@whitetigertooth posted a new topic, subject "Just a thought about reality vs expectations". It read:

   Ok… I'm sitting here with my PG box. My thoughts turn to the long run… how did your expectations stack up to the reality of Glowforge?  
    I've mentioned on here that I work for a well known Italian firearms maker and use a Laserstar in production. It works great for repetitive work but as is, would be a royal pain for one-off projects. (The primary reason I jumped on this train.) Anyway I love the idea to go from concept to finished product so fast. Also, @dan I'm wondering how rewarding this whole path has been? Have we been too much of a pain? Ha? (Not me, I mean… I'm an angel. I tell my wife all the time to not bother playing the lottery… the odds are she won't hit AGAIN after finding ME! Ha!)

After which, @Jules added

    Happy as a clam.   
    _(I would go into the details but I can get preachy when I get going, so I'll spare everyone that.)_

Then @whitetigertooth said

    I've followed you long enough to know you are still in dream land.

Then @Jules said

    And that's after a year of using it. So the magic doesn't fade.

To which @ptodd replied

    Pretty much what I expected as far as the design work and the actual Glowforge. Of course, I knew my husband wouldn't want to do the computer work (or figure it out to do it).
    
    Also, that there wouldn't be enough hours in the day to add another craft to my world. Couldn't help but want it it though.
    
    We are thrilled with what we can do with the Glowforge … Just need more time to learn Fusion 360 and Inkscape!

So @evansd2 replied

    It's outstanding. Hands down. Buuuut there's always room for improvement, and I have been pretty blunt with my criticisms.
    
    That being said it's an amazing machine. You won't regret it.

So @jbmanning5 replied

    Ease of use? A+  
    Build quality: A+
    
    It seems like the production lines are tightening up in attention to detail. I see far fewer posts about stray glue, blemishes, etc.
    
    You know what it has done though? Made me want a bigger and more powerful laser… consider this my beta application, @dan!

To which @whitetigertooth replied

    I understand… I notice I'm staring at an x-carve. And 3d printers… so I guess I'll need to finish the room over the garage. …or BUILD a shop… hmmm

Then @hansepe said

    Make sure you get the GF out of your system first… I bought another tool that I've wanted and haven't really used it at all since I keep having fun with the laser when I have free time.

After which, @mpipes added

    hansepe:
    
    > Make sure you get the GF out of your system first…
    
    From my experience, I don't know that that happens. 
    
    hansepe:
    
    > I bought another tool that I've wanted and haven't really used it at all since I keep having fun with the laser when I have free time.
    
    Case in point. I received my GF last July. I received a Shaper Origin almost 6 weeks ago. Other than getting the firmware/software updates and testing it with a strip of tape on my computer desktop, I havent touched the Origin. My excuse is that I'm not at the stage of my main EV project that needs the Origin and I need to keep focus and not dilute resources playing around.

@hansepe replied

    Yup, that's what I'm talking about. Same problem

@rserrano7 replied

    First issues.
    
    Software/alignment/2.5 yr wait of delays/catalog. Things that need to get finished, fixed, upgraded, etc. I'm glad I got mine when I did.
    
    2 months in I have not used as much as I would like but getting there. I got this for precision and repeatability. I wanted to cut small letters .5 to limit of GF because I can bandsaw them but they would not be precise or easily repeatable like going from one to another font or size on a dime time wise or set up wise.
    
    What I have made is just simple but amazing because I would not have been able to do it otherwise. But I also see this as the fast and nimble small batch machine with my eyes on a bigger faster machine for possible production runs while comparing to workflow of a CNC router. And all I've done is mostly Mdf core ply and some hardwoods and a tiny bit of acrylic which might require more venting.
    
    In the end I freaking love this thing. And now think could I do that with the GF before I go near any fast spinning blades or bits and is it worth the design time. But seriously I love it earning some serious browny points with my family.

To which @rbtdanforth replied

    jbmanning5:
    
    > … consider this my beta application, @dan!
    
    Put me on that list as well. Cutting metals, thicker and bigger materials.  
    Nobody can fix reality when material I cut don't fit my expectations of what I can do with them, but I am sure that we could all be like the farmer that " didn't want to own the world… Just any land next to his"

To which @rand replied

    Have enjoyed the ride and the community it has created (for the most part  ) and having my GF and learning what all I can do with it – so worth the ride to get here!

So @erin replied

    In most ways, it's vastly exceeded my expectations. What has been the most surprising is that it _feels_ way nicer than I expected. I mean, for the money I didn't except it to feel or look cheap, but it's way nicer than I had imagined.
    
    I did expect the GFUI to be different. Its not that its bad, its just different. I expected more design capabilities. Like, I expected to be able to through a vector square in and drag it to a rectangle, if that makes sense. I also expected to be able to resize or scale things by percentages rather than just dragging the little boxes.
    
    Oh, I also expected to make more repeated stuff. I haven't done that once. I thought I would make something cool and then, the beauty of the laser, make 10 more. But there are too many possibilities, too many things I want to make.

@thejambi replied

    Currently I have a couple negative things I'm thinking about. I didn't expect to have to worry about cutting right angles correctly, and I don't want to have to worry every time about my cuts being off-center compared to the rest of the design either (hopefully support gets back to me on that one).
    
    But when it works as it should, wow. I can't believe I'm doing what I'm doing!

To which @PrintToLaser replied

    Better than I expected, owing mostly to the ease of use.  
    Owning a robot with a laser beam has rocked my world.

To which @rpegg replied

    Happily using what I have. Believe far more will come. Expected more at this point in time. Expect it will take longer than I would like. Not going to waste any time believing it's personal if life isn't perfect.

To which @rbtdanforth replied

    PrintToLaser:
    
    > Owning a robot with a laser beam has rocked my world.
    
    Should be @dan's total best sales line!!!

So @wesleyjames replied

    Just wait until he combines them with his turtles!

@caribis2 replied

    whitetigertooth:
    
    > Anyway I love the idea to go from concept to finished product so fast.
    
    If this is your primary use case then I expect you will love it. Based on your description of your day job I would think you come into the process with a realistic expectation of design time and fabrication issues in general, so the glowforge should be a wonderful experience.

Then @bruceaulrich said

    ptodd:
    
    > wouldn't be enough hours in the day to add another craft to my world
    
    This is a struggle for me, but I couldn't help it either!
    
    ptodd:
    
    > Just need more time to learn Fusion 360 and Inkscape!
    
    Yes!
    
    erin:
    
    > it feels way nicer than I expected. I mean, for the money I didn't except it to feel or look cheap, but it's way nicer than I had imagined.
    
    I TOTALLY agree! And anyone that has seen it in person has said the same thing…they just kind of stare at it and grin.
    
    rpegg:
    
    > Happily using what I have. Believe far more will come. Expected more at this point in time. Expect it will take longer than I would like. Not going to waste any time believing it's personal if life isn't perfect.
    
    I just…I can't add to this. So well put!
    
    My expectations were managed pretty well by reading and interacting with this community for many months now. I knew some of the shortcomings that others had found. That said, the reality so far of alignment being slightly off at times is still tough for me. One of the major ways I planned to used this was to add to already finished wood pieces I've made. If I go to add some engraving and it is off a little, the piece is ruined. I can't just put more proofgrade in there and redo it. I'm sure I will learn more of how to manipulate it as I have it longer and experiment more with it, but that is just what pops to my mind right now.

To which @chris1 replied

    I didn't have a laser cutter before. I have one now. I haven't bumped up against any of the limitations in a meaningful way: all I wanted was to be able to cut thin pieces of acrylic and wood for hobby projects, and it totally does that and plenty more. Could I have done the same with a K40? Maybe, but it was worth it to me to pay for something to work out of the box so that I can choose my “getting it to work” time on my projects and not the tools. Honestly, the #1 and only significant issue I have with my Glowforge is that I can't seem to vent it properly. This limits my usage as spending an evening in a smoke-filled room makes me feel bad for a couple of days afterward. I'm hoping with a bit more fussing, I can get it to the point where I don't hesitate to just cut something out when I want it.

Then @PrintToLaser said

    I had to fuss with sealing the exhaust run, but finally nailed it. I grin now when I see heavy smoke inside the machine but can't smell a thing.

So @rachaelw replied

    


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