Glowforge launches consumer-grade laser cutter • Hacker News Board

Re: Glowforge launches consumer-grade laser cutter

#211

Post by lairdpop » Sun, Sep 27, 2015, 10:05 PM UTC

Pxtl wrote: post #206

SEJeff wrote: post #184

So in a followup, Glowforge offered to release the firmware of this 3d printer as GPL. That is a ballsy and incredibly great move. It also helps negate the issues of their cloud service going away, I have an expensive paperweight issue. See: http://glowforge.com/gpl-licensed-open-source-firmware-for-g...

The thing is that their firmware is ultra-lightweight. One of the things they're proud of is that the firmware is extremely thin and basically shunts control signals directly from the cloud service. The cloud service does everything . The expensive paperweight issue still stands.

I am not sure that this would be the case. If all the firmware has to do is process G code, that's oh well understood problem, and runs on Arduino's, and whatever is grilling this printer has to be at least as powerful as we oh well understood problem, and runs on Arduino's, and whatever is grilling this printer has to be at least as powerful as Arduino, and he clearly has four more storage since it can buffer print streams coming across the Internet which is a lot harder then coming in local connection. The only limitation I see is that the device does not have a USB port, which means that even if you're printing off-line you're going through Wi-Fi. If the company went under, I'm wondering if the answer wouldn't be to reverse engineer enough of the server-side to print, and run a copy of that locally, without having to change the printer's firmware.

Re: Glowforge launches consumer-grade laser cutter

#212

Post by g1n016399 » Mon, Sep 28, 2015, 11:48 PM UTC

Thanks for the great discussion, I learned a ton of good info from this thread which cotributed to me deciding to take the plunge and preorder the basic Glowforce. I had hoped to go pro but between the poor US/CAD exchange rate and the rather high price of shipping to Canada I could just not budget for it. If anyone who is ordering wants to save us a $100 each, order through this referal link :) http://glowforge.com/referred/?kid=H5xzt6

Re: Glowforge launches consumer-grade laser cutter

#213

Post by swetland » Tue, Sep 29, 2015, 3:28 AM UTC

danshapiro wrote: post #188

braum wrote: post #132

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is it true the machine requires connection to internet or your cloud to cut or engrave? I was about to order a Pro until I read this in the comments. I expect to be able to use this machine with my laptop running some program and "send to laser", no internet connection required.

Cofounder/CEO here, just finished with Makercon and catching up. The Glowforge does require a cloud connection to operate. We use cloud vs. local a host of reasons including the motion planner, alignment, image recognition, and faster feature development. But based on the excellent point made here that nobody wants a paperweight if we fall off the globe, we decided to make a change. We're going to do a GPL release of…

So, further questions:

1. When you mention planner, etc, does this imply the cloud service is involved not just in a prep phase, but actively during the control loop while the device is cutting? The latter would be worrisome to me.

2. Will you be able to elaborate at all on the functionality of the firmware (and/or provide protocol documentation for it) prior to ship? I'm not sure how comfortable I am pre-ordering without understanding just how much work there is between the device as delivered and an actual, functional, standalone cutter.

I see on the blog that modifying the firmware invalidates warranty coverage. This seems like another argument for protocol docs and/or ability to usefully have at least one cut path that does not tie you to an online service or nuke your warranty.

Re: Glowforge launches consumer-grade laser cutter

#214

Post by oasisbob » Tue, Sep 29, 2015, 5:35 AM UTC

ape4 wrote: post #156

Whats the purpose of the big button the device? I would have thought starting a print from your computer would turn it on.

It's the "the cloud can't activate a 40W cutting laser in your home by itself" button.

At least that's how it's explained more-or-less in one of the videos. Makes sense to ensure that the operator is in front of the machine and has everything properly loaded before firing the laser. Who knows how much of that is really intended as a security process...

Re: Glowforge launches consumer-grade laser cutter

#215

Post by mezh » Tue, Sep 29, 2015, 6:35 AM UTC

Here is $100 off if you use this link to order: http://glowforge.com/referred/?kid=QNUjZz

Re: Glowforge launches consumer-grade laser cutter

#216

Post by exodust » Fri, Oct 02, 2015, 1:51 PM UTC

Disappointed in the pricing tactics, and doubt the "50% off" is anything but typical sales bull.

Back in Feb in an interview with Shapiro in the NYT it was stated "desktop laser cutter that it plans to sell for around $2,000". No mention of this being a special 50% off price.

And in May this year on geekdad.com, Shapiro "wants the price to be under $2,500".

Now it emerges that this is actually the "50% off" price for 23 days only, and the actual full price will be $4000 for the basic model?

It begs the question: what happened between May and now that the price of the basic unit has doubled? What happened to the planned "$2000 laser printer"???

Or is the "50% off" just a lie to generate more initial sales, and later we'll see "new fantastic discount slashed from $4000 down to an unbelievable $2000"?

I see a lot of this sales tactic in online tech products. Permanent discount prices, there's always a "deal" happening. The RRP is some mythical price that is never actually reached.