Glowforge Pro 3D Laser Printer Review

Glowforge’s Air Filter Add-on – Why you might want one

If you have ever been to a workshop, you will know what the smell of burnt material is, and know that you do not want that smell in your work environment if you can avoid it. This is especially true for leather and acrylic.

Beyond the smell, you do not want to be breathing in fumes all the time. That is why the Glowforge has an exhaust, and that exhaust fumes should be shot out a window or into through an air filter. That’s why the Glowforge ships with a 10 cm (4-inch) diameter hose, allowing Glowforge users to expel their unit’s exhaust gases outside or into an air filter.

Glowforge sells a standalone air filter that can be used with their laser cutters, allowing Glowforge users to safely use their cutters in areas that do not have easy access to a window. Beyond that, their air filter also makes the Glowforge somewhat quieter by allowing its integrated fan to run slower, as the filter unit’s integrated fan makes the Glowforge’s internal fan effectively redundant.

Does it work? 

After using the Glowforge Pro with its exhaust pipe out a nearby Window, we then installed the Glowforge’s Air Filter add-on underneath the desk where the Glowforge sits. Before using the Glowforge again, we simply needed to turn on the air filter to ensure that exhaust gases are handled effectively. We need to manually do this, as the Glowforge’s external air filter is not controlled by the Glowforge. Users need to manually switch on the air filter and set its dial to an appropriate position.

So does the Glowforge’s Air Filter work? Yes! But that’s what we would expect from a £917.21 add-on. We have had the Glowforge cutting and engraving single projects for as long as three hours, and the filter stopped our office space from becoming a smoke-filled disaster area. If provided us with results that are as good as venting exhaust fumes outside. It’s an expensive add-on, but it just works, what more can we say.

Currently, replacement air filter cartridges from Glowforge costs £229.54. This is a simple drop-in replacement for the Glowforge Air Filter’s pre-installed air filter. Replacing this air filter takes minutes, as Glowforge Air Filter users just need to turn off their air filter, remove a few latches, lift the lid of their air filter unit and simply lift out and replace their old cartridge. Simples.

One problem with our review sample was that Glowforge’s Air Filter Add-on was accidentally shipped without an air filter cartridge, making the whole unit useless fir air filtration. As we mentioned in the Proofgrade Materials section of this review, we contacted Glowforge’s customer support, and they quickly rectified this issue by shipping us a replacement air filter cartridge. Once it arrived, we are able to test the Glowforge’s Air Filter add-on. Again, we were satisfied with how Glowforge’s customer support staff treated us.

What happens with the Air Filter fills up with material? 

Glowforge’s Air Filter add-on is a simple machine. It detects how much air is flowing through the unit and will beep if not enough air is moving through its filter.

As you can see below, the air filter has a dial at its front which has options between “New” and “Full”. When the filter is New/Empty, it requires less power to generate the airflow needed to keep the Glowforge free of smoke. As the filter fills up with particulates, users will eventually need to turn the dial higher and higher to keep high levels of airflow circulating through it. Eventually, the filter will be filled, requiring Glowforge users to replace their Air Filter units filters.

Tell Glowforge’s software that an air filter is installed

As mentioned before, the Glowforge’s Air Filter add-on negates the need for the unit’s integrated fan, as the filter pulls air away from the laser cutter and towards itself. This means that Glowforge users should tell their Glowforge that an air filter is attached using their software, allowing the unit’s integrated fan to operate at lower speeds. This makes the Glowforge quieter while in-use, though it is worth noting that the Glowforge is still a loud product when operating.

Contents

– What is a Glowforge?

– Unboxing and Setup

– Proofgrade Materials – What are they, and are they worth it?

– Glowforge Air Filter Add-on – Is it worth it? (This Page)

– Using the Glowforge Pro – Early Creations

– More Makes – Engraving and Experimentation

– Creating More with the Glowforge Pro (Custom Designs)

– Conclusion – Is the Glowforge Pro Worth it?