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Pre-Order Pricey Glowforge 3D Laser Printer

The printer can cut just about anything: wood, fabric, leather, paper, cardboard, acrylic, mylar, rubber, and more.

By Stephanie Mlot
September 25, 2015
Glowforge 3D laser printer + air filter

Glowforge's 3D laser printer is available now to pre-order with special early bird pricing.

Choose from three options: Glowforge Basic for $1,995 (retails for $4,000), Glowforge Basic + Air Filter (pictured) for $2,495 (retails for $5,000), or Glowforge Pro + Air Filter for $3,995 (a steal compared to its $8,000 retail price).

Shipping starts in December, and will ramp up early next year, so don't count on stuffing stockings with DIY 3D-laser-printed goodies.

Standing at 12-by-20 inches, the printer—like those knives advertised on late-night infomercials—can cut just about anything: wood, fabric, leather, paper, cardboard, acrylic, mylar, rubber, fiberglass, cork, sandpaper, silicone, chocolate, and more.

Plus, it engraves all of those materials, as well as glass, marble, rubber stamps, stone, ceramic, tile, and coated materials like anodized aluminum, stainless steel, brass, titanium, etc.

The device is compatible with the most popular file formats, and users can create their own designs in Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator and Inkscape, or choose from Glowforge's catalog of customizable, ready-to-print designs. That includes things like a leather satchel, plywood map, engraved glass spice jars, recycled cardboard lamp, and a drone. Each item tells you the estimated print time and material cost.

With Wi-Fi connectivity and one-button printing, you can create 20 chocolate rockets just in time for your kids' birthday party, without the mess that comes with baking.

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Upgrade options include a larger pass-through slot to accommodate wider material, higher-quality optics for more beam power, and a solid-state thermoelectric cooling system.

Just remember to wear protective goggles and oven mitts when printing with the Pro, which features a Class IV laser. The Basic model features a Class I laser that anyone can operate.

Glowforge will officially launch at this weekend's Maker Faire in New York, where hundreds of kids will have the opportunity to design acrylic toys using just a pen.

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About Stephanie Mlot

Contributor

Stephanie Mlot

B.A. in Journalism & Public Relations with minor in Communications Media from Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP)

Reporter at The Frederick News-Post (2008-2012)

Reporter for PCMag and Geek.com (RIP) (2012-present)

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