By Abby Glassenberg
Glowforge would go on to raise another $22 million in venture capital, but despite these capital infusions, the Seattle-based startup struggled to get orders out on time. Many crowdfunding customers waited a year and half or more to receive their machines.
Eigenbrodt’s Glowforge arrived right before Thanksgiving, 2017. She says it was worth the two year wait.
“I can’t get over how precise it is compared to my other making tools, especially for small details,” she says. “I’m still trying it out with new materials, but it can apply to so many projects. I’ve used it for cardboard, paper, fabric, acrylic, wood, and slate.”
Ornaments created by Julie Eigenbrodt with the Glowforge.
Photos courtesy of Julie Eigenbrodt
JOANN Investment
Now, Glowforge is about to become available to many more crafters, including those who can’t afford the hefty price tag (the retail price is $4,000, twice what it was during the crowdfunding campaign) and don’t have a dedicated space to house it. At the end of December the nation’s largest fabric and craft retailer, JOANN, announced a significant investment in Glowforge. JOANN has more than 850 stores across 49 states.
“We know our customers are looking for the best and latest creative technology, and we want to bring them the opportunity to try it first,” Stephen Caution, Vice President of Business Development at JOANN, said in a statement. “By investing in Glowforge and partnering to roll these amazing machines out to our stores, we’ll allow customers to test them out and create things they love. From custom acrylic floor lamps, to plywood drones, to leather shoulder bags, the possibilities with Glowforge are truly limitless.”
The Glowforge kiosk also offers custom framing, although these aren’t made using the laser printer.
Photo courtesy of Abby Glassenberg
Drink stirrers are among the products offered at the kiosk. Although the Glowforge is described as a “3-D Laser Printer” it’s actually a laser cutter.
Photo courtesy of Abby Glassenberg
JOANN Personal Records products include cork and slate coasters as well as wooden cutting boards. Etched business cards are free to take home as samples.
Photo courtesy of Abby Glassenberg
Personalized cake toppers are another product option.
Photo courtesy of Abby Glassenberg
Products printed at the Glowforge kiosk at the Natick Mall in Natick, Massachusetts just outside of Boston.
Photo courtesy of Abby Glassenberg
Is the Glowforge Ready to Go Mainstream?
It’s not clear whether JOANN has plans to sell the Glowforge machines at some point in the future. Although the Glowforge is a consumer-grade laser cutter, it’s still a hefty investment for most hobbyists and it requires specialized skills and setup. The machines require outside ventilation while they’re running; a duct at the back needs to connect to an outside window or hood. The Glowforge, like any laser cutter, must be monitored while in use. There’s always a chance of fire when working with lasers. (Watch this thorough review by Norman Chan and Jeremy Williams for more.)
Glowforge founder Dan Shapiro.
“Laser cutters require very specific training. Glowforges are class four lasers that require special glasses and precautions around them while in use. They are not toys like the Cricut or Silhouette. They are lasers!” Maloney warns, “If you place the wrong materials in them, off gassing could cause death. By putting them in a store like JOANN people are going to think they are toys.”
Eigenbrodt has her machine in her basement with it vented through a hose that connects to a small outside window. “We have found that when engraving for dozens of hours, we need to manually clean out the fan to keep the airflow high enough to prevent a smoky smell from invading the room it’s in,” she says. “We added a booster fan to help with the exhaust flow since our window is quite a bit higher than the machine and we do lots of engraving.” The Glowforge online forums have been a helpful resource for sourcing booster fans and problem solving other issues she says.
Despite the challenges, the machine really appeals to makers like David and Amber Benton who have a shop on Esty called Beech Creek Naturals where they sell handcrafted objects made from wood, including signs. A few years ago they bought a CNC machine which Amber describes as “kind of like a router on steroids.” “Every day we ask ourselves if we did the right thing by getting a CNC machine first,” she says. “We like the CNC, but there are so many ideas we have and we realized it would be much easier with a laser cutter.” The couple already has a 3D printer and a full woodshop. David has been closely following Glowforge since it launched. “I’m sure a Glowforge will enter the picture sometime,” Amber says.
I must be getting old and grumpy, but I saw those drink stirrers and thought “great, more pointless plastic crap to end up in our oceans”. Here’s hoping JOANN uses Glowforge power for good, and not evil.
I believe that just because you can make something doesn’t mean you should. Less stuff people, please.
I agree. Way too much plastic crap floating around.
Thank you for pointing out that in spite of the signage, a Glowforge is a laser cutter, not a printer! I know I’m hopelessly uptight for caring about such things…
I love Glowforge & the incredible innovative spirit it enables. I do not have one but hope to in the further. I like giving family gifts that are unique and personalized.
Sidebar: I am always disappointed in the excessive negative attitude that has infiltrated our society. I guess I was raised differently because if we didn’t have something nice to say we kept it to ourselves. You are not interested in Glowforge then move along nothing to see here. Respectfully.
Agree wholeheartedly!
I saw gjowforce on a TV commercial. When I first saw it I knew I was hooked. I am a person who loves all kinds of crafts but my expertis is drawing and painting I am very interested in growforcre
and want to know if it’s complicated to use. If purchase what does it include.
what is the price of one rental of a glowforge cutting experience per hour?
Please call your local JOANN to ask about this.
I called the JoAnnes’ store in my area and was told their machine was having problems and wasn’t available to rent. I asked if I could get on a “wait list” so when it was repaired I’d be notified. I was told they didn’t have a wait list system in place. I was asked to call back toward the end of the month.
I’d suggest that JoAnne CORPORATE create (that’s what JoAnne’s is all about, right) an on-line portal where we can find out if the Glow Forge is
1) Working
2)Available
3)Calendar for me to reserve
4)Hourly rental rate
Just a few suggestions from someone who was excited that I could RENT a $4,000+ machine only to be disappointed that there wasn’t a system in place to be notified when the rentable Glow Forge would be available.