them for that reason. No air extraction on this model?
Glowforge launches consumer-grade laser cutter
21–30 of 216 posts
Re: Glowforge launches consumer-grade laser cutter
#22Could you use this for single sided PCB printing?
In theory this process should work (it still requires etching as you can't cut copper with this laser):
http://www.instructables.com/id/Custom-PCB-Prototyping-using...
Re: Glowforge launches consumer-grade laser cutter
#23How is a 40W laser Class I, but the 45W laser is Class IV?
You can get Class I by preventing human access, I'm guessing the Pro can't have the same interlocks for some design reason.
Re: Glowforge launches consumer-grade laser cutter
#24Laser cutters generate smoke (with possibly toxic particles). They have air extraction attached to them for that reason. No air extraction on this model?
Take a look at the specs -- you can either vent them out a window or buy the air filter (which I'm guessing is a fancy charcoal scrubber, don't know for sure).
Re: Glowforge launches consumer-grade laser cutter
#25It calls itself a 3D laser printer. It's a 2D laser cutter.
It doesn't just cut. It has variable focus of 13mm, allowing it to carve out any desired shape within that range.
Re: Glowforge launches consumer-grade laser cutter
#26Laser cutters generate smoke (with possibly toxic particles). They have air extraction attached to them for that reason. No air extraction on this model?
I came to say the same thing.
My lab uses an industrial laser cutter a lot, and perspex fumes stink. We have a large extraction unit to capture the fumes.
Filters only capture a limited range of compounds too. Important to always check whether the filter can handle the material before cutting.
Re: Glowforge launches consumer-grade laser cutter
#27In the video, at about 13:40 they reveal that to print you have to use the web interface which runs "On Googles Cloud". I would not like the interface to my own printer to be "In the Google cloud". Does that mean when the company goes out of business, the printer is bricked? And right after, they admit that they plan adding paid services. Oh oh. How will thesed paid services be announced? I can imagine how. Whenever…
Good question, I _think_ the ideas is the exact opposite -- you're not depending on Glowforge UI to be backed by a startups servers, the software runs on google cloud instead. Pros and cons, obviously, but I think the main pro is (like a Tesla) the machine's performance and usability can be improved without you installing any new software. As far as dependencies go, google's probably the best possible choice.
Huh? Someone has to manage and pay for the software running on "Google's cloud".
Re: Glowforge launches consumer-grade laser cutter
#28I want... NO.... I NEED this! The price seems surprisingly reasonable for the amount of household items you could create that you "Forgot to get from the store."
Re: Glowforge launches consumer-grade laser cutter
#29I want... NO.... I NEED this! The price seems surprisingly reasonable for the amount of household items you could create that you "Forgot to get from the store."
(cofounder here)
Thank you! I was lucky enough to have an industrial laser in my garage for a few years and was amazed at what it could do, and how miserably hard it was to do it. Hopefully we'll let lots of folks experience the first and none the second.
Re: Glowforge launches consumer-grade laser cutter
#30After watching that video I feel like they should do a promo with Etsy. Also can't help but think about Cory Doctorow's "Makers", sci-fi being slowly ushered into our lives :)