Correct. It can take days, weeks, to get to the point where it’s visible and/or causes a problem.
Not saying you’ll have future issues. Just saying visible inspection means little at this point.
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Thanks for sharing and for the detailed explanation. It helps to show people who are wondering just what could go wrong if they aren’t careful about material compatibility.
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That is 100% why I made this post. Mostly to raise awareness.
I just got my machine about 2 weeks ago and I am brand new to lasers.
I didn’t do enough research on material compatibility…and GF did not offer some kind of warning document about what materials are detrimental to the machine they manufacture…
So I learned the hard way and almost broke my GF Pro.
It is my hope that this post will save at least 1 person the heartache of trying to sort out PVC damage - if that’s the case, then I’ll consider this post a success.
Thank you all for your input. I will take the information and use it to continue keeping my machine operable.
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@whickmant - just make sure you research comparable materials.
http://atxhackerspace.org/wiki/Laser_Cutter_Materials
I found this guide on the internet that tells exactly what is and isn’t laser safe…please take a look at it as it will help you navigate what can and cannot be cut on your GF.
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I thought the same thing…about the circuit board being exposed. @eflyguy is correct. The main computer is on the right side but the circuit board that tells everything what is to is right behind the exhaust - with everything plumbed right over the top of it.
Maybe this was because there wasn’t room for it anywhere else? Maybe this was because GF designers didn’t think it was going to be affected by this exhaust…either way, I also think there should be some kind of protection over a critical circuit board that sits right behind the exhaust…
it would make more sense to provide some kind of protection over the circuit board - weather it be an enclosure around it and/or a silicone coating on top of the board - at least with that we would have some level of protection…
however, at the end of the day if you cut the correct materials, the circuit board should be just fine.
Just gonna put this here in case someone else is under that mistaken impression: https://glowforge.com/support/topic/safety/safety-overview#uncertified-material-safety
RTFM 
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This is so awesome! This is exactly what I’m talking about.
This should have been printed on a document with big bold letters that says: “WARNING” at the top and then added to the giant box the GF comes shipped in.
If that had happened, and I still cut PVC and GF came back and said we won’t warranty it - I 100% agree with their decision…because I explicitly went against their material recommendations.
I think it has to do with how they market the machine and who they’re marketing it to…
if they were marketing to an intermediate or advanced laser cutting user pool - then I could understand only “mentioning” materials dangers…because they would already know with relative certainty.
But to market to everyday customers that have little to no laser cutting experience and then expect them to have the same knowledge of an intermediate or advanced laser user is a bit much - don’t you think?
And the documentation that is offered is hard to find, often goes overlooked and is overall, vague in the dangers of which materials can and cannot be used…
Just seems like something isn’t quite right.
Thank you for bringing this forward! I hope other beginners will be able to find this information easily.
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I strongly disagree. It’s covered pretty clearly on pages 7 and 8 of the user manual, which you are meant to read before operating the machine.
To paraphrase, unless you know a material is safe to use in a laser, don’t use it.
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You know @eflyguy you’re absolutely right.
There is no way a beginner user such as myself would know what I’m taking about.
I acknowledge that I messed up by cutting the PVC. All I was asking was for GF to shoulder some of the responsibility for not making the information readily available for someone such as myself.
Clearly, it’s all moot at this point because I fixed it myself.
I just wanted to share the good news with the community and raise awareness about material selection…however it seems that I was met with people poking holes in what I’ve experienced.
Thank you for all the helped and made suggestions. And Thank you to all that have been critical of my post - different views are always better for the whole.
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You’re being a good sport about the counter-opinions. I think it comes down to there’s a whole bunch of stuff you shouldn’t do and to put big labels about all of those things would result in one of those boxes that looks like it traveled the world getting country stickers like old time steamer trunks
I teach laser operations at the local Makerspace and never thought I needed to warn people not to put a can of soda down inside while they were arranging material, close the lid and start the job…until someone did and the head smacked into the can but kept going after slicing through it (the aluminum in soda cans is pretty thin) and sprayed Coke all over the inside of the machine.
I did add that warning to my classes although I didn’t add a sign or label to the machine. (I figured I had learned my lesson and everyone I taught would remember not to do it too 
)
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Heh - there’s a video out there somewhere showing the 
's bump protection - it’s Dan putting a coffee cup down and then hitting print. I thought it was cute marketing, but thought to myself “who would do that?”…so, thank you. I guess it’s not as out there as I thought!!
HI there! So happy i found this. Im a new owner of a GF Plus,only a week. Before i start,keep in mind Im in Canada so the price I paid was near double what its worth in the states and I would not dare to jeopardize anything that would damage my GF. I read the manual thoroughly and have NOT come across a list of materials you cannot use. If anyone has this list, please show me.So, I saw these cool vinyl records made into clocks, i decided to make some. I made 2 successfully, during the third, my machine cut out within a couple minutes into the project. Each project was only about 5/6 minutes. This happened 3 days ago, my machine only worked 2 times since then, for a few minutes at a time, very small projects. I reports it GF, sends pictures, they tell me its corrosion, went into my print logs and saw what ive done. Meanwhile, waiting for a response took awhile too… Im stuck not knowing what to do with this big machine! Now they say i can send it back and they can do a rebuild, let me know how much that will cost. For such a costly machine, service should be much better, but Ive been finding myself going on the forums since i got it. Im literally sick to my stomache and frustrated because I cannot do this all over again and feel like Im stuck. The machine powers up but the orange light comes on, it still sounds great, but doesnt move back and forth. When they say its corroded, dont i have a right to know where exactly it is corroded? Your post gave me a glimmer of hope, so maybe you can help me furthur!!! Much appreciated!
@ambeales1 There is very much hope for your GF Plus. My GF suffered quite a bit more corrosion than your it sounds like. I printed a PVC Vinyl Laptop bag that I engraved…Spewed HCL all over the inside of my machine.
When they say there is corrosion - they mean that Hydrochloric Acid has been atomized by burning the Vinyl and exhausted over the circuit board that is present behind the exhaust fan of your machine. The Corrosion is more than likely on the circuit board and preventing the computer from communicating with the arm of the machine - which is exactly why you are seeing the orange light.
I went through the same stuff with tech support that you have. However, the difference is I got tired of waiting and was fully prepared to toss my brand new GF Pro in the dumpster…that is how fed up I was.
Anyway, there is a method that could save your GF. It is completely up to you if you are willing to do this and it will probably void your warranty - I highly suggest you email tech support to see if there are any options to salvaging your warranty if you do this yourself…however it is in their hands at that point.
You are going to need to tear apart your machine. You will need to be comfortable and confident when you are removing the parts. Remember, these are electronic parts - they’re fairly durable but still be gentle. You are going to have to create a base of baking soda and water and scrub these electronic parts with a good vibrating toothbrush (like SoniCare) and then re-install them.
It is a fairly straight forward and easy process - but requires patience, confidence and willingness to accept the consequences if you make a mistake…
I will help guide you in the method that I performed on my machine - However, I will not take any responsibility for the outcome of your machine. This is completely your decision.
With your machine, what happened when you would turn it on? This is mine
cuts not cute!lol!
I’m sorry for all the mess you’re dealing with. In hindsight, I know…but, please go back in this thread and look at these two posts and the link(s) offered. You must have missed them the first time around;
Hope you get everything sorted out for the better.
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So mine would turn on, you’d hear the quick fan test and then nothing. Then you’d get the orange light.
Usually, after you turn it on there is the fan test and then you hear the motors clicking and testing…If you don’t hear the motors clicking…it is not getting any information from the computer.
The transistors on the circuit board are corroded and preventing the information from being communicated to the motors.
You’re right to call me on that. Sorry. I realize that this problem has already gone past anything the links I posted can help. I was just hoping that they might help prevent mistakes like this in the future.
Look, when I posted here as a new user a lot of the community pretty much did the same thing…rather than actually offering any help, they just kind of left me on my own and downplayed what I was going through. Honestly, it was very rude. Which is why I don’t share any of my work or designs with the community or make any comments within the community. Honestly, I never even visit this place.
If there is or is not information regarding PVC and this machine…it is CLEARLY not made VERY APPARENT that HCL will break this very expensive machine…maybe on purpose?
who knows…
Placing blame or giving comments that basically says “oh that sucks. Read this. you’ll be better” does absolutely nothing to help @ambeales1 with thier very expensive, non-working machine.
Please contribute something of substance rather than throwing it in @ambeales1 face that they didn’t read the manual.
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Thank you, I did read the manual, not sure how i can miss that section though, seeing its one of the main things to look for!! Ill have to deal with it the best way I can and hope for the best.
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