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KHageman
PostPosted: Sun Nov 01, 2015 9:15 pm 
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Saw this tonight on Facebook. http://glowforge.com/ May be of interest to luthiers don't you think?

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Chris Pile
PostPosted: Sun Nov 01, 2015 10:10 pm 
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Can we print tonewood with it?

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DannyV
PostPosted: Sun Nov 01, 2015 11:23 pm 
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Bob Garrish
PostPosted: Mon Nov 02, 2015 1:15 pm 
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It's powerful enough to do most of the stuff Kevin Ryan and Bruce Petros have been doing with lasers, but a fraction of the price of a machine from Trotec or Epilog. If you're big into jigs and fixtures, you can do amazing things with a laser and some thin plywood or hardboard. Even better for making router patterns. And fret gauges. And radius gauges. Bridge spraying covers...inlay decals...wooden inlay...

The CAD skill needs to be there, but a laser is so much more useful than you'd expect. I got a 50W Trotec machine (the Glowforge is 45W, so similar) and we've use it for a -lot- of stuff we never expected to.

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Bryan Bear
PostPosted: Mon Nov 02, 2015 2:14 pm 
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Chris Pile wrote:
Can we print tonewood with it?


I think the OP was referring to it's laser cutting (wood) abilities further down the page.

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Wayne Brown
PostPosted: Mon Nov 02, 2015 5:01 pm 
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Interesting! I can see wooden inlays for pegheads and maybe finger boards and rosettes.
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James Ringelspaugh
PostPosted: Thu Nov 05, 2015 2:19 pm 
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Bob Garrish wrote:
It's powerful enough to do most of the stuff Kevin Ryan and Bruce Petros have been doing with lasers, but a fraction of the price of a machine from Trotec or Epilog. If you're big into jigs and fixtures, you can do amazing things with a laser and some thin plywood or hardboard. Even better for making router patterns. And fret gauges. And radius gauges. Bridge spraying covers...inlay decals...wooden inlay...

The CAD skill needs to be there, but a laser is so much more useful than you'd expect. I got a 50W Trotec machine (the Glowforge is 45W, so similar) and we've use it for a -lot- of stuff we never expected to.

This one does look awfully useful. Do you cut pearl with yours? I've heard conflicting reports on whether or not lasers can... would be nice to hear about some first hand experience.
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James Orr
PostPosted: Fri Nov 06, 2015 8:03 pm 
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That looks so much easier to use than the laser we have in the shared workshop I belong to.
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Tai Fu
PostPosted: Sat Nov 07, 2015 11:35 am 
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Honestly I rather take the money and buy a small mill, and have it converted to CNC. It will do a lot more.

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kencierp
PostPosted: Sat Nov 07, 2015 12:16 pm 
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The 45 watt pro version ($5000) is a real good deal -- being a beta tester with only a 12 (or less) month warranty is bothersome. Seems like the software is included -- seems very easy to use. Yes I could think of a few things we could do that cannot be done on our CNC machines.

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rlrhett
PostPosted: Sat Nov 07, 2015 4:25 pm 
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$5k may be very reasonable, but still a major commitment in equipment. I could probably upgrade my table saw, band saw, and dust collection for that kind of money.

If I had money to burn, on the other hand, that sure looks nifty!


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kencierp
PostPosted: Sat Nov 07, 2015 4:50 pm 
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Agreed -- just looking at a $5000 investment in perspective of a compliment to our current three Shopbot CNC machines, not a hobby or start up thing.

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kencierp
PostPosted: Sat Nov 07, 2015 4:50 pm 
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Agreed -- just looking at a $5000 investment in perspective of a compliment to our current three Shopbot CNC machines, not a hobby or start up thing.

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James Orr
PostPosted: Sat Nov 07, 2015 4:55 pm 
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kencierp wrote:
The 45 watt pro version ($5000) is a real good deal -- being a beta tester with only a 12 (or less) month warranty is bothersome. Seems like the software is included -- seems very easy to use. Yes I could think of a few things we could do that cannot be done on our CNC machines.


The software is what makes it, IMO. The stuff that we have to use with ours (RetinaEngrave3D) is the barrier to entry. Being able to come up with usable files is where the skill seems to be.
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meddlingfool
PostPosted: Sat Nov 07, 2015 6:15 pm 
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Not quite big enough for me. I'd want one capable of cutting tops and backs...
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kencierp
PostPosted: Sat Nov 07, 2015 6:32 pm 
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The pro machine takes material 20" wide as long as you want. One of our Shopbot's works similarly it takes 36" wide x as long as we might need.

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dzsmith
PostPosted: Sat Nov 07, 2015 8:45 pm 
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I have acrylic laser cut from an outfit named Pololu.
Excellent quick and cheap.
They can do various plastic and wood.
I have read that the laser can leave burn marks in wood, but I have not had wood cut.
For the money, I'd spring for an entry level CNC setup instead.

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kencierp
PostPosted: Sun Nov 08, 2015 12:06 am 
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As the OP suggests -- this is an interesting piece of equipment (for specialty work) -- it is not a replacement for a 3.5 HP CNC router, not even close.

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Pmaj7
PostPosted: Sun Nov 08, 2015 7:30 pm 
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I've been following this too. They say it will cut 1/4" ply. Do ya all think it would cut 1/8" rosewood? 1/4" ? How much different Do you think there is between 40 and 45w?

"Trace mode scans material with a drawing on it, then cuts and engraves over the top" - sounds like I could be cutting stuff a couple hours out of the box?!

Yes, 12 MO warranty seems a little iffy.....

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