[MichaelHenry]

I have a GWeike that I bought for about the same money but I have been using it to make money not like the Glowforge that no one has yet. Mine has a steel case and I can run it even without internet.

Which model did you get, what is the approximate cost and if you have had any problems with it, how has the support been? The LG500 Desktop model seems about as big as I could put in the location available.

[fixtureman1]

Glowforge was never sold on Kickstarter, but perhaps you were using that as a generic term for crowdfunding, like saying Kleenix for tissue. Nonetheless, being loose with terms or getting facts wrong can cost your opinion credibility. I do agree that they should have been much further along in development than they were before they started the pre-order campaign. I also think think they could have been a lot clearer with the language in their periodic status reports and should have been emailing those out to buyers instead of posting them only on their private forum, often in passing.

Also being loose with the description of the product misleading to the consumer. Calling it a printer is just an out right lie.

[daniellyall]

Some people call routers mills

[ger21]

A router and mill do the same thing, cut material with a spinning tool.

A printer puts ink on paper, and a laser burns things. Very different.

[MichaelHenry]

Also being loose with the description of the product misleading to the consumer. Calling it a printer is just an out right lie.

Well, I happen to agree with that comment, though I'd put it up to marketing rather than outright lying. Some might say its the same thing.

[MichaelHenry]

I believe that the price has actually gone up substantially.

True, the model I bought has gone up by 50%, though that's apparently suggested retail price and, according to Glowforge, distributors can adjust from there. New prices went into effect some time in October 2016, I think.

[timothy_cubed]

Thanks for all these responses fellows, really informative.

What cutters would you recommend for a first-time buyer (and user in fact, so yeah, total noob). I have around £10k to spend. I have looked at few machines from Full Spectrum, Trotec, Epilog, Boss and a few others. I've done as much research as I can and continue to do so, but admit I find the decision-making process daunting and the burden of making the RIGHT choice intimidating.

I want to cut (max 10mm) plexiglass, and other plastics. Want best possible quality for the money. Would need servicing, installation and training - What do you think I should go for?

I have spoken with (and am talking to) the companies listed above, and have been encouraged by their willingness to help and their honesty.


Can someone just tell me - Timothy, this is the best laser in that class, buy this one. Lol

Seriously though, andy advice would be much appreciated!

[godfrey]

I don't know where you are in the UK or how close you'd be to this distributor -- but I'd contact and interview all of them. You have to feel comfortable with your purchase...getting to know the distributors is a good first step.

https://www.epiloglaser.com/where-to...ed-kingdom.htm

[timothy_cubed]

Hi godfrey,

Thanks - in fact I've just got off the phone from a call with Epilog's (actually CSI, Epilog's exclusive UK dealer) sales manager for my area, and have received a price list for their range. Booked an open day for next week, so yep, first step is to know your enemy! I've also been in touch with Trotec and Full Spectrum, and a few others, so I think I'm moving in the right direction

From what I've read, mainly on here but elsewhere too, is that Trotec, Full Spectrum and Epilog are the 'big three' in my price range (and beyond!). Would you say that's a fair reading of things?

[fixtureman1]

I would rule out Full Spectrum and add Universal. Read the reviews on Full Spectrum and you will see that they are not a honest company. Can't get them to tell you how long their tubes are that would tell you if it is the wattage you are paying for.

[timothy_cubed]

I've just had a look at Universal, awaiting a price list...

What do people think about the Taiwanese GCC X252RX ? Going for around $9000 to $11000 depending on wattage.

TLM (do people know these guys) have said I should even increase my budget to £15,000 for a good machine, yet we have machines at this price

EX DEMO: PJDT6050 PIRANHA DESKTOP LASER
Bed Size: 600 x 500 mm
Power: 100 Watt Upgraded CO2 Laser Tube
Software: RD Works
Warranty: 3 Months On-Site (ex. consumables)
Delivery, Installation, Training (UK mainland)
£3,250 plus vat

What's the big difference - quality, power, laser type, setup training and install? All these things, or mainly one of them?

Thanks for the advice guys, really useful...

[daniellyall]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9O2a8CSzOI4&t=0s

[MikeC8]

Still buggy on the scanned files... It cut the part out before engraving. On top of that, it also cut on both sides of the cut line, of which it also cut the outside first, then the inside. Even RDworks which the Chinese lasers use knows how to handle the order of operations properly.

[daniellyall]

That's why I posted it

[timothy_cubed]

daniellyall, MikeC8 - are your comments just niggles, maybe fixed on production machines? Otherwise, looks good, right?

[fixtureman1]

The scan was way off the lines. Dan just announced that there is still another delay in shipping now it is March and August not sure what year he is talking about. Alot of customers are mad.

Schedule update - Announcements - Glowforge Owners Forum

[MikeC8]

With the way Dan has handled things so far, I wouldn't count on any features being fixed/changed/added. I asked Dan over a year ago if the software would have the ability to draw circles, rectangles, and basic text. He stated that he did not want to add such basic functionality. Thats what illustrator is for? But at the same time, isn't the idea of the glowforge to cut out the need for outside software? Adam Savage made the same complaint in the tested video.

And in this new update, Dan said that he knew they wouldnt be able to ship this month in the beginning of November. So he held back that information for a month, he does that a lot. If you want one, wait until they have shipped all of the pre-orders first. Then place your order, if the feedback is solid.

[daniellyall]

timothy_cubed NA I don't like the idea of a laser in a plastic body a stray beam could go through the plastic faster than a sheet metal body, you can get around it with colour. The software not ready before the kickstarter finished, the product not finished.
People's money going into a product that is not finish a long time after the campaign finished, where is the money going now.

Lasers are not rocket science they are a simple machine that just need a good controller and safety features.

they say it will ship x date and again x date it has not yet, they can't get in that much **** for it, if it fails people's money gone, this is one of the reasion kickstarter changed the rules.

[ger21]

Glowforge was not a Kickstarter campaign.

Fwiw, he says they are not spending their customers money yet, but relying on the money from the venture capital investments.

[daniellyall]

28 million from pre orders in October 2015. that is disgusting pre order not kickstarter just as bad

The could of hired ART to be there softwear lead