What are /r/glowforge's favorite Products & Services?

From 3.5 billion Reddit comments

When I want to mask a piece, I use a wide roll of transfer paper which covers the whole sheet of material with no overlap.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DF7TDSF/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_fabc_HAC1AB8R5B89QR4ZMQQC?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

There's not anything made specifically for Glowforge, and most other lasers cut so much faster and with much stronger air assist that their operators don't need to mask everything like we do. Their cuts come out clean without it.

Several Amazon sellers have added that disclaimer for liability reasons -- because loose masking tape can catch fire in your laser and cause thousands of dollars in damage.

That doesn't mean you can't use it. Any paper masking/transfer tape will work.

I use the Vinyl Ease paper tape which is available on Amazon.

The Bob Smith Industries stuff works really well also. I’ve had this stuff for 2 years and it still works as well as they say I got it. Insta-Cure Gap Filling 2oz Bob Smith Ind. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000DD1QQ/

I use this 3M one, and can't smell anything at all when I wear it around our laser. The filters need to be replaced now and then, but I have had the same ones in for a few months. I also have a small face (as an average height lady), and the medium fits me well.

https://www.amazon.com/3M-Facepiece-Respirator-Respiratory-Protection/dp/B001NDN29O/ref=pd_bxgy_328_img_3/132-9769583-5451358?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B001NDN29O&pd_rd_r=bd38de50-46bb-11e9-8b1b-b5a69bc8a492&pd_rd_w=H7941&pd_rd_wg=A4Azl&pf_rd_p=a2006322-0bc0-4db9-a08e-d168c18ce6f0&pf_rd_r=3Z9ASGCPZE9GWS6WY2YZ&psc=1&refRID=3Z9ASGCPZE9GWS6WY2YZ

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For venting our unit, we just put the hose through a hole in a sheet of plywood, and close the window on top of it so the exhaust doesn't come back inside. We recently added a cheap $20 window fan under the plywood and it does a good job of sucking odors back outside so they don't linger in our apartment.

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This is the masking tape I use - and I know a lot of others do as well. Make sure you also buy a "craft squeegee" in order to really make it stick. After it's on, I usually put it under something heavy and let it sit over night in order to cure. If it doesn't cure properly, then it won't stick!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B085635HFN/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_fabc_2VSKGMGVFW06S5C1TE8Q

That's what I thought at first as well after reading up on it. After I hooked it up it didn't seem to pull the dust out as well (Delrin is super dusty), and thought maybe I just misunderstood. I have this 4" Inline Fan . What fan do you recommend? I'd like to upgrade to be able to use the fan only again. It was so quiet!

Is it made from vinyl or is it "Vinyl Ease" brand?
This is what I use :
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07DF7TDSF/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It absolutely is! No idea it was even a thing until just recently but holy crap what a difference. So glad I don't have to hear the whining jet turbine noise anymore.

In case you haven't been told already a bazillion times, try to keep the runs of ducting as short as possible and keep in mind that the fans "suck" better than "push". There are other practically identical options out there if the AC Infinity goes out of stock like the one i went with, which is mounted on the windowsill. No exhaust tubing to deal with at all!

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B07JMHFJMR/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Still In Progress Setup

do not buy the air filter, it does work well, but the consumable filter does not last very long at all. I really cannot fathom how the cost of the filters could ever be justified for how short their lifespan is. I cut open a spent filter and it is apparent that they could very easily produce a filter that is in individual stages. The top hepa filter clogs quickly, but the bottom carbon filter would last quite a while. By sealing all these components together in a steel case, they make it impossible to replace only one stage. Plus the entire thing is pretty noisy.

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get this instead and turn off the internal fan on the glowforge, the entire setup will be much much quieter:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07FPFVZTZ/ref=ppx\_yo\_dt\_b\_search\_asin\_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Everything I've read is it does full up very quickly especially when using mdf. If you can vent out a window. I would otherwise it will be very expensive. If heard some people who have to use the filter will buy carbon prefilters and that helps a lot. Here's the one someone in the Facebook groups suggested.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0009GZJT2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1&fbclid=IwAR3K1fEDF4XJSLJVXO3EiZ_4kOYFiuarJg4QhIvBWda3-I5KAsisTJT6lpk

Would something like this help eliminate smell when venting outside?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01JHI66VC?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Connect an AC infinity to the air scrubber intake (with an adapter) and filter it before it goes outside.

This is the tape I use. It does not leave any residue and it's lower tack than Proofgrade masking, so it's not hard to remove.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07DF7TDSF

The brand name is "Vinyl Ease" but it does not contain any vinyl. It's just a paper masking tape.

You might need a blast door or something similar on you glow forge so you don’t fill your Glowforge with dryer lint.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005VRPQ92/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_41XG6X5WS6SMGKRP7XQ1

Totally just used your referral! :)... If anyone else preorders please pass on my referral too http://glowforge.com/referred/?kid=kO8AIL

To add to samm1t's comment in #13, the CEO is no shady figure, just look at his credentials: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danshapiro

Ok.

1. When we did the experiment, we were doing 100% power with 75W into wood continuously. It took 45 minutes in a sealed 12x12x10 cube to reach dangerous levels (now I can't remember if that was the OSHA limit or fatal limit). What you're doing can be scaled to room size and average laser power being applied.
2. Aside from CO, there is formaldehyde which you can't detect. Be careful with this. You might consider getting a more sensitive CO meter that lets you know the level. https://www.amazon.com/Handheld-Monoxide-Portable-0%EF%BD%9E1000ppm-Resolution/dp/B091DRT5DN/ref=pd\_lpo\_1?pd\_rd\_i=B091DRT5DN&psc=1

Been a GF user since, basically, day one. I have no problem with their business model. Yeah, I get it, subscription models suck, but they also pay the bills. And, at least, with GF, there are, like, a zillion tools-- from paid to free-- for doing all the things that paying $$ to GF simply makes more convenient (except, IIRC, some speedups).

I've had no issues with using DXF converted via Inkscape, but others have.

Lots of folks rave about this site. Never tried it.

https://cloudconvert.com/dxf-to-svg

What were you thinking on design since you didn't like it. Here is what I came up with after many hours. still not done but it has rounded tops and a slot

https://gofile.io/?c=xBmlRC

I used Angelus Black Leather Paint

Amazon seems to have it: https://www.amazon.com/Angelus-Leather-Paint-Oz-Black/dp/B0196T916Y

and in case it's useful - build steps: https://imgur.com/a/WgwuHBh

This is what I use: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08563Q5ND/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08NRFX6RB?pf\_rd\_r=0ZCVVRGYAEGT43G4EN06&pf\_rd\_p=8fe9b1d0-f378-4356-8bb8-cada7525eadd&pd\_rd\_r=dcfa2f52-ab04-41d6-8110-d5ca5c39655f&pd\_rd\_w=7Bd7X&pd\_rd\_wg=78enT&ref\_=pd\_gw\_unk

Glasses aren't necessary due to the lid, but out of an abundance of caution I also wear glasses when looking at my laser while it's cutting/engraving.

You don't need the glowforge brand, any eyewear that filters 10600nm wavelength / co2 lasers will do. Amazon has plenty, this is the one I have: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000HJMS5E/

I made a stamp for my friend recently, I used this stuff https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B017IHVSLM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1 used an old drawer knob screwed into draftboard and glued it onto that. I don't have a pic of the stamp but it turned out really great!

I use cookware racks designed to hold plates vertically for glass and acrylic sheets. Similar to this, but mine are less fancy: https://www.amazon.com/YouCopia-50138-StoreMore-Expandable-organizer/dp/B07JNTX4VQ/

This works well for small sheets (12x12 ish) I have a few larger cubbies with two racks in them to support longer sheets one rack at each end

When we first got our glowforge we initially had it inside but got one of this adjustable air vent for the window. With some jiggering of pipes and tape it worked fairly well for a majority of the exhaust. Some would still leak inside the house making it smell pretty bad, so that's something to consider as well.

Yep that's the brand I use. It isn't made of vinyl, it's made of paper similar to the proofgrade masking. It's called vinyl transfer tape because the "normal" use for it is picking up vinyl pieces and transferring it to another surface. So while seeing the word vinyl is scary when putting it in a laser cutter, it's not applicable for us.

I'd recommend getting the 12" roll instead of the 6" so you can cover materials in one sheet: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07DF7TDSF/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1&fpw=alm

Pro Tip: When using plywood, take a picture before putting the transfer tape on, and reference that when placing your design in the GF software. This way you can selectively pick the wood grain pattern on your pieces. IMO this is a MAJOR advantage that is overlooked when using non-PG plywood is the ability to see the wood grain before cutting.

So this is okay to cover your own non proof grade material with? I’m still very new to this. I was under the impression that you’re supposed to stay away from anything vinyl. Thanks in advance!

https://www.amazon.com/Vinyl-Ease-Transfer-Silhouette-Adhesive/dp/B07DF68FR5/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=glowforge+tape&qid=1607353698&sr=8-2

Wanted to ask which fan you recommend. I was going to go with one of these: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M2XG0E1/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A3I2VACYSJR5AQ&psc=1

Maybe even the 8" and turn the speed down if needed.

This paired with the bofa (while expensive) might give me the sound levels that would let me run this for a lot longer than just a few minutes at a time.

Thanks

I also have an inline booster fan. I opted for one of the dryer booster fans. Metal construction and operates on standard line voltage. Didn't bother with auto-turn on, but I do have it on a HomeKit outlet (Hey Siri, Turn on laser fan!).

No matter what fan you get make sure the housing is sealed. A lot of the 4" fans are designed for uses that don't require a 100% seal. I used gaffers/duct tape to entirely seal the fan body as there were significant leaks.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AL0DJNY/ref=oh_aui_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1