What did you make for your FIRST Glowforge project?

[jesimikebaker]

Newbie here…I want…desire direction. What should I make for my very first project? I only have my starter kit FYI…

Go…

[marmak3261]

Gift of good measure. Are you proficient in designing in IIlustrator or Inkscape. Look in the Fee Laser Designs category and pick one.

[jason.fuller0]

Laser-engraved crepes… Wanted to get some food out of the way, first.

[evansd2]

Your first project should be to read as much as you can possibly stand on the forum. It will pay you back over and over.

Getting started

The Glowforge team recommends working through your first prints by following along with the examples shown here to learn where everything is: They have also recently added instructions with video on using the Manual settings here: Working with Manual Settings And there are methods for Enhancing your Photo Engraves and Cutting Out a Shape as well. (You can click on the topic headers in the left-hand column for even more information.) That particular page is also handy if you have any p…

I know you’re probably excited to get to cutting but honestly you’ll save so much time and materials if you grind through the forums.

[markevans36301]

There will be three first prints. First, print something that is already in the GFUI just to get that instant gratification and make sure everything is working right. Second, print something from the free designs section. Perhaps an accessory for your ?
Finally, design something yourself and cut/engrave it. From there, you are on your way.

[rbtdanforth]

An early thing to create is these:

Honeycomb bed holdown pins

the best laser results are achieved with flat (non warping materials) in order to maintain consistent focus. Also, when cutting light materials like paper, the exhaust turbulence can kick up the material and ruin your job or at worst… catch fire. (speaking of which, I hope you all keep a small fire extinguisher in easy reach, near your machine - safety FIRST) I hope you find these useful. I used to 3d print them for my other laser cutter but occasionally , they would see the wrath of the laser …

You will find them endlessly useful. They will break or wear out over time so a small jar of them is a good thing.

[deirdrebeth]

I added an engraving to some leather shoes I already had - my first three or four projects were all adding decoration to things I already had

[jesimikebaker]

Newbie question, but how does the glowforge recognize materials that are not proofgrade?

[jesimikebaker]

I’m working my way through your list thank you so much. I am such a newbie I honestly do not even have software experience. I am stumped as to what to use. I downloaded inkspace but to be honest it is far too technical for me. Suggestions?

[evansd2]

There are a bunch of inkscape tutorials out there. Go through them in order, they’re designed to help you learn step by step:

Illustrator - older version?

Inkscape can definitely seem clunky, the UI isn’t as refined to look at, but it does do most things pretty well. There’s a great series of tutorials out there: http://tavmjong.free.fr/INKSCAPE/MANUAL/html/index.html This guy is pretty good at explaining the nuts and bolts stuff you’ll need to work with the glowforge, nodes, paths, etc. Illustrator is better at centerline traces, but other than that, I’ve never found myself unable to do something that I needed.

There’s a bit of a minimum complexity problem here. If you want to start designing your own things, then you’re going to have to figure out an editor.

If you want to just cut and engrave things without the design side, that’s where the GF store comes in. The designs they have for sale and free work well right away, especially when using proofgrade materials.

[Jules]

If you’re using Inkscape, start with this tutorial:

I thought it was supposed to be easy to print photo's using glowforge?

It’s about as easy as it gets, but it’s also got the ability to do some advanced things, and those are the ones we tend to discuss and hash out on the forum. Which I imagine can be pretty confusing at first glance. If all you want to do is engrave some photos (and cut them out, I assume) the process runs like this: Load your photo into a new Inkscape document. (If you want to clean it up first you would need to do that in another program, but lets assume it’s a great…

Then after you are done, there are a series of “Getting Familiar with the Inkscape Tools” tutorials in the Matrix here:

Glowforge Customers Training Center - 2D Vector Design

Just read through all the ones in the second column, in that order. There are a few good Glowforge ones too, up at the top.

[marmak3261]

@jesimikebaker

glowforge recognize materials

The Glowforge doesn’t really care about what kind of material is in it, just how thick it is so that the overhead camera can get a good shot and the focus routine works.

Just add in the thickness of your material and then do manual settings.

Vector paths/lines are cut or scored. Filled objects are engraved.

[deirdrebeth]

It doesn’t
You can enter thickness in the “use uncertified materials” box and get settings from either choosing a material that’s similar to or by mining the Beyond the Manual section… keeping in mind that using non means the staff can’t help you with issues, so be careful

There’s a fabulous spreadsheet at https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1sWOebDU94HwezYPbHa3YdtXjpLbEl_vEPvCb1dSByL4/edit?usp=drivesdk that people (including you!) are constantly adding to