Cooling after only 2 uses

Community Support
1

I have only used my Glowforge twice and now it cools down halfway through all my projects. I tried to make simple spiderweb earrings and after the first one it had to cool down before starting the second one and it cools down before it even starts to cut. any idea why?

2

Your room temperature might be close to the limit on the operating temperature range once the machine gets going. The machine heats up five to ten degrees depending on the file being cut during operation.

If you can lower the room temperature, great. If not, try pointing a fan at the lower right side of the machine to blow cool air into the intake. You can also try opening the lid between prints to let the hot air in the machine out for five minutes or so before you fire up another one. Turning it off when it is not in use also lets it cool.

1 Like
3

Also make sure you do not have hot air from outside blowing back into the unit between cuts.

I use one of these to prevent return air from outsidde
https://amzn.to/2xoxizG

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4

I have it in our sun room I dont have a temp thing in there but with the blinds closed it stays cool enough to hang out in. I’ll try opening it. between cuts

5

I have something like that too

6

The Basic operates from 60 - 75F. more than that and you’ll start to see cool-down periods.

7

what about the plus?

8

Same range for the Plus.

9

this is a very subjective thing. that could be 80+ if it’s not humid and you’re comfy in 80+. which would be outside the range you want to stay in.

  • Recommended Operating Temperature: 60F-75F (16C-24C) Basic and Plus; 60F-81F (16C-27C) Pro
1 Like
10

Your Glowforge features a closed-loop liquid cooling system that uses the air from the room to remove heat. It is designed to be used when the temperature next to your Glowforge is between 60 degrees Fahrenheit (16 Celsius) and 75 degrees Fahrenheit (24 Celsius). To check, put a room thermometer next to the right hand side of the Glowforge; it draws in air from underneath, on the right.

You can try any of these things to improve warm-weather performance:

  • Try printing with no material on the bed (so as not to generate smoke and fumes) and no exhaust hose attached. If this works, then the problem may be that your exhaust hose is constricting the flow of air out of the unit, preventing cooling.

  • Examine the bottom-right side of your Glowforge, and ensure that there is no fabric or other flexible material underneath it, like a tablecloth. There are air intake vents, and if they become obstructed, it makes cooling less effective.

  • Try pointing a fan at the right side of your Glowforge. If there is warm air around the intake, this could help it cool off.

  • Power off your Glowforge when you are not using it. When your Glowforge sits idle, the fans are off, so heat can build up

  • Just wait. Your print may take a little longer when it’s warm, but your Glowforge will protect itself and make sure it cools enough to prevent any loss of power or damage. It’s clever enough to pick up from exactly where it left off, even if it needs to pause to cool down during the print!

  • Ensure that the sun isn’t shining on the lid. This could cause the inside of your Glowforge to heat up.

  • If you are venting outdoors, ensure that extreme temperatures or humidity do not enter the Glowforge unit through the exhaust hose. Disconnect the hose from the outside air when the Glowforge is not in use.

  • Turn your Glowforge off and open the lid for a few minutes before trying again. It’s possible for the air in your Glowforge to heat up, just like a car in the sun on a hot day, opening the lid will help that warm air to escape and your Glowforge to cool down.

If you are still running into trouble, please let us know the following so that we can investigate further:

  1. A description of the things you tried and what happened

  2. If possible, place a thermometer next to your Glowforge on the right hand side and measure the temperature there; if not, estimate the room temperature

  3. The date and time (including time zone) when you had the problem

  4. Take a picture of the exhaust hose behind your Glowforge that includes the part where it connects to your Glowforge, and the part where it exits the room

11

It’s been a little while since I’ve seen any replies on this thread so I’m going to close it. If you still need help with this please either start a new thread or email support@glowforge.com.