Here is what happens when you press print 3 times quickly…
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Just discovered my Wife’s Glowforge Christmas surprise after I wiped out all previous email communications. I’m not exactly sure what the “cloud” is and would like to know if my 2Mbps internet cable modem with a linksys e2000 router is sufficient. Can anyone please simply say whether this will or will not run the Glowforge? Thanks.
Yes it will run the Glowforge you’ll just need to send the file from a computer in your house.
Thank You!
As for the 2Mbit connection that should be good enough.
Clarification on @Jamie post. The Glowforge needs a Wifi connection with its **own internet access. And so does the machine that is controlling it. The glowforge plugin/portal is the only thing that has a direct connection with the unit.
**Own in the sense as it treated like any other standalone wireless device that you have on your network.
So Plug-in >>> Internet >>>> Glowforge ‘Cloud’ >>>>> Internet >>>>> Glowforge Basic / Pro.
@karaelena 's post is the clearest description of the situation I have seen on any official Glowforge web site. I will assume it’s correct even though karalena is identified as a “regular” rather than an employee. (All karalena posts seem to be good, anyway.) Basically, all communications to your Glowforge will be via a system belonging to Glowforge somewhere on the Internet. There is (apparently) no direct communications whatsoever between your CAD/“control” computer and the Glowforge laser cutter.
One implication of this is that you had better be in the room when the cutter is operating, because you have no foolproof way to stop the machine other than by physically hitting an “e-stop” switch on the device (if provided) or turning off its power. I do not think this is particularly onerous: you should never run a laser cutter unless you are physically present anyway. It does mean that you cannot count on using the camera as a real-time way to verify that you are not burning or scorching your workpiece: you will need to sue your physical eyes (in your physical laser goggles, of course.)
My guess is that this is not a show-stopper for most Glowforge customers. Only a few old fuddy-duddies and paranoids will be so concerned that they will cancel their orders.
“Cloud” is a buzzword that vaguely suggests the promise and convenience of being able to access files from anywhere. But the reality is that the cloud is hardly floating like mist above our heads — it’s a physical infrastructure,
Read the rest of this gizmodo article here, if you want.
Correct!
Be assured I am an Old Parinoid Fuddy-duddy who believes in local control, but I really want this thing, so…so much for principles.
Thanks to everyone for your helpful input, looks like I have about 6 months to reconfigure.
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EDIT #3 – Connectivity / Workflow Guesstimate™
Based on two prior versions and some great feedback, here’s my latest unofficial guesstimate of the workflows and network connectivity needed to use a Glowforge.
It does not cover every conceivable instance. Your mileage will vary!
Disclaimer: I am not a member of the Glowforge staff, nor do I claim to have any inside knowledge of features or requirements. No identification with actual persons, places, buildings, and/or products is intended or should be inferred. Do not fold, spindle or mutilate.
I thought the Glowforge standalone app is a web-app. Should that be on the other-side of the line? Or does that just confuse things? Or am I confused. 
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Agree with Joe. The processing is on the “Web side”
It’s a good diagram and is representative of the vast majority of actual users’ situations. However, I would prefer to emphasize that The blue path (to the GF server) does not need to flow through the same internet connection (home router) as the red path. You can (probably, in theory) control your GF from a laptop that is stealing service on your lefthand neighbor’s WiFi while connecting your GF to your righthand neighbor’s WiFi 
Red path? It must be nice to see color…
At any rate the point is that the Glowforge Basic / Pro requires it own connection to the internet. Regardless how it achieves it.
The thing that attracts me to this is the fact that the GF is network agnostic. Which means it can be behind other VLANs or NATs and it could be still controlled.
i.e. I bring the unit to a friends house. Set it up for their network connection. They use it ‘locally’ I can IPSec/VPN to home and RDP to my desktop- open Illustrator and send a job/op to the unit that not at it’s ‘homebase’
The key being that the GF Basic / Pro can make connection to the internet. Standard Wireless access point, A wireless bridge/extender, Mobile hotspot/tethering.
Lightly edited the diagram to mention that the inbound WiFi router/modem/access point/tin can connection to the GF can be separate from the outbound connection. Changed the red inbound connection marker to dashed black.
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Yes, of course all web apps originate on their respective servers. 
My intent was to illustrate the general setup to those who might not be as technically savvy as others — looked at from that point of view, the GF web app appears on their computer’s screen.
As I mentioned above…
It does not cover every conceivable instance. Your mileage will vary!
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I get it. 
Silly me, over thinking things.
I plan on taking advantage of the internet access feature. Well, should I say, my sister is. When I told her I was going to get this I could see the gears turning in her head. She is a mechanical engineer and is into crafts, especially stamping and making cards. I am hoping I can give her access to send jobs, Skype me to tell me what material to put in, and then since she works close to my place she can pick up her prints after work.