My glowforge laser enclosure looks like it is leaking. It has a residue in the middle of the black enclosure, when i touch it, it almost seems like glue that is coming out of the middle gap of the laser enclosure.
Also, the enclosure is full of imperfections, which i understand may be normal? Such as the plastic outer enclosure wrapping has rough plastic edges that were not sanded down. The glowforge logo is wearing down. I have only had this thing opened on the table for a week, and have used it once.
Lastly, i know the alignment of the camera is off, but how off is within spec. My glowforge is about 1.5-2" off alignment from the web viewer to the glowforge.
Thank you.
Attached is a photo of the laser enclosure. The picture doesnt show coloring too well. It appears alot more black in the center than the photo. It almost looks like grease around the gap.
It might just be a little grease that got missed by the cleanup team, did you try to just wipe it off? I don’t think the greasy spot is going to affect anything, and once you start using the machine regularly, it’s going to be hidden under the film of dust and resin anyway. These things don’t stay clean for long.
The one thing you mentioned that causes me to pause is the logo.
Is the logo that is wearing off the one on the top of the black print head inside the machine? (The laser enclosure). That one is used for alignment by the lid camera, so if the camera can’t see it, you will wind up getting really large differences in alignment. (The current acceptable range is 1/4 inch or about 6 mm.)
Other things can cause the alignment to be off by quite a bit though too - like not entering the correct thickness of the material or trying to print something without the crumb tray in place, so you’ll need to provide a few more details about the one print you ran before they will be able to figure out what is going on.
Did you run through all of the steps for preparing your first print following the instructions here?:
How did the print turn out, aside from being placed in the wrong spot? Can you share a picture of it?
There are four sections (click on the red arrows) you need to go through that will help you to walk through your first three prints and then start in on designing your own things for the machine at that link - I highlighted them below:
Need more info and pictures with preview image rulers showing your alignment errors. 1.5"+ is way outside the acceptable range. Thinking something else in the process is wrong. Most folks get 1/8" or so accuracy. Some much better, some slightly worse.
The software on your Glowforge is responsible for ensuring that the print lands on the material in the same place as the preview. When you’re done with a print, let a new image load. If the print appears on screen far from where it was supposed to go, you may have an alignment problem.
Most alignment problems come from the material being closer or farther from the camera than expected. While the software is still improving, you can take these steps for the most accurate alignment results:
Use Proofgrade™ materials.
If you don’t use Proofgrade materials, use a precision set of calipers to measure your material, and enter the thickness in the “uncertified materials” dialog.
Use material that is not warped or tilted.
Place your design near the center of the bed.
Clean the area underneath your crumb tray, particularly the four indentations on the floor.
Reboot the machine. Alignment can drift over time, particularly if you bump the head of your Glowforge while removing material.
Since you’ve reported a larger offset, we’d like to have you try a few troubleshooting steps for us:
Turn off your Glowforge.
Check for small pieces of debris or dust.
Check the lower door to make sure it closes all the way. It may require some force to open, but open it, wipe any dust off the edges, and close it all the way.
Remove the tray and clean any dust or debris from the surface underneath. Pay careful attention to remove all debris from the four dimples where the tray rests.
Check the lid to make sure it closes all the way. Small particles of material, such as dust or debris, can prevent it from closing completely.
Check the surface your Glowforge is on to make sure it’s flat. Ensure it is not twisted slightly and that there is no debris propping up one side of the machine.
Turn your Glowforge back on.
We included an extra piece of Proofgrade Draftboard with your materials shipment for troubleshooting. Place the Proofgrade Draftboard in the center of the bed and print the Gift of Good Measure using the default settings.
When the print finishes, leave the lid closed and wait until the fans stop and the picture updates. Without moving your artwork or your material, take a screenshot of the Workspace to show us the difference between the artwork placement and the actual print placement. Make sure to include the rulers in your screenshot and show as much of the bed as possible.
Mac: Press Shift-Command-4 and click and drag a box around your image. You’ll find the screenshot file saved on your desktop.
Windows: Click on the Start Menu and type “snipping tool”. Open the Snipping Tool > New then click and drag a box around your image. Click the Save icon and name and save your file.
Send us the screenshot along with the date and time of the print, and we’ll investigate.
I will definitely try what is mentioned, currently I have only done 2 prints, it would have been one but the camera to material guidance was so off I had to re-do it. It seems aligned vertically, but horizontally it is heavily off to the left. By the way it isn’t the logo on the head, it’s the logo on the case, merely cosmetic but all the cosmetic things give me pause.
Lastly, it would seem like grease however, it seems like glue is coming out of that gap, almost like it was sealed with glue and the dried glue is peeling out.
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.
