We’ve made some small but important changes to the planned bed area of 12x20, and it’s a mix of good and bad news.
The bed area is wider and deeper than we planned (18" x 20.4") and we can accommodate thicker materials than planned (up to 2" with the tray removed instead of the 1.5" planned). However, our production units will have 11.5 x 20.4" working area, which is more width but less depth than planned. Also, the working area will be reduced somewhat when the laser operates at high speed, as it can take space for the laser to decelerate.
Every time we ship a unit, we send an exhaustive email explaining exactly what the system can and cannot do on the day they receive it. (In fact, the pre-release email is 7 pages long!) That lets each customer make sure they know exactly what they’re going to receive before they give us their address and get their shipment. We’ll include this in the pre-ship email, but since it’s a change that we can’t update later in software, I wanted to post this here asap.
I love sharing good news and hate sharing bad. I apologize.
Just to make sure I understand - we will still be able to fit a 12 inch piece of material into the bed area, correct? We just won’t be able to cut the entire 12 inches of it? (Only 11.5 inches that the laser can reach?)
So, to summarize, we lose a half inch in length, gain a half inch in width and gain a half inch in depth, or did I read it wrong. Personally the extra half inch in depth more than out weighs the loss of a half inch in the length (front to back). I’ll take it.
Don’t remember any statement indicating that the mechanics of the Pro heads moves any faster. Just that the power at the laser spot would be higher and because of this a job could be completed quicker. The problem Dan discussed is likely a mechanical issue to keep the head from slamming into stops. Is likely the same for both units.
@jdodds: Apologies, I didn’t explain this well. Pro can cut through at higher speeds than Basic can. At cutting speed (relatively slowly), there isn’t much effect. It’s only at high speeds (scoring and engraving) that we need to reserve extra space for the head to slow down.
Exactly.
Actually, it can be up to 18" deep and fit - but yes, you’ll only be able to cut/engrave 11.5" of it (depth-wise).
Yup, that’s right.
Correct, other than having to do one extra “push through” if you’re cutting something that’s just a bit bigger than the print area.
Hi @dan ! I am massively excited to get my Glowforge, no matter the details. Just wondering, though- will the exterior dimensions/ footprint of the unit remain unchanged?
Thanks, Dan. I’m sorry that you even felt badly about it at all. You wouldn’t have changed things if it weren’t necessary…and so far, me included, most folks are just fine with it.
Will the software inform us and prevent the job when this happens. I personally don’t see any major issue for me ( nothing specifically that large that I can think of where it would matter - and like many above comments I’ll take the depth trade off !), but curious if it this happens when laser speed is set higher, will the software say - “lower speed or reduce image”?
