One of the main reasons I got the Glowforge was the promise of detailed ‘CNC’-style, 3D-print rivaling #D engraving.
I understand the complication of creating Depth-Maps, but as an experienced 3D modeler and an owner of a LiDAR iPhone, creating those isn’t a problem. I’m aware there’s the option of ‘Vary Power’ or 3D print settings, but I’ve had pretty poor results whatever material I use and however I tweak my settings, during either generation or at the point of ‘printing.’
Where are all the results?? The community has very few posts on this. Is it just a case that the Glowforge really isn’t practically capable of the promised results?
If anyone has had any regular success without a week of clean-up after, I’d appreciate someone sharing.
(By the way - I have both SLA and FMD 3D printers, so please don’t just tell me to give up and go get those…!)
I’ve seen tons of them in the Facebook groups. It’s just kind of a boring “project” (upload file, hit print, here’s the result) so maybe fewer have shared them here on a forum.
Personally, I have found little desire to use that feature. I can’t think of many practical uses for engraving a depth map with a low-power laser. The range of depths you achieve is small and all depths are burned, not carved. It’s no replacement for a CNC router.
I did use the capability to emulate wood grain in cheap MDF, but that was just to play around.
I just posted some of mine, including a video tutorial on modeling Celtic knots in Nomad Sculpt, making depth maps in Blender and carving them on a Glowforge and a desktop CNC:
I think the Glowforge is as capable of producing 3D engraves as any other 40W laser. It’s just not something that most people do. You really need a combination of the best possible material, the best possible starting image, and well-tuned settings, and even then what you get out is a flat thing with a little bit of depth and maybe some shading. I’d never call it 3D-printer-rivaling. Also I have that thing where certain kinds of patterns gross me out, and unfortunately a lot of 3D engraves I’ve seen, I wish I hadn’t.
I have had good results with basswood, but it is not a technique that I find myself using much. Part of the reason for that is the final product still looks like wood even when painted, and I am more interested in simulating the look of metal and plastic.
Probably my favorite is this one. No masking, no finishing, and on a scrap of hardwood.
Right out of the laser, and after washing with water and allowing to dry:
It’s a glorious machine
Oh yeah - I don’t think anybody has linked to THE 3D Engrave yet!
I see you’re from my old stomping grounds! Lived in York for 16 years till 2017 when I moved to Maryland. Went to college on the greenfield exit in Lancaster!
The reason I went with the Glowforge originally was because I would rather have my 3d in walnut while no matter how fancy, standard 3d printer results were still plastic.