It’s about the same as the official GF filter though.
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Indeed, and the biggest cause of complaints about how fast the filter fills up. I have a 190 CFM assist fan and cannot use it alone when cutting really smokey stuff.
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Thanks, @davidgal2 
I’m simply a person using both machines, so I can try to be as objective as I can. And I appreciate both companies.
I deeply analysed the trajectory of GF and xTool, from Dan’s kickstarter campaign to Makeblock evolution into xTool. I was part of them since the early days.
And… yes, now I’d humbly suggest Glowforge to consider the market is opening wide on these techs. Digital fabrication future is bright.
So, in terms of strategic development, now something more has to be done in terms of software evolution (even on the FREE side, given the already limiting web-only usage) and hardware upgrading (of the current machines, not only across new models, extending and enforcing our - high - investments value).
Just my thoughts… 
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That is why I went to Inkscape and Gimp, and to a lessor extant Blender. The investment in just learning the software is considerable even without paying all the cash as well. I got quite good at Artcam on someone else’s dime but since Autodesk did a catch-and-kill even that effort is just wasted.
I taught myself Autocad (with the help of books) as that was the demand of employers, but I would no longer go there for any other reason.
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Personally I already pay for Adobe suite (part of my job) and therefore Illustrator is my main software for SVGs.
Nonetheless I hate to open the GFUI and being NOT able to make even a simple line to cut a sheet of wood after a work is finished. Or to make very simple transformations to an object I’ve created in Illustrator.
If I compare the GFUI to xTool XCS… OMG… this latter software did start being developed years AFTER the GFUI and is now immensely superior, local working (no need to WAIT for GF servers for calculations), available on desktop (Win/MacOS) AND iPAD (with a specific app, really well done!).
I almost never use XCS to make a design (obviously Illustrator is superior), but for easy shapes and quick cuts… it’s super! There’s even a (free) generative AI feature, recently integrated…
I kindly ask Glowforge developers to monitor such competitive solutions and… update accordingly the FREE tools in GFUI (free, not Premium).
You can check here the basic features (and there are a lot more, and everything is free):
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There was a time when the GFUI could not do these things and now it does, which things are premium and which are not I do not know as I jumped at the first “great” offer that had little to recommend it at the time but has grown since, but early on I did have things like just a line or basic shape to drag into the GFUI as needed. Now the only thing I am really upset about is really great and accurate rotation under 2 degrees that is killer to get a long design on a thin board (like a ruler) that a degree off translates to considerable miss at the other end.
I jumped on the CNC bandwagon way too early and ended up with junk, in part because I did not have the engineering chops to do what was needed, and much later got a glowforge on the basis that I did not need those skills.
I really miss Autocad Lisp (that I thought would become universal but did not), but find plenty ability in the Gimp/ Inkscape/ Blender world. Perhaps that would be different if I was starting today but my experience with 3Dprinters would suggest not so much. A different universe would have different results, such as a built in everything Adobe and no need to start out there, but a more limited base like Microsoft made for something other than artists, it would be worth it to go to a different system and the difference in motivation in making something to sell and making something to use yourself has sent me to the open source route.
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For something like this I create the cut at the same time as the art.
You will be better served to contact them directly as they do not monitor this forum.
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i don’t disagree that it would be nice to have free shapes instead of having them in premium.
that said, if you’re an AI user, it’s as simple as copy/paste from AI to the GFUI. so it’s a mild hassle at most, one extra step to copy/paste (i guess that could be seen as two, so maybe two).
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Yes, i did prepare some basic shapes to insert when needed, but… hey… is this a caring for clients and their ease of use? Clients that have spent 7+K bucks in a (nice) device?! Glowforge is not anymore alone in the market. Some features should be a no-brainer…
Today, after having used both the simple xTool M1 XCS and the GFUI, my next laser would be the P2. Try to download the free XCS app on the iPad (the app is named “Creative Space”), just to have a quick bite… then after you simply delete it.
As I love the GF in terms of hardware (except the air assist lack), i hope our (free) GFUI will definitely grow. Definitely.
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While I agree with you, I have very little hope for that kind of change. Glowforge’s business model includes subscriptions now, I feel it’s unlikely to change — no matter how many people simply complain.
The only thing that might make a difference is if people not only express their displeasure but also cancel their subscriptions. This is a strange combination: the people who really want the design tools are unlikely to cancel their subs because then they’re stuck.
I’m not advocating this, mind you. I’m just saying that until they see declining subscription revenues specifically tied to “design software should be free”, they just have no incentive to change course. None of us have any insight into the company’s finances so I suppose we have no idea if this is happening at all — we’re operating in the dark here.
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I agree with you too.
Only i would add one important factor: how many new clients will they lose vs innovative realities like xTool? (and there are many more out there).
I would buy a premium subscription for free designs, not for basic tool features that anybody else offers for free: for those - like myself - i would use external programs, everytime complaining about uneasy usage. These complains bring customer dissatisfaction, lack of advocacy, churning clients.
Producing a laser cutter is not rocket science, a 2 axis system and a focused laser.
Innovations might reside in software (see above), air assist system, precision placement, curved surfaces (features that other players are already providing).
Canon and Nikon were dominating the DSLR market, before Sony started to innovate… (I moved from Canon to Sony, by the way, and I’m so happy of my Sony A7r3 - long lasting value, as I would desire from my [more expensive] GF Pro).
As i wrote, i love Glowforge and I hope they will come back to innovate.
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I agree but this is so hard to prove in a non zero-sum situation like this.
We’ll see how it works out.
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xTool is circulating a survey as we speak that suggests they’d like to move in the Glowforge Premium direction themselves.
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Thanks @dan84: is it an open survey, or closed to a restricted circle of people? (I did even talk to their customer service, in chat, to suggest reconsidering premium features… my aim is to help and support “our” Glowforge, even to support GFUI UX, not to raise futile complains)
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They may not be futile, but they might be futile here since Glowforge doesn’t necessarily read this. You have really good points and ideas, you should definitely email support about them. Your input may be the tipping point, who knows?
Thanks for sharing both your ideas on this and all the info about the P2 and your vent setup. It’s great to hear new perspectives and especially since yours is not the typical us-based viewpoint that we get around here. I like hearing about varied experiences like this, posts by Glowforge users from all parts of the world. It’s interesting and refreshing, and makes me step back and consider my biases — which is a healthy thing to do.
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This thread is very interesting and I appreciate all of the info everyone took the time to provide, and the way it was shared (without bashing as mentioned above).
It is amazing to watch how technology is developing and tools available to us evolve. Hopefully my Glowforge will last a long time and it’s intriguing to imagine what will be available then.
I do wish we knew something about the next big things will be with the world of GF development. I’m guessing that has to be played close to the vest, though.
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Happy trying to support having our GF ecosystem to evolve, either in terms of hardware options, software, materials and ideas sharing
(and geographical reach… as I’m afraid that in Italy we’re a number of users that… you can count on the fingers of a single hand 
)
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That custom window vent system is as polished as I’ve seen. Pro job there! 
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Ahah, thanks, grazie “Printo” 
I carefully looked in the market and i didn’t find any similar solution for passing through double glasses, so… i decided to make it myself.
Incredible what you can conceive, today, mixing a laser cutter and a 3d printer… (even better if you give it life with Arduino, sensors and motors…).
Leonardo Da Vinci would have been happier than ever 
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How did you get a double pane glass like that with that hole? I’m simply fascinated by that alone. 
Let alone the rest of your handiwork - so cool.
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