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  1. #1
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    Default 3D Laser Printer

    Have you guys seen this??
    http://glowforge.com/
    …..Live a Quiet Life & Work with your Hands

  2. #2
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    Ueee is offline Blacksmith, Cabinetmaker, Machinist, Messmaker
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    Tharwa Valley Forge is getting one, it will be interesting to see what it is like.
    1915 17"x50" LeBlond heavy duty Lathe, 24" Queen city shaper, 1970's G Vernier FV.3.TO Universal Mill, 1958 Blohm HFS 6 surface grinder, 1942 Rivett 715 Lathe, 14"x40" Antrac Lathe, Startrite H225 Bandsaw, 1949 Hercus Camelback Drill press, 1947 Holbrook C10 Lathe.

  3. #3
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    Two things I don't like about it are it is "Cloud Based" so you have to send your file to the cloud and it sends instruction back to the printer, so you must have internet access and it can't drop out. The other is just calling it a printer, when it is a cutter/engraver.


    I'd love to split the cost with a few guys close by and get one.

    I assume Tharwa wants to engrave knives and make leather sheaths?
    …..Live a Quiet Life & Work with your Hands

  4. #4
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    Calling it a printer is a bit of a stretch. It's a laser cutter - unless I missed something in the video.

  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by DSEL74 View Post

    I assume Tharwa wants to engrave knives and make leather sheaths?
    I doubt they'll be engraving (or 'printing') on knives. Metal is a problem for low power laser cutters - metal isn't mentioned as an example material either.
    We have a 40W laser cutter at my local makerspace and it can't cut metal. It can engrave on metal but it has to have a special coating applied and that's fairly expensive.

  6. #6
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    My eldest son just bought a laser cutter engraver, it does plywood and acrylic, had a play with it last weekend, I don't see what this machine does that a laser engraver can do at much lower price.

    His looks like this http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/HIGH-PREC...item3f46d673f8

    Just looking at the machine, I can't see any exhaust ducting for smoke or water cooling, does this machine not need it?


    PS, As snowyskies says, my son's can also can engrave on metal, but only with special inks.

  7. #7
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    I have to admit, when I first read about this printer it really rubbed me the wrong way be proclaiming itself to be a "printer", when printing is an additive process, and this is purely deductive. I'd wager this misappropriation of the word printer is going to be their biggest source of revenue.

  8. #8
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    I think this one comes standard with a 40W laser and an option of a 45W, so it can engrave metal but not cut it. The higher W laser allows it to work much faster than the cheaper units it was compared to in a review.

    The base model ducts out the window, or you can get a filtered model, prices go up of course.
    http://glowforge.com/tech-specs/
    …..Live a Quiet Life & Work with your Hands

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