Just starting out with a Glowforge Aura. . . I am trying to optimize both a simple design, and the process for accurately engraving customized emblems with a high degree of repeatability. Is there anyone near SW Ohio who is proficient in both Inkscape & Aura and might be willing to help me onsite for a fee? Alternatively, we could interface via Zoom if necessary. - Dan Bailey
This is a public forum so for your own safety you should remove your phone number. Anyone here can contact you via direct message.
4 Likes
It sounds like you need to make a jig. You can probably get some help without a personal visit, bet definitely take your phone number down.
4 Likes
Thanks
- Sent from my mobile device -
1 Like
Looks like your phone number may be in your email signature, so you’ve added it to the post again!
I do know that the Aura wasn’t designed for heavy usage - the 
wasn’t even designed for businesses and it’s 10x faster than the 
! The idea of a “high degree of repeatability” is doable - it’s a laser after all - but if you’re planning on doing lots and lots of repeated cuts I think you may find the “aura” is not the right machine :-/ Especially with engraves the machine has to be cleaned frequently so doing one at a time, and then cleaning will likely get you more reliability then trying to do multiples at the same time and dealing with the rails getting clogged and ruining multiples.
That being said - I’ll echo what @dklgood said. If you’re not cutting out your emblems, then a jig (doesn’t have to be fancy) - a piece of cardboard that fits snugly inside your machine, is what you need. You then use the machine to cut holes that fit your emblems, and line up your art to the cut lines - turn off the cut lines, slide in your emblems, and then hit go on your engrave.
3 Likes
I can’t help but mention also that compared to a performance Glowforge (pro or plus), the Aura is extremely slow…which might impact any production line type of thing you might want to get going.
2 Likes
Don’t need a jig, as the emblems lock perfectly into the honeycomb. I want to engrave 13 of them in a run, and text is different for each but art is the same. A template for the run is needed, but one in which I can easily customize the text for each emblem.
Best,
- Dan
Daniel Bailey
- Sent from my mobile device -
2 Likes
You can prepare the text in any word processing program and save as a pdf. Simply drag and drop the pdf onto the interface and you can easily swap out the text. Leave several spaces in between each unique text grouping.
4 Likes
Thanks. Unfortunately, generating the text and images for each emblem is not my issue, but rather aligning with the set of emblems.
Appreciate all the feedback though.
1 Like
I think we understand what you are trying to do. If you would share a screenshot of the emblem and describe where the text is to be aligned we can help you.
2 Likes
Attached are pictures of the emblems situated in the Aura, as well as the sample graphics to be engraved. The number on each emblem would vary in a given run, while the name & phone number would be the same.
2 Likes
Just out of curiosity, what are those emblems made of? They look like plastic or anodized aluminum. From looking at what you want to do, I think you DO need a jig for alignment.
2 Likes
They are anodized aluminum and used to indicate the loft and ownership of individual golf clubs at the grip end. (patent pending) They do not move once their posts are inserted into the honeycomb and can be placed in the exact same spots with each run. Unfortunately, aligning the graphics quickly & easily has been a problem so far; although I just learned how to position by metric (instead of eyeball) on the Aura, and that should prove helpful.
2 Likes
This tool might be useful for you:
4 Likes
This is just about the same project as one I did with my Glowforge a couple of years ago as I personalized golf ball markers. The reason a jig works, is because you align the artwork in Inkscape and never have to worry about it being centered when you engrave. The jig is simply circles the size of the club finders with the text centered.
Do you have the Premium subscription? If so, draw circles around your emblems as they are placed in the bed. Export the file. Open the file in Inkscape and add your text, utilizing the alignment tools.
5 Likes
The reason for a jig is not to hold the material, but to enable precise placement of the material and the design in a repeatable manner. It is great that the emblems fit perfectly into the honeycomb, but that is only useful if you can create your file to accommodate that exact placement.
2 Likes
Thanks. Guess I don’t understand enough about the software side to size and position the graphics properly, hence my original request for assistance with Inkscape.
All the Best,
-
Dan
-
Sent from my iPad -
I’d be happy to meet online and walk you though the Inkscape part. If that’s of interest, send me a direct message and we’ll plan something.
3 Likes
I Just Bought My Glow Forge Aura and I’m Already Frustrated with It. I Can’t get the thing to even print meaning it won’t even light up for me to press print I have no clue what I’m doing, and I thought it wouldn’t be this hard for me to do. Can anyone or will anyone be willing to help me? thanks in advance. I am trying to engrave a picture of my deceased son.
Welcome to the forum.
I am sorry that you are having a frustrating start to laser ownership. Many of us were lost at first as well. I urge you to work through the Glowforge tutorials to gain an understanding of the interface. Printing pictures is not a very good first project and may result in wasted material and more frustration.
5 Likes