Glowforge Plus 3D Laser Printer

Find Glowforge tips and tricks as well as additional classroom and makerspace guides on our blog.

Common Questions:

Are the Glowforge machines safe?

Of course! An array of built-in safety features help make each Glowforge printer totally safe for classroom use. See the SAFETY section below.

What kind of material can I use with the Glowforge machines?

A Glowforge machine can cut hardwoods, plywoods, cardboard, fabric, leather, paper, Plexiglas (acrylic), Derlin (acetal), mylar, rubber, Corian, foods, and more. In addition, the machines can engrave all of the above plus glass, coated metal, marble, aluminum, titanium, and some consumer electronics.

What’s the difference between the Glowforge printers and a traditional 3D printer?

A traditional 3D printer builds up materials, like plastic filaments, layer by layer. It makes things out of one material and is very slow. This approach is called additive manufacturing. With Glowforge 3D laser printers, you’ll put a piece of material, like leather, wood, or acrylic in the machine, and it carves out your design using laser light, a process called subtractive manufacturing.

Are there lesson plans?

A great source for project ideas is the Glowforge community forum. Here's one post with some examples to get started.

Are the Glowforge 3D laser printers complicated to use?

Not at all! Go from box to your first print in about 30 minutes.

Tech Specs:

DIMENSIONS

• Glowforge (Pro, Plus, and Basic) exterior: 38 in x 20.75 in x 8.25 in (965 mm x 527 mm x 210 mm)

WORK AREA

• Maximum material depth: 18" (455 mm) for the Basic and Plus; unlimited for the Pro
• Cutting area: Approximately 11" (279 mm) deep and 19.5" (495 mm) wide
• Maximum material height with tray: 0.5" (13 mm)
• Maximum material width: 20" (515 mm)
• Maximum material height: 2" (50 mm)

MATERIAL CAPABILITY

The Glowforge Plus can safely print on any laser-compatible material, including all of the examples below. The Glowforge team recommends Proofgrade materials for automatic settings and perfect results.

Cuts & Engraves

• Cork
• Wood
• Mylar
• Foods
• Paper
• Fabric
• Rubber
• Leather
• Cardboard
• Sandpaper
• Delrin (acetal)
• Plexiglass (acrylic)
• ...and more

Engraves Only

• Glass
• Stone
• Corian
• Marble
• Titanium
• Ceramic tile
• Rubber stamps
• Anodized aluminum
• ...and more

SOFTWARE

• The Web interface works on Chromebooks, Macs, PCs, Linux systems, and many mobile devices (Internet required)
• It features a drag-and-drop layout with live camera preview to help users position designs on the material
• A catalog of premium, customizable, ready-to-print designs is available within the software
• The easy and powerful Glowforge interface will help get you printing in minutes
• Automatically scan drawings and print without the need for design software
• It's compatible with JPG, PNG, SVG, PDF, and other file formats

ONE BUTTON PRINT

• When used with Proofgrade materials, the printer automatically determines settings for perfect cutting and engraving

CAMERAS

• Wide Angle Camera—Mounted on the lid, this camera provides a view of the entire printable area and is accurate within 0.25" (6 mm)
• Macro Camera—Mounted on the head, this camera provides extreme up-close information for autofocus and is accurate within 0.004" (0.1 mm)

AUTOFOCUS

• Exquisitely precise—Low-power laser measurement is used to scan the surface of the material to determine its exact height
• Completely Internal—The lens moves internally up and down inside the head to print on materials up to 0.5” (13 mm) thick
• Manual focus option—The laser can be focused at a precise height so users can experiment with a range of techniques
• Multipass—Focus can be shifted between engrave passes, allowing for detailed depth engraves

LIGHTING

• Dual high-efficiency, internal LED strips give your work broad illumination for a wide angle view
• Headlights under the lid give point illumination for precise positioning

LASER SYSTEM

• CO2 Laser—This custom CO2 glass laser tube is capable of continuous operation at 10,600 nm; rated at 45 watts for the Pro and 40 watts for Plus and Basic models
• Sealed Optics—An enclosed optical path with cleanable and replaceable windows protects the laser optics to avoid the need for replacement or realignment
• Fixed Alignment—The printer's factory calibrated optical system does not require any alignment by the user

MECHANICALS

• Case—High modulus injection molded plastic
• Cooling—Closed-loop, self-contained, internal cooling
• Motion—Dual hybrid stepper Y axis; single hybrid stepper X axis
• Air Assist—Internal air assist with no external compressor hookup required
• Linear System—Custom extruded aluminum linear rails with a belt-driven, v-wheel carrier
• Recommended Operating Temperature: 60 F-75 F (16 C-24 C) for the Basic and Plus models; 60 F-81 F (16 C-27 C) for the Pro Model

REQUIREMENTS 

• 110/220 VAC, 50 or 60 HZ outlet
• Glowforge Plus has a peak power consumption of 800W
• Wi-Fi is required (2.4 GHz b/g/n and WPA2, WPA, WEP, or open)
• Ventilation with either the Glowforge Compact Filter or an open window within eight feet

MISCELLANEOUS

• Precision power settings allow enough control to draw lines on copy paper
• 3D engrave settings help users carve detailed surfaces
• Positioning precision to 0.001” (0.025 mm)
• Engraving up to 1355 DPI

SAFETY

• Certified to UL standards
• Safety sensors notify when fan performance changes
• Safety sensors warn in case of overheating conditions
• Safety sensors alert in case of bumps or unplanned movement
• The Glowforge Plus is a Class 1 laser device with no special training required
• Certified to UL/ANSI/IEC 60950-1-07 and CAN/CSA-C22.2 NO. 60950-1-07 (R16) by TUV Rhineland