inside the GF Pro there is a container with a lid on left side…what is it?
1 Like
That’s the coolant reservoir. There’s a water pump next to it which circulates the coolant through your laser tube when it’s operating. These parts require no maintenance, do not open the lid.
5 Likes
ok. just checking to see what could be causing it to constantly drop offline when my router is right next to it practically and I am getting sick it going offline and losing time and wood. thought if it was a coolant reservoir it was low? I did not open it …
2 Likes
My Glowforge used to go offline during or after jobs sometimes. I even tried moving the router closer to it like you did. The problem was resolved when I replaced that router with a Netgear Orbi mesh system. The Glowforge wasn’t the problem, its wifi hardware was fine. It hasn’t gone offline in years since then.
2 Likes
I bought a new tp-link router, when we moved into new home, maybe I should try buying a different router? I will look into the one your describing maybe that will resolve the issue
2 Likes
wowsers thats a pricey little guy there
1 Like
My old router was a single TP-Link too. I think I just have too many wifi devices in my house (and interference from too many nearby neighbors’ networks) for it to handle. The mesh systems give you multiple access points to spread around your house, which can handle more devices better, and eliminate dead spots. I used to not be able to stream video in one of the bedrooms but now I have a strong signal everywhere. Costco usually has 3-packs for a bit cheaper than other stores (one router and two satellites).
2 Likes
My GF is on the complete opposite side of my home and the signal there is extremely low. I am using the crappy router provided by ATT.
My machine has never been “offline” (well, except when it’s turned off…)
It’s likely your problem is interference.
5 Likes
in all honesty I was worried about the setup, I am a metal shop, they really need to have a hardwired option for this machine. I am at the point where I am going to have to spend thousands on a different laser because this one is rendered useless after 2 years of ownership give or take
1 Like
just a FYI - the wifi antenna is on the RIGHT SIDE MIDDLE of the GF.
(as I just learned)
Jonathan
1 Like
as an additional comment; You mentioned you are a metal shop, maybe the metal benches / tables near your GF is acting like a radiation shield, how about a $29 ‘wifi repeater / extender’ plugged right by the Glowforge?
1 Like
Agreed - I don’t think the problem is the GF, it’s either the router or interference.
I’m willing to bet moving either 2 feet will fix your problems.
2 Likes
It’s a natural assumption that the machine is at fault, but that is rarely the case.
As @eflyguy and @sqw said, it is most probably interference. You can use an app like “WiFi Analyzer” to see which channel you are connected to, it’s signal strength, and how many others are on that channel.
My TP router worked great for years, but I recently replaced it with a mesh network $ 
.
BTW, if the coolant was low you would see bubbles in the tube.
3 Likes
ok I will try analyzer , the router is actually sitting next to GF. I could only set it on the GF to be closer
1 Like
Remember most phones will auto connect to the 5Ghz signal if available but the GF will only connect to the 2.4Ghz signal so ensure you look at the same frequency.
This has to be causing some issues, unless the power level has been adjusted it might just be too strong its causing noise or errors.
3 Likes
well it did this when it was 30ft away, 20 ft away, 10 ft away and now 2 ft away…
1 Like
I noticed you have been with us for a while, was the machine operating well across the last year?
So the machine downloads the entire motion plan before the button blinks. At that point, an internet connection isn’t even needed to run the job. If the laser is stopping mid-job, you have a different problem.
If the machine won’t calibrate at power on or won’t complete the file prep, then WiFi signal integrity would be my first troubleshooting.
2 Likes
… Also support can tell from the machine logs if it had a problem maintaining a connection. Help them out by giving the time/date/time zone when you had the issue.
1 Like
My wi-fi is down a long hall and down a set of stairs. I have an extender at the top of the stairs and that’s what my GF connects to. Early on i had some issues but since then, none…
1 Like
I was having problems for a while. I use TP Link and an Orbi Mesh (my house is over 7000sqft and I send wifi three different buildings plus wifi cameras around the property). My issue turned out to be the Apple TV’s in the house. I moved them to one dedicated channel and the GF to it’s own dedicated channel and my problems went away. My internet is provided by Starlink which has a built in wifi router that cannot be disabled.
4 Likes