I bought the pro model because I wanted the fastest and most reliable unit.
Here are the main reasons why in order of importance(most important first)
1.) Better Cooling (I really don’t want to have cooling problems)
2.) Better Optics (I figured this was important for better accuracy in the trace feature)
3.) Better Tube (Faster you say? Heck yes! I’m also sure I will find a need for those extra 5W)
4.) Pass Through ( being able to cut/engrave longer material 10" at a time is nice and I’m sure I will use this feature but honestly if the pro didn’t have the capability of a pass through I would have still purchased it. Perhaps if the pass through was a lot taller I would go nuts over this but not for 1/4" material.)
The better cooling and passthrough were the main selling points for me. Like many others, it gets warm here in the summer and the idea of having to stop prints less frequently is a big deal. Overall, I decided to upgrade a couple of months ago because I didn’t want to see all of the things people were doing with the passthrough and not be able to do it myself. If I’m spending so much, I want to be able to do everything the machine can possibly offer.
1)pass-through slot
2)larger cutting area
3)Longer working time due to better cooling
Currently:
1)Better Cooling
2)Larger cutting area
3)Higher Power
4)Pass-through Slot
I’m still excited about the pass-through even though I was disappointed about the height restrictions. I’ve learned a lot while I’ve been here, and I think I’ll be able to cope accordingly
I got the Basic, strictly due to the price difference. The increased power and cooling are not really all that important to me, but that’s only because I will be using it 99% just for fun / gifts / etc, rather than as a business machine, and so I will not be running it all that much, nor will I need speed.
However, I would SO LOVE to have a pass through slot! The lack of that is a HUGE bummer for me with the basic model.
@dan: How about this idea for the hopper: Why not offer an Intermediate Model, which would have all of the internal components of the Basic, but with a pass through slot as well?! I - and I bet many others - would gladly pay a fair premium for that feature.
Edit: Omg, or even better: Offer the ability to custom order a la cart with different options, like when you buy a new car.
Upgrade to 45W for $XX
Upgrade to Pass Through Slot for $XX
Upgrade Cooling for $XX
Oh yeah; now we talking…
Of course, there would then probably have to be a re-stocking fee for cancellations…
Pass-through was biggest factor. I was only minimally disappointed by the 1/4" restriction.
Better optics and power was a lesser factor. The initial marketing, as I recall, was essentially up to 1/4" materials, which I took as not all 1/4" materials. As I want to use 1/4" boards from a wide variety of hardwood species, I figured maybe that up to will mean all the ones I want to use. Also, maybe it would help with cleaner cuts on leathers with various treatments.
The upgraded cooling is nice, but it didn’t play a huge role in my decision making. I guess I won’t know how nice it is until I see how much I use my glowforge.
faster it may not be much but (cooling, higher power, better optics) whatever the cause the result I want
perceived better reliability/longevity again (cooling, higher power so able to run shorter, higher power so able to run at a reduced portion of max) I’ve burnt things up due to Texas heat ebign a tightwad on A/C and just generally pushing them. so anything that helps a more stable operation is good.
included filter. It’s hot here. I don’t want to run in the garage with better ventilation and I don’t want to deal with ducting to more hot spaces and I really don’t want to open windows and let the 100F+ heat in.
I ordered the Basic. The biggest driver for me was the cost.
The features in the Pro that I’m most excited about, in order:
Cooling
Better Optics
45W
Pass-through
I always thought the Pass-through was cool, but I never saw a use for it personally. I was always planning on doing small projects. Once I found out the regulations on Class 4 lasers, I was glad I made that decision.
I do agree with @nunzioc though, it would be nice to have an a la cart option where you can pick and choose features. I would have jumped at the change to upgrade the cooling!
a la card would be great
but solid metrics to what each of these up sells actually gets us would be greater. then we can gauge for our selves and our needs what is of value and what we are willing to pay for that uptick
I got a Pro because in the description of the different models somewhere (I think it was labeled something like “Should I order a Pro?”) it said that it was going to be made for more continuous use, like in a makerspace or other shared use situation. I’m happy to have the pass through and plan to use it, but the heavier dutyness of the Pro is my main reason.
I have grand leather working plans for the Glowforge, my Fiancé knows tailoring and I’m okay at leatherworking so I’d really like to try my hand at corsets and leather jackets and the pass through seems important for that, i’m also curious to try to build some modular furniture pieces out of MDF or HDF and Delrin. …and the longer warrantee
The pass-through slot was the most compelling reason for the Pro to me. In the end the Class 4 rating kept me from choosing that option. Part of our use will be at a STEAM school and the safety of the Class 1 made it the only option.
ya that’s a good point… after all my intended room is my computer room that is also shared with rabbits and chinchilla’s and I don’t think I can make them wear laser glass’s as the safety warning would indicate
They only need the glasses when the pass-thru door is open.
BTW, I haven’t seen the GF in real life but one of the things that we might want to be wary of with either model is how bright the light coming off the cut is. The laser is invisible to our eyes but the cut can be very bright visible light. I’ve noticed flaring and bright spots when looking away after watching a cut thru the plastic window of my current machines.
ya so for that regard the top glass has a special coating/layer/impregnation that will make it eye safe in regard to laser spectrum/IR I imagine. as for visible spectrum well ya don’t star at the sun, but in our field of view top down we would not be staring at the laser beam but at the reaction on the material unsafe spectrum will be filtered by the top glass. the hazard is with the pass through it puts the unsafe spectrum light and opening level. we also have not see the pass through actually work as to open or close, as far as we know its a curtain but as far as I’m concerned it doesn’t actually exist yet except for in mockups or good intentions same as all the other pro features
Two different issues. The top window won’t let laser light through (it absorbs 10600nm light waves) but does allow the transmission of very bright visible spectrum. Bystanders may not realize how bright that light is and stare at the cut. People who don’t do a lot of laser work are fascinated by the intricate designs or engraves. Easy to say “don’t stare at the sun” but if you’ve never seen the sun before, it’s hard not to look. When you’ve got the public involved you’ve got to be sensitive to different hazards.
The pass-thru allows refracted or reflected laser wavelength light out of the machine (which is the driver for the Class 4 rating). Laser safe glasses (if they wrap around) protect against that light. But only for people wearing those. (Remember pets can be exposed to the same light and aren’t likely to be wearing laser safe goggles.) It’s not a high risk but it is possible.
We went with the pro because we do have plans to generate some income with it, and the increase in duty cycle and speed was a definite plus. We also liked the idea of the pass-through, even though we knew about the limited thickness it supports before we ordered it.
I do have some concerns about the class 4 designation though, and am very much hoping the slots are closed/blocked when not in use so that it is only necessary to keep the grandchild/dog/spectators out of the area completely when we are actually using the pass-through.
We also like getting the best version we can afford in any major purchase, so that played into it as well.