Just wanted to make glowforge users aware that I had trouble cutting through some thick draftboards earlier in 2024. After more trouble shooting than you could possibly imagine (including getting 2 different machines that did the same thing) we realized that we had received a few bad boards that were proofgrade. I did find one other post about this on a closed thread. (Of course I found it now and not when we were having trouble.) I just wanted to put this info out there again in case someone is about to lose their minds with the same issue. The boards look different if you pull up the corner of the coating. They are really grainy and a little darker.
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Thanks for the heads up!
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I appreciate your concern, but it highlights that everyone should know how to test materials, get in the habit of always checking the settings work before commiting to a project, and how to use custom settings - use the proofgrade ones as a starting point.
I keep a small notebook on the machine and number every setting I write down. Although I have saved settings in the UI for my most-used materials, I always have the written record to refer to as a sanity check. I’ll just note the number on the unused piece, or have a stack of small post-its I put on if it’s not masked.
The only time I trust their settings is if I have already cut a project from a piece of proofgrade and didn’t record any changes on it. I test every new piece, regardless of source. It’s just a habit, and takes a few seconds.
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One of many reasons I let sawdust be sawdust and not try to use it made to be wood again. Apparently, Glowforge tries to use only the best sawdust, and more importantly, the best glue to put it together, but even looking at the official settings glued sawdust is harder to cut through, but that is only part of the story. Looking at any of the medium and light versions of any of the PG plywoods (medium has MDF in the middle and light does not) the light cuts better faster and cleaner than the medium though the differences in thickness are very minor. The thick versions also have no MDF.
This is even more the case with Non-PG wood containing MDF, which is the dirtiest material you can cut.
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FYI, every sheet of Proofgrade material comes with a warranty. If it doesn’t cut at Proofgrade settings due to the material, they will replace it for you if you contact customer support.
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