Glowforge: My Least Favorite Things 

THANK YOU! Your "least fave" list mirrors my exact concerns and stumbling blocks for considering a Glowforge. The cloud and no direct connection and the lack of being able to do production work by just repeating the last cuts. Great Video. Thanks!

I have a 50w chinese laser that I purchased 2 years ago and a glowforge plus that I bought 12 months ago. Your review did make me realise how much more basic control I have over my processes (projects) with the 50w chinese laser versus my glowforge... It was interesting to get a professional independent view on the glowforge, the referral program glowforge run makes it hard to get honest unbiased views on owning one 👍

Really appreciated this. I just bought a glow forge, I wanted a muse but they wouldn’t give me a price to ship to Uk and I went with what was available. Sadly it only burns on one side so I’m awaiting a service call. The price of the proprietary stuff is indeed preposterous. Thank you for your hard work in making this

I was on the verge of ordering a Glowforge Pro. That came to a hard stop when I learned that: 1) processing of files was performed on a remote server; 2) features of the software were locked behind a paywall; 3) "fast lane" access to server processing is used as an incentive to sell the full-featured version of the service; and 4) no ability to save the generated code files locally and load them to run repeat on demand. The Glowforge business model is completely unacceptable as it hinders your activities. There are too many competitors in the laser cutter / engraver market for the Glowforge model to continue to be successful.

I appreciate your sharing this information! Thank you so much!

We have been researching for some time now. Everything you are sharing is what steered us away from the glow forge.

Thank you for this video! The whole cloud requirement seems a little too close to the Cricut situation that kicked off earlier this year, for me personally this type of "feature" is definitely a dealbreaker so I'm glad you pointed that out before I research any more!

My biggest issue is having the dimensions change from Inkscape to the dashboard of Glowforge. Still not sure why it does that! And that the wood they sell is expensive. I'm actually surprised they sell any especially when you can get good quality wood from other suppliers.

I’ve been wanting to purchase a glow forge but I’m glad I came across this today maybe I better look at epilogue and see what I can find out about that. This is the biggest expense of purchase for me so I want to make sure I make the right choice. I’m a crafter basically in a course I always want the best in any machine that I buy so I’m willing to pay a bit more but I want to make sure it does everything I wanted to do. I think what was a scaring me off an epilogue was that I was afraid that I might not be able to figure out the computer part of it Your advice it was very helpful so now I’ve got more conflicted right now about what I want thank you

You steered me towards a glowforge, thanks!

There's a consensus of your observations. Thx for posting.

The bad things are actually not that bad if you’re a beginner or enthusiast, but I agree with you as far as the user having to depend on a cloud base software to be able to use your machine that kinda sucks

All the things you mentioned bother me, but the thing that really gets me, is the hinge-lid joint design. My glowforge lid came off on my hand last night. It's a common problem. They attached a smooth sheet of glass to a smooth bit of metal with adhesive, right at the spot that feels the most intense mechanical forces in the whole machine. Over time I expect every unit to suffer the same failure.

How do you feel about the Muse? I think I am steering towards that instead of the GF. I have never operated a laser cutter but am familiar with the Cricut explore & maker. I also have the access to adobe programs. I have some knowledge of creating cut files. Any thought would be greatly appreciated 🙏🏽

Thank you for your honesty.....

Real good video. I am now going to look at Epilog.

I agree, not the precision, control, openness. Glowforge focus is on milking customers for money and keeping customers dependent on Glowforge. Like you, my company bought this and I would NEVER own a Glowforge. Their proof grade materials are several hundred % times the price of the same material from other sources. Every word here is right on especially if a person has used other laser engraver products.

I came here from your dremel video. Thanks for this video. I am just an hobbyist, but I still care about the limitations you mentioned. I bought my first 3d printer used and it has some much online integration/drm; it was terrible. It was tied to online services, the previous owner had to deactivate it from his account to allow me to activate for use. Will never deal with that stuff again so will not consider buying anything that requires an online connection. Specially when you are paying so much for it. The only thing that 3d printer had going for it was that it was the cheapest I could find.

Yeah, the QR trick 100% works and some other RU-vidrs use it. I usually use strictly acrylic, so I just use their "Medium" or "Thick" acrylic settings and never have problems. I do have all sorts with wood though, thankfully it's a rare material for my own personal use.

Do you have the link for the basic settings for materials I can't find it on here I'm sorry

What would you suggest as the best laxer cutter and printer?

Would you prefer the FSL or GF overall?

You forgot about the automatic Updates that can just Ruin your old settings as well as there server occasionally wiping out the Desing settings, UGH ! Looking at a Muse now for my next laser.

I have scanned the QR codes and used them on something else and it seemed to work just fine. One major issue someone else brought up about Glowforge and its proprietary links is what happens if the company ever sells or goes out of business, am I left with a very expensive paper weight?

I really hate using the word printer as well - it is like rubbing a cat the wrong way.

Cloud server, closed software and fast lane subscription all sounds like shady business practices.

Did you find if using their QR code on your material worked?

Didn't know any of this - great information. All I had seen had been positive, now I am not interested in a Glowforge (I was not really thinking anyway as it was way too expensive).

Hmm, none of these reasons were really applicable to me, except the cost of the proprietary materials, which I buy other sources at pretty good prices, so I’m still a happy camper with my GF!!

Thanks for the video. Sounds like the the laser for putzes, just wow. Proprietary cloud software was enough to cross that one off the list....and then it got worse! lol. No need for that nonsense with the intensity of competition in the laser market.

Thank you for all your input. So what your machine you recommend for beginners?

does not have the precision. Thank you my experience of this exactly.

It’s massive I want it in my small home lol

At 13:32 you said "Dremel", and I think you meant "Glowforge".

Some thoughts: 1) I've heard this branding grievance from others; IMHO it's like not liking a company's logo - it just doesn't matter 2) I've heard so many complain about the WiFi/cloud requirement; I've had this machine for 5 years, and it's never been an issue. I completely agree with your other comments about the closed system; but it's a trade-off with the simplicity/ease of use vs. wanting to become a laser expert. I find your point about settings confusing, since on the one hand you want the manufacturer to supply settings, but you want complete control. 3) Fine-tuned control - focusing - you definitely have control over focus height. Placement of materials - agree that placement is not precise vis a vie the camera, and the only way to refine placement is through test scores. 4) Proprietary materials - it's part of their business model; there are lots of other sources of material. If you don't want to pay their prices, buy from somebody else. And you can select their materials settings for your own material, and then fine tune it. You will get a warning about non-proof grade, but it still works.

Customer service is horrible. I have owned mine for 7-8 months and its trash. You can only respond by email and to fix mine they will send me a refurbished and I have to pay 1125.00. I am furious over this situation.

I have also thought about this and I’ve also thought about how beneficial it is to know that somebody created some thing invented some thing and it’s not gonna be used for a bunch of garbage OK the illegal people in the world and I’m not saying that you specifically, but I think there’s a little munch monitoring here that’s going on a little ““supervision because some of the things that can be done with the clipboards or any laser, especially a glow forge the way it builds up and it’s so precise. OK the criminal aspects that’s why I lean towards glow forge is because it is ““going down the bumper rails OK and maybe that’s not why he did it but that’s what I think of OK. Some of these you don’t have to use the Internet that you can whatever plug-in OK oh that are very high-quality. There’s $80,000 laser Seeno but some of the things I can be done with him. I mean the laser printer the laser engraver is nothing new OK I mean you can go to Lowe’s OK and then get your keys and you’re done you know but it’s nothing new taking a picture in it and putting something engraving something is you prefer difficult? It’s nothing new, but what I do like about this is that you have the peace of mind that from one OK you can’t steal one of these you can’t use it for the legal bullshit OK and I think that even though that’s none of our business factor or you know with the other guy does doesn’t make a shit I think that is a, a a a taking pride in your invention OK and it’s not these for me to bullshit. I could be completely wrong once again I’ll get one someday and I’ll find out another McKernan. I’ll find out you know because you have to have an account you have to have the Internet you have to go through their system and I think that fishes out a lot of bullshit why Dan did it I have no idea I don’t know Dan so I don’t know maybe we should ask and so far I think that you’re kind of a bitch because you start out real quickly in your voice and in that tells me you’re not resecure and what you’re saying because you almost sound like you’re gonna break down OK not like you’re thinking ahead and put it in words but I think that you’re just being a bitch today and Catherine that’s all.

I think you just answer Jim question OK if you’re gonna use a Glowforge material OK and you’re putting it in there putting in there I think there’s a safety issue and you have to consider that some people are idiots. OK and you know it’s not like a piece of paper that I say print 50 and at 20 I run out of paper and I have to put in 30 more and I know for a fact I am doing this is that OK if you look at the people that are not use it properly or have not use the they put in the wrong material and I think I do the same thing even though, so I think there’s a purpose to sending it to the cloud there’s a purpose for that even if you have to do it every single time OK you’re not gonna print 20 copies in two seconds OK so what was it matter that you have to send that to the cloud OK I can agree that may be a storage, but then again the machine The Ziegler fortune needs to identify and know for a fact that this is that OK where if you hit if you hit repeat you’re not getting that extra security that you know your insurance won’t cover it. If your house burns down or some bullshit because you’re an idiot. When you went to put in paper you put in wood or whatever OK I think there’s a security issue there not a security issue a safety issue and I love you and used one and you answered your own question if you listen to yourself Catherine, stop hating on Dan bitch

Your first comment about their marketing is a printer and when they say print this print that lets print is so on so on and you look at it you put on a printing or cutting. It’s not 3-D it’s flat but the thing is is that you make things with it you’re not you’re not talking about one surface your buildings that you know you make it 3-D, OK and instead of engraving a chunk of wood you can layer out a chat layers of wood OK and I think that that’s where the printing concept comes from versus the engraving where when we think of printer, we think of a flat surface or 3-D printer, which you know is when you gob where with a Glowforge, your engraving in layers, therefore creating a 3-D print and I had to think about that for a minute and I have no laser experience but I want you so fucking bad I can’t stand it but you’re not printing your cutting which is 3-D printing because you you are building it you are building up and I think that that’s kind of where the concept comes from versus a 3-D printer that you know is this hot gooey crap that you got it but OK This is more specific and exact . No experience so I could be totally wrong, but

restrictive kinna what the world is right now, thanks for the info!

They can quality control the materials. OK I’m sure that they do make a lot of money but you need on Amazon and buy every single one of those materials. OK it doesn’t have to come through clear forge. It doesn’t have to have a sticker but it’s only going to hand is still gonna have the same specs OK you’re not gonna be able to put a tree limb through it I mean, so what’s the matter you’re being real fucking nitpicky OK you’re still gonna only be able to put some in this thick of and that laser still only gonna cut this or engrave this, so what’s the matter Kathryn quit hating on Dan real