Short guide to the use of laser cutting machines/Use of Glowforge cutting machines

Glowforge is a crowfunded company that develop laser cutting machines, the machines used in this guide are GlowForge Plus and Glowforge Pro.

GlowForge plus uses 40 watts and Glowforge pro 45 Watts. The operate in a similar way, but Glowforge pro is faster when engraving.

Glowforge uses its own online application to operate the 3D printer, to use it you will require to login in their website.

https://accounts.glowforge.com/users/sign_in

If you own a glowforge machine and have an account, you can login to the online application:

app.glowforge.com

When logged in, and if your Glowforge is properly installed will show the camera and the materials in the bed of the 3d printer machine, this will allow you to design and print and see where the cut will be made before printing.

Once logged in you will be able to create folder and the created files will be stored on the cloud, unless deleted.

Precaution.

Is recommended the use of own material or material without copyright unless is for fair use and not commercial use.

Material maximum dimensions

The material should have a size smaller that the bed in order to fit inside the bed and not interfere with the moving parts of the cutters that move in the 2 lateral sides besides the bed, for this, the maximum size for the material is:

Length 12 inches, wide: 18 inches.

Note: If a material with a bigger size of the material is placed over the bed it will interfere with the movement of the laser cutter machine since, the cut has to be stopped to prevent misalignment of the machine.

To solve this error, the piece should be cut to a size where the material fits inside the bed. In case that the laser cutter can move without problems, but the material is still over the borders of the bed it will lead to a not even or incomplete cut, the material should be flat over the base of the bed and not over the borders of the bed.

Maximum cutting size

Materials should be smaller than the cut capacity of the printer, if the cutting pattern is bigger that this size, the laser cutting machine will not show the printer option.

Length: 10.5 inches, wide: 18 inches.

When the cutting pattern is bigger than this area will show the excess section in whiter color. To solve this error, the patter should be moved to fit in the cutting area, if that does not solve the error, the size of the object or pattern should be changed to one that fits in the cutting area.

Glowforge online application

In order to use glowforge software you will need to create a glowforge account: https://glowforge.com/create-account

Once logged in the user account the user will be able to Insert text, create artwork. import documents created with other software such Inkscape or Illustrator, etc.

Glowforge applications can be used directly from the glowforge website: https://app.glowforge.com/

Interface

After logged in to you account you can see all your documents and buttons or options to control, select or modify your work or the creations/cuts that you are working with.

• The first icon with three lines allow you to see the catalog, list of materials with prices, the community (forum), etc.

• The second icon allow you to see or refresh your designs.

• In the right upper side you can select your glowforge machine in case of having installed more than one.

• The button Create new design button will give you three options:

- Create a blank design

- Upload a file

- Trace a file.

• The home page button take you back to the starting or initial page.

• My designs button allow you to see all your designs in one page.

• The learn button: On this page you can access to lessons made in collaboration with channels of creators that use Glowforge.

• The search box to search anything that you are looking for in the website or in your creations.

• The smart folders, where each account can see their recent creations or folders, users can see any folder to see their designs or press home to go to the main manu.

• In the center of the home screen can be seen the designs:

- Popular this month.

- My designs.

- Latest designs.

The option see all is beside each of the 3 options to see all the popular items, or designs or latest designs.

Creating new designs

Press the create new design button, this will create new cuts patters, allowing you to Create a blank design, Upload a file or Trace a file.

Creating a blank design

Press the create new design button and press the create a blank design option, after this you will see the camera in the glowforge and the material if already placed on it, this will function as your canvas (where you can see the object to be cut), and you will design in the screen over this object.

The area show by the camera is at the same time the area for edition o creation the cutting lines or cutting areas.

Interface:

• The first icon with three lines allow you to see the catalog, list of materials with prices, the community (forum), etc.

• The second icon allow you to see or refresh your designs.

• The third options is the material, it will say unknown material, if you press it will allow you to select the following options:

- You will see a search box to type any approved material, bellow it are the recent approved materials used.

- Use uncertified material, if you press it, it will allow you to type the material's thickness (measured with the calipers).

• The percentage of the image, can be decreased to 70 % to see the complete laser cutter bed, or increased to zoom a section of the material to be cut.

• Pointer or select option, it allow you to create, select and modify objects or text.

If you press the pointer icon it will change its form to a glove and the function will be the pan option. The pan option will allow you to move not the pointer, but not the image. When the pan option is activated, you will not be able to edit, move or modify objects. You can go back to the previous option pressing the glow icon, it will convert it into select option.

• The undo icon will allow to undo any action(s) done one time or many times. Or also can be used the shortcut ctrl+z or command +z.

• The redo icon will allow you to redo any reversed action. The shortcut shift+ctrl+y or shift+command+y can be used instead.

• Capture from the camera icon: Allow you to capture a design from the camera in the glowforge machine, for this you will draw an square in the section that will be used.

• Upload from file will allow you to load your own file created in inkscape or adobe illustrator.

Upload a file

Even when Glowforge includes its own tools for creating designs or cuts, it can use other files created with Inkscape (svg) or Ilustrator (.AI).

Trace a file

app window allow to rename, copy, or delete objects, for this the three dots icon can be chosen.

When pressing pointer icon it will change to a glove icon... this will change the option from select (for edition) to pan or move the screen.

When changing the window in the app, can be returned to the previous windows pressing the backspace key. Other useful icon is the icon with 3 vertical dots.

The icon with square with circle allows to insert art forms.

Once an item is selected can be edited with the ruler or change size... move with corners select or change size.

Note: GLowforge do not use leveling peg.

To start the cut press the play button in the machine.

The machine can be paused at any time.

Upload a file

Documents created with Glowforge can be downloaded to any computer for sharing or for edition with other software, the downloaded file will have an svg extension, for this press the shortcut: Ctrl + S.

Samrt Folders

To create a new folder, open my designs, and clic in the new folder option, give the folder a name and add files to the folder.

The folders can be organized by name or deleted if desired.

Glowforge software

Glowforge use is done via it's online application. Glowforge machines cannot used without internet connection, in order to be used must be added a wifi connection to the machine. The company founded stated that if the company closes it will release a firmware for all the Glowforge owners.

Materials

Materials used can be recognized by the printer camera through the QR code when a glowforge material is used.

To cut other materials, may be choosen a similar material to the approved materials by Glowforge.

Review the list of use materials to assure they are not flamable.

Not approved materials: Painters tape (they are toxic) cannot be use. Masking tape can be use to hold the material.

Measure the material thickness with a caliper or a digital caliper, it should be less than 0.5 inch, some laboratories do not allow to use materials thicker than 0.25 inch.

Select the material on the laser cutting software, enter the thickness of the material.

Choose the cutter to be choose, this will prevent to send the instruction to the wrong laser cutting machine.

Press print, it will calculate the required time for the cutting.

Cutting or engraving

Glowforge uses colors to cut, orange will cut the material.

The position of the layers says what material will be cut first, upper items in the panel will be cut first, and the lower ones will be cut at the end.

Speed and force

The force use is inversely proportional to the speed use. Power values can be choose from 0 to 1000 and speed values from 0 to 2000.

Calculation of the settings for the cut

A 1 cm long line can be use to see if the settings used to cut the material perform the cut, a second cut may be necessary if the material is not cut completely.

Preparation for the cutting

Testing the settings with a one inch line or an small object could save material and time, this will allow to know if the settings (material selected, dimensions are adequate.

Using the shortcut Windows + + or Windows and - will will allow to zoom into a point in the material, if the door is open, will allow to see if the objects are aligned when cutting twice.

Cutting twice could be done easily if the material is not moved and also if the material is removed from the laser cutting machine.

Safety

User must observe the cuts during the cutting process to assure that the material is not on fire due uneven base or shape of the material or flammability of the choose material.

Safety manual for Glowforge pro machines.

Laboratory

Short guide to the use of laser cutting machines/Laboratory

See also

Short introduction to the use of cutting plotter machines

Short guide to the use of laser cutting machines/Use of Adobe Illustrator for Laser Cutting

Short guide to the use of laser cutting machines/Use of Inkscape for Laser Cutting

Short guide to printing objects using 3D printers

Short introduction to the use of sewing machines