Expert Review
The Glowforge HD line adds a bump in speed as well as a live preview from the camera. This is handy but still has the major drawback that all Glowforge machines hold, the reliance on a connection to the cloud and software that needs to be paid for on a monthly basis to unlock all it's abilities. Glowforge is still great if convenience and safety are you #1 priorities, but you can find an overall better machine for the same if not less money from xTool and OneLaser.
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Up to $500 Off
Technical Specifications
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User Reviews
Reviews for This ModelVerified Owner
Solid build quality, fast and accurate jobs, excellent manufacturer support
Cloud based software, can’t use device with Internet, need a subscription to access basic tools like inserting shapes and drawing cut outs.
More Reviews from glowforge Owners
These reviews are from other glowforge machines and may not reflect this specific model's features
I’m not sure if it’s the pro but it’s their largest machine with the pass through, (which I never figured out how to use). I think the best things about the laser is the…the bed is removable, I like that the head with is removable too. I guess that it has a camera. I hardly use it any more I use my Rabbit (rebranded Chinese laser with ruida controller much more).
It’s small and the software is subscription based and doesn’t work very well. I also find it frustrating to dial in power and focus because it’s all relative to their settings. It’s not just mm/sec etc.
Simplicity of bringing in an image or SVG and cutting within a few steps
My Kickstarter machine is old and I've had to replace parts. It also sometimes doesn't want to start up from powered off due to the door sensor. It has its quirks.
It is very simple to learn and use. Doesn't require focusing or complicated calculations to use.
The things that make the Glowforge a good starter machine (except for the price!) are the things that quickly become frustrating. The proprietary software allows for little customization and the machine is, in effect, just too simple. I can't go more than a few jobs before I have to do a cleaning of the Glowforge. All jobs really have to be masked. Speed is bad.
