Morning all,
I know that the Glowforge can’t typically print .stl files but I was wondering if anyone through this would work. It is a adapter for a sonos stand and it is only 2.3cm high / 0.91". which means that I could just use a 1" piece of wood and cut it. The thing is that there is a slope, but I thought perhaps the Glowforge can go left and right and with increased laser power cut away at the wood on an angle. Would this work?
Thank you!
Flexson_Sonos_One_to_Era_300.stl (133.3 KB)
That would be very difficult to do in a precise way to get the exact depth you need, using a laser. There is even a bit of curvature of the top bit that would be even harder to reproduce in an engraved piece. If you really want to do it in your laser, I would create a bunch of slices of the side view, cut the cross sections on the laser, and glue them together. You might have to sand it smooth.
Personally, I would just 3D print it. If you don’t have a 3D printer, your local library might have one you can submit a file to.
I’ve done 3D engravings using a greyscale bump map image, but not the actual STL file. You need a greyscale image that its darkness indicates depth. they can turn out really cool. but not practical.
Phil returns!
You COULD convert it to an .svg file (TinkerCad is one way) and then try and just use it flat? Or, if you REALLY need it at that angle, slice it into a few layers and cut them out of thinner wood and glue them together…
The thickest wood the Glowforge can cut well is .25" - you can do thicker by using many many passes, and you won’t be able to get an exact size because the kerf will grow with every pass…so at minimum you’re talking 4 pieces of wood and a bunch of sanding.
Lol always lurking 
. I haven’t used my glowforge in about 3 years. Its my backup laser now. But always got something going. More cnc and laser combined.
Ill see if i can dig up my old tests of the 3D laser engravings to show you guys.
Backup to what?
I am really considering selling my glowforge and just getting a 3D printer, seems like there is much more use for it!
I have both and I almost never use my 3-D printer because I solve every problem with my laser.
Granted that’s just me, but I find that the laser is faster and more effective for almost every kind of project that I do.
A decent 3d printer can cost 10% as much as a decent laser cutter so you may not need to sell your laser to try 3d printing. All depends on your needs, perhaps you do need a $4k 3d printer, but what I have accomplished with my $250 3d printer is mindblowing to me.
My 80w large platform laser. I could fit the glowforge INSIDE my main laser lol.