I do appreciate that my request for an API was forwarded on, but I figured that would not go far, based on others responses.
So I decided to look into it a little myself, to find the API probably already exists.
If you look at the HTML when you are on app.glowforge.com, one of the defined sites in the top of the body of javascript is : window.gf_cumulus_url = ‘https://api.glowforge.com/functions’;
further, they used a content API https://www.contentful.com/developers/docs/references/content-delivery-api/ to create the page.
So, I’m not even asking them to develop anything new, just to expose the read-only data to those of us nerdy enough to use it.
If I could deliver these two features, it seems like there could be incentive for glowforge:
1.) The countdown clock to mount above the glowforge
2.) The hours count of use on this particular glowforge, originally it was said that the unit should be serviced after 3000 hours of use. Has anyone had theirs serviced? All we could do now, it guess after 3000 jobs are run. (Which is not an accurate count)
re: Watching the glowforge like a hawk, vs leaving the room -> Obviously for CYA reasons, we all assume that every glowforge owner watches attentively every job they do. Not relying on a nest networked smoke detector to alert them. I’m sure those people stay in the kitchen if anything is in the oven or on the stove too. To those of us who might cook, laser, and heaven forbid go out to the woodshop all at the same time, we have to rely on monitoring systems that are in place.
I’ve done over 660 projects on my glowforge, but some of those did upwards of 100 or so pieces each (shot glasses, bottle openers, ornaments and cutting boards) I sure wish I knew how many hours were on this laser cutter. I love the glowforge, and do appreciate the safety concerns.
I will look and see if I can get info out of contenful.com, but it would be easier if one of the glowforge programmers documented how end users could access it.
-T
p.s. I’m curious if everyone watching their glowforge diligently also has on ear protection, as the decibel level of my glowforge is 78 dBA, the CDC says that noise over 70 dBA for prolonged periods can cause hearing loss.