Glowforge Plus 3D Laser Printer

The Glowforge Plus uses a focused beam of light to cut and engrave material, creating designs limited only by your imagination. It's a true premium option for school use with upgraded components and a top engraving speed that’s up to twice as fast as the Glowforge Basic. A double warranty offers yearlong peace of mind. As a Class 1 laser, it should run near windows or pair with a Glowforge Air Filter.

Grades: K-12+

*It includes $150 worth of Premium Proofgrade Materials free!

$4,995.00
SKU
GF-ASM-00331

Get to Know:

The Glowforge machines use a laser to cut and engrave limitless designs from hundreds of materials. Students can make truly incredible projects from wood, paper, acrylic, and even food.

Architectural models, shadowbox dioramas, and classroom signs are just a few of the projects educators have inspired students to create.

  • Free, web-based software
  • Simple setup in under 30 minutes
  • Works with hundreds of materials
  • Live camera preview of your work
  • Autofocus and 3D engraving capabilities
  • Certified to UL standards and safe for classroom use
  • Exercise design fundamentals with 2D and 3D objects
  • Inspire students at any level from K-12 through higher education
  • Compatible with Chromebooks, Macs, PCs, tablets, and phones
  • Go from "I have an awesome idea" to "I made this, and it's awesome"
  • Bring the Glowforge 3D laser printer to your classroom, library, studio, or makerspace and empower your students to create STEAM projects in an entirely new way
  • Foster Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math multidisciplinary thinking

What's in the Box:

  • The Glowforge laser head with macro camera and autofocus
  • Ring clamps for hose connection
  • Glowforge Plus 3D Laser Printer
  • Magnetic lens replacement tool
  • Steel crumb tray
  • Exhaust hose
  • Power cord

Find Glowforge tips and tricks as well as additional classroom and makerspace guides on our blog.


Common Questions
:


Are the Glowforge machines safe?

Of course! An array of built-in safety features help make each Glowforge printer totally safe for classroom use. See the SAFETY section below.


What kind of material can I use with the Glowforge machines?

A Glowforge machine can cut hardwoods, plywoods, cardboard, fabric, leather, paper, Plexiglas (acrylic), Derlin (acetal), mylar, rubber, Corian, foods, and more. In addition, the machines can engrave all of the above plus glass, coated metal, marble, aluminum, titanium, and some consumer electronics.


What’s the difference between the Glowforge printers and a traditional 3D printer?

A traditional 3D printer builds up materials, like plastic filaments, layer by layer. It makes things out of one material and is very slow. This approach is called additive manufacturing. With Glowforge 3D laser printers, you’ll put a piece of material, like leather, wood, or acrylic in the machine, and it carves out your design using laser light, a process called subtractive manufacturing.


Are there lesson plans?

A great source for project ideas is the Glowforge community forum. Here's one post with some examples to get started.


Are the Glowforge 3D laser printers complicated to use?

Not at all! Go from box to your first print in about 30 minutes.


Tech Specs
:


DIMENSIONS

  • Glowforge (Pro, Plus, and Basic) exterior: 38 in x 20.75 in x 8.25 in (965 mm x 527 mm x 210 mm)


WORK AREA

  • Maximum material depth: 18" (455 mm) for the Basic and Plus; unlimited for the Pro
  • Cutting area: Approximately 11" (279 mm) deep and 19.5" (495 mm) wide
  • Maximum material height with tray: 0.5" (13 mm)
  • Maximum material width: 20" (515 mm)
  • Maximum material height: 2" (50 mm)


MATERIAL CAPABILITY

The Glowforge Plus can safely print on any laser-compatible material, including all of the examples below. The Glowforge team recommends Proofgrade materials for automatic settings and perfect results.

Cuts & Engraves

  • Cork
  • Wood
  • Mylar
  • Foods
  • Paper
  • Fabric
  • Rubber
  • Leather
  • Cardboard
  • Sandpaper
  • Delrin (acetal)
  • Plexiglass (acrylic)
  • ...and more

Engraves Only

  • Glass
  • Stone
  • Corian
  • Marble
  • Titanium
  • Ceramic tile
  • Rubber stamps
  • Anodized aluminum
  • ...and more


SOFTWARE

  • The Web interface works on Chromebooks, Macs, PCs, Linux systems, and many mobile devices (Internet required)
  • It features a drag-and-drop layout with live camera preview to help users position designs on the material
  • A catalog of premium, customizable, ready-to-print designs is available within the software
  • The easy and powerful Glowforge interface will help get you printing in minutes
  • Automatically scan drawings and print without the need for design software
  • It's compatible with JPG, PNG, SVG, PDF, and other file formats


ONE BUTTON PRINT

  • When used with Proofgrade materials, the printer automatically determines settings for perfect cutting and engraving


CAMERAS

  • Wide Angle Camera—Mounted on the lid, this camera provides a view of the entire printable area and is accurate within 0.25" (6 mm)
  • Macro Camera—Mounted on the head, this camera provides extreme up-close information for autofocus and is accurate within 0.004" (0.1 mm)


AUTOFOCUS

  • Exquisitely precise—Low-power laser measurement is used to scan the surface of the material to determine its exact height
  • Completely Internal—The lens moves internally up and down inside the head to print on materials up to 0.5” (13 mm) thick
  • Manual focus option—The laser can be focused at a precise height so users can experiment with a range of techniques
  • Multipass—Focus can be shifted between engrave passes, allowing for detailed depth engraves


LIGHTING

  • Dual high-efficiency, internal LED strips give your work broad illumination for a wide angle view
  • Headlights under the lid give point illumination for precise positioning


LASER SYSTEM

  • CO2 Laser—This custom CO2 glass laser tube is capable of continuous operation at 10,600 nm; rated at 45 watts for the Pro and 40 watts for Plus and Basic models
  • Sealed Optics—An enclosed optical path with cleanable and replaceable windows protects the laser optics to avoid the need for replacement or realignment
  • Fixed Alignment—The printer's factory calibrated optical system does not require any alignment by the user


MECHANICALS

  • Case—High modulus injection molded plastic
  • Cooling—Closed-loop, self-contained, internal cooling
  • Motion—Dual hybrid stepper Y axis; single hybrid stepper X axis
  • Air Assist—Internal air assist with no external compressor hookup required
  • Linear System—Custom extruded aluminum linear rails with a belt-driven, v-wheel carrier
  • Recommended Operating Temperature: 60 F-75 F (16 C-24 C) for the Basic and Plus models; 60 F-81 F (16 C-27 C) for the Pro Model


REQUIREMENTS
 

  • 110/220 VAC, 50 or 60 HZ outlet
  • Glowforge Plus has a peak power consumption of 800W
  • Wi-Fi is required (2.4 GHz b/g/n and WPA2, WPA, WEP, or open)
  • Ventilation with either the Glowforge Compact Filter or an open window within eight feet


MISCELLANEOUS

  • Precision power settings allow enough control to draw lines on copy paper
  • 3D engrave settings help users carve detailed surfaces
  • Positioning precision to 0.001” (0.025 mm)
  • Engraving up to 1355 DPI


SAFETY

  • Certified to UL standards
  • Safety sensors notify when fan performance changes
  • Safety sensors warn in case of overheating conditions
  • Safety sensors alert in case of bumps or unplanned movement
  • The Glowforge Plus is a Class 1 laser device with no special training required
  • Certified to UL/ANSI/IEC 60950-1-07 and CAN/CSA-C22.2 NO. 60950-1-07 (R16) by TUV Rhineland
More Information
Manufacturer Glowforge
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