Glowforge Forum (2024)

FAQs

How long does the laser last on a Glowforge? ›

Tubes are rated in the many thousands of hours of life. You will see similar lifespan with both cutting and engraving - we estimate 2 years with medium-use (basic) or heavy use (pro).

The Glowforge interface makes it easy to create laser projects. You can start with something as basic as a hand-drawn image, clip art, or photo. You can also create a file using software like Inkscape, Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop.

For Technical Support, questions, or to provide feedback, fill out the form below and one of our Glowforge experts will be in touch soon. You can also connect with a support agent live Monday - Friday 8am - 3pm PST at +1-855-338-2122.

The web interface, point-and-click software, and simple hardware (just one button!) combine to make it both simple and easy to use. Your Glowforge comes with a detailed manual to help you learn to use it easily and quickly.

Cons. In order to use the Glowforge laser, you must have internet service. This means you cannot operate the laser if you don't have internet access or if your internet access is down. However, I have seen other Glowforge users report good results with using cellular hotspot devices.

Normally, if your printer is past the warranty period, we'll replace your laser tube, including roundtrip shipping within the US and Canada, for $499.

Try a Test! Your Glowforge needs internet access. However, it does not need to be connected to the same network as the computer, phone, or tablet you are using to print.

You can absolutely use your Glowforge without paying for this subscription, which comes free for the first 30 days you own your laser printer, but in addition to losing access to all the art, I noticed that the Aura actually slowed down when Premium status wasn't enabled.

Glowforge App for iOS (Beta)

Our iOS app gives you printing control right from your iPhone or iPad, and makes it easy to include a photo from your camera library right into your design. Download the app here.

For those who would like to finance their Glowforge with low monthly payments, we've partnered with the most customer-friendly financing partner around: Affirm. This option is especially popular for customers who will be selling some of what they print, because it allows them to use their Glowforge to pay for itself!

How much does it cost to maintain a Glowforge? ›

I've concluded that budgeting $3,000 a year for machines should cover me for most eventualities. I am in the UK and to get a refurb machine replacement costs about $1500. So, for US users I would think around $1,500 a year is a good guestimate.

What is the warranty? US customers receive a 6-month warranty on the Glowforge Basic and a 12-month warranty on the Glowforge Plus and Glowforge Pro. Customers in the UK receive a 12-month warranty on the Glowforge Basic and a 2-year warranty on the Glowforge Plus and Pro.

What is the average life of a glowforge? The only way to track hours of usage is to keep a record yourself. Many people have had their Glowforges since the original crowdfunding campaign shipped 4-5 years ago, and they're still working fine.

There are 8760 hours in a year. So a tube rated for 10000 hours would run continuously for about 1.2 years. So a tube rated for 10K hours, that's used for 8 hours/day, ought to last 3.6 years. Except the laser isn't on all the time.

This is one of the easiest, yet often overlooked, ways to make money with your Glowforge: get paid for your good ideas! Glowforge Premium users can sell their designs in the Glowforge Catalog! Your designs are published to the Catalog, where every Glowforge creator can discover, purchase, and print them.

On average, the lifespan of a laser is around 10 years, but this depends on how well it is cared for and the conditions under which it operates.

While the effects of LASIK surgery are permanent, the benefits can decrease over time. For most patients, the results of this surgery will last a lifetime. About 10-12% of patients nationwide will need enhancement surgery because of anatomical changes to the eye/eyes.

The exact lifespan of a laser tube varies depending on factors such as usage time, power settings, and the quality of the tube itself but in many cases, a laser engraver can operate for thousands of hours without needing any replacement.

The general lifespan of fiber laser cutters is approximately 100,000 hours. However, this period can vary from one fiber laser cutter to the other. This happens because the mean time between failures, or, MTBF is different depending on the fiber laser cutters.