What you Need to Know Before Buying a Glowforge

I’m the proud owner of a Glowforge! Find out what a 3D Laser Printer is, what you can make with it, and TONS more! Get all of the information you need to know BEFORE buying a Glowforge!

What is a Glowforge 3D Laser Printer?

If you’ve never heard of Glowforge, be prepared to be amazed! It’s a desktop “3D Laser Printer,” which means it’s a machine that uses a tiny beam of light (laser) to cut, engrave, and score various materials. It’s a crafter’s dream (and it’s been mine for a really long time!) It is precise, impressive, and most importantly, user friendly.

What Can You Print on a Glowforge?

You can make all sorts of home decor, crafts, party decor, fashion items, and more! You can even engrave food (like macarons and chocolate!) and some electronic items (like certain laptops *cough* MacBook *cough*.) The options are truly endless.

What Materials Can You Use with a Glowforge?

The Glowforge can cut or engrave:

• Glass
• Hardwood
• Acrylic
• Leather
• Paper
• Plywood
• EVA (Rubber)
• Metal
• Tile
• Cardboard
• Fabric
• Food
• Other Natural Items
• Pre-made Items like Cutting Boards

It can cut a ton of materials up to 1/4″ thick with a single pass, and you can engrave materials up to 2″ thick. (2 inches is the thickest material that will fit in the machine).

Can I Use Other Brand Materials with My Glowforge?

Yes! Glowforge offers a wide array of what they call “Proofgrade” materials that are specially made and tested with the Glowforge. They are very good materials! But, you can definitely buy other materials to use with your machine. They may not all cut alike, though, so you have to be careful to do test cuts and not damage your machine.

I have an Amazon Storefront with some of my favorite materials that I’ve tested on my Glowforge – I’ll keep updating it as I test materials, too!

Which Glowforge Model Should You Buy?

There are 3 different Glowforge models: Basic, Plus, and Pro. They all achieve the same end result, but the Plus model is a little faster than the Basic. The Pro is the fastest (120% cut speed), has a stronger laser tube (45W instead of 40W in the Basic and Plus), and the Pro also has a passthrough slot that allows you to cut infinite lengths of materials.

I decided to purchase the Pro model, mostly for the increased cut speed and solid state cooling.

How Much Does a Glowforge Cost?

The Glowforge Basic is $2495, the Plus is $3995, and the Pro is $5995. They are not cheap – but the potential to make back your money is REAL. Plus, I can save you some money (keep reading!)

Are There Glowforge Coupons?

They don’t offer major sales, or coupons (or at least I’ve never seen one)…BUT…as a Glowforge owner, I’m able to SAVE YOU UP to $500 on a Glowforge machine! Just click this link:

CLICK HERE TO ORDER YOUR GLOWFORGE

You’ll save $100 on the Basic, $250 on the Plus, and $500 on the Pro machine. That’s how I purchased my Glowforge – through the link of a friend. It’s a GREAT WAY to have your Glowforge pay for itself, too. When you purchase your Glowforge, you’ll get your own referral link to share with your friends! Once they see all of the amazing things you’re making, they’ll definitely want one!

You can also order your Glowforge on Amazon and save some money if you have an Amazon Visa card.

How Big Is a Glowforge?

The machine itself is 38″ x 20.75″ x 8.25″ and weighs a little over 50 pounds. You’ll need a relatively large, flat, sturdy surface to set it on. You can use it inside, in a garage, or craft shed, but you’ll need to have a window to vent it out of, or purchase the air filtration system that Glowforge sells separately.

I have it in my craft room on a large tool chest, and I chose to vent it right out a window.

Is a Glowforge Noisy?

It’s not all that noisy, but it’s not as quiet as a Cricut or Silhouette machine. I compare it to the noise of a loud vacuum.

What Software Do You Need for a Glowforge?

To use your Glowforge, you need to have an internet connection. The Glowforge app runs and connects to your machine solely via the internet. Glowforge has a catalog of compatible files that you can browse and purchase, but you can design your own as well. To design your own, you’ll need a program like Adobe Illustrator, Inkscape, or even Silhouette Studio.

One function of the Glowforge that is REALLY cool is that you can use your Glowforge to scan your own drawings that you’ve made with a pen or marker to then engrave or cut!

You can also use any of my Free SVG files or SVG files from my shop with a Glowforge! Pretty soon, I’ll have a collection designed specifically for using with a Glowforge.

Can You Make Money with a Glowforge?

Absolutely! In addition to the referral program that I’ve mentioned above, it’s entirely possible to design and create products that you can sell on Etsy, at craft stores, or other websites. I have an entire post dedicated to making money with your Cricut Maker, and most of the same principles apply to a Glowforge!

As long as your projects are professional and creative, you’ll be selling them before you know it! Check out some of the laser cut products that sellers have on Etsy to see what is popular right now!

Should You Buy a Glowforge?

In one word: absolutely. It’s so exciting and I feel like between it and my Cricut machines in my craft room, I can make ANYTHING. Plus, think of all of the birthday gifts, Christmas gifts, and home decor you can make!