I have one of the older Glowforge machines. I have cleaned the lens and the tray.
It will not engrave or cut. It starts out looking like it will cut the it fades out. it goes through the motions but with no results. I am using proof grade basswood.
see attached:
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Can you try printing the Gift of Good Measure on typing paper using the 20# typing paper settings and video the print or share multiple screenshots of the progression?
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I’ll try that and let you know.
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If test prints fail cut through with the default Proofgrade settings, I would note the date and time it was run along with photos of the front and back of the material. Support will request those as a part of troubleshooting, and having that prepped can lead to a faster resolution.
The team is available on weekends, including live phone support hours at Contact.
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here are pictures of 20# paper
27# paper
prints done 1/4/25 @ 8:15AM
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The pictures indicate to me that the machine continues to fire during the print rather than starting and then fading out as the print progresses. There is no cut line on the Gift of Good Measure, but the scores look pretty good. Did you set the cut to ignore or was it set to cut and didn’t?
Glowforge support will take a look at your pictures and machine logs if you email them to open a ticket. Older machines can suffer from reduced laser power, but not firing at all is a different problem. Are you certain that your machine stops firing and only goes through the motions?
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I just tried again. I made sure the last step was set on cut and it didn’t’t cut out the print. It did the engraving okay and cut out the places on the Gift of Good Measure. I did a several small videos of the progression. Attached are some pictures of the most recent try. It looks like everything is set right?
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What happens if you create a small circle and set it to cut at the Proofgrade setting? Did this behavior just begin?
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I tried the circle yesterday. It acted like it was going to cut, but it did not cut through the material. I din’t try on the paper. I’ll try that to see what the results are.
I recently moved to a new house. I took great precaution with the GF. I packed it back in the original box as per the instructions. It took me a while before I could set it up. I have it vented to the outside of my studio through a dryer vent the has the auto flap.
I thought that it maybe because of the move?? We made sure that it was transported sitting flat on the floor…
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I think your machine is AOK. I think there is a little something causing problems. It could be one of the optics has a scratch or smudge, but the engrave is crisp on paper which makes me think the machine is operational.
Not cutting through can be several things - including the material. Sometimes slight adjustments in the settings is all that is necessary.
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It won’t cut through the paper on Manuel or on Proof grade material. ?
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As you can see the cut starts but doesn’t complete the circle or cut through?
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Inspect all of your optics very closely. Pay special attention to the window inside the machine on the left side and to the window on the left side of the printhead. Also look at the lens and mirror for any imperfections.
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I have cleaned them. I didn’t remove the one on the left side. Can I remove it to look at it?
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It can be removed, but if you clean it really well there is no need to remove it. It is very strange that scores are good and cuts are not. The machine processes the two functions the same and the only difference is the speed/power.
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I agree that is very odd. Score is just a lower power/higher speed cut.
As the settings are correct, I think only support can determine what’s happening here.
I have a suspicion but I’ll keep it to myself.
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Thank you, I’ll try to clean again.
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Thank you, I’ll try to clean again
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I doubt that will help. The scores and for the most part, engraves, seem to be having issues which leads me to what I think is a more fundamental issue, but support will need to walk you through it. A smudge on the windows would not be “intermittent”, and would not cause higher-power cuts to not leave a mark. Essentially what I suspect is that the higher power “commands” are causing the power supply to fail to provide the commanded power. Once again, you’ve had it a long time.
And I am fairly certain they will ask you to run the same print on a piece of their material. They can not diagnose an issue without using known/proven material.
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I cleaned both lens. They were a little smudged. I ran another test and it engrave and score okay but it didn’t cut? I’ll email support to see if they can help me.
Thanks
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