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The Red Light

Laser Operation Tips
for the Glowforge

When cutting light weight material such as fabric and paper, weights must be placed on the material to keep it from blowing around and catching fire.  This can create some challenges.  After the PRINT button in the software is clicked, the laser head will go through a sequence of moves and shine a red beam of light somewhere on the material.  It is very important that this red light shines on the material you are cutting, not the weights or the tray. This ensures that the laser will focus correctly on the material according to the thickness and it will make a smooth sharp cut. If the red light touches a weight, you must cancel the print, open the lid, move the weight, and click print again.  Repeat the process until the red light shines on the material. If the red light happens to shine on the tray (no material), you will get an error message.

Stopping the Laser During a Print

  • ​Start and Stop the laser by pressing the GO Button.

  • If you wish to open the lid after you have stopped the laser in the middle of a print, you must CANCEL the print in the software first.

  • Don't open the lid until the software says the print is cancelled.

Print is Done

  • ​Wait for the software to say the print is done, then open the lid

Settings

There are no built-in settings for fabric, so you have to add custom settings.  The settings are highly dependent on the type of fabric you are working with.  Batiks require less power than cotton prints.   I have some recommended settings listed under each cutting topic for you to start with, but you will need to test the settings for your laser and save the ones that work for each fabric and paper type.

Speed:

The goal is to cut the material without catching it on fire.  This requires a fast moving laser, at a speed of 370-500. If the cut is not complete with 1 pass, add another pass.  The speed should never be less than 370.  The power setting is dependent on how deep you want it to cut.  Cutting through a stack of fabric shall require a power of 100%.  Cutting through a fabric with fusible (and not thru the paper entirely) may take only 70% power.  

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