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How to Cut on the Glowforge

Project

Date Created

August 25, 2025

Author

Untitled

Tools & Skills

glowforge

[CoF] Careers of the Future

Launch Lab Connection

Competency

Status

Complete

This tutorial goes over the process of cutting on the Glowforge.

General Rules while Cutting

Make sure to watch the print happen the entire time.
If there looks to be a lot of fire, stop the print by hitting the big red Off button to the right of the Glowforge.

If that doesn’t put out the fire, open the Glowforge throw the fire blanket which should be close to the Glowforge over the fire (This has never had to happen). If that doesn’t put out the fire, throw the fire alarm and evacuate the building.

If you must leave the laser, hit the white button to pause. When you return, hit the white button again to resume.

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Preparing your file

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Cutting on the Glowforge

Step 1: Once you have your saved file, it’s onto the machine!

First, make sure the Glowforge is on.

You may need an Educator/ S-team Member to help you turn on the machine.

Step 2: Open the Glowforge lid and put the piece of material you’re using into the Glowforge with the QR code facing up and the material oriented on the bottom of the bed.

Then close the lid.

Step 3: Go to app.glowforge.com and log in with your TPZ credentials.

Step 4: In the top right corner of the Glowforge site, select the correct Glowforge you are using according to which design lab you are in. Each machine should be labeled.

Step 5: On the left, click Create New Design and then upload the file you want to cut

Step 6: In the top left corner of the create screen, the material you just loaded in should be listed.

If there is no auto-detected material or the bed seems very dusty and not clear, the Glowforge needs to be cleaned.

Step 7: All your objects should be displayed to the left of the create screen.

Glowforge tries to guess the correct operation for each object, but double check and select whether each object should be cut, engraved, scored or if you don’t want it, ignored.

Step 8: The laser will perform the operations in the sidebar in order starting from the top.

Cutting should always be the last operation of a job so drag all the cut objects to the bottom of the sidebar.

Step 9: Select your design and move it to where on the material you want it to be cut

Step 10: Click Print in the top right corner, it should show how long the print will take.

PSA If you cannot be standing at the Glowforge for that amount of time, Do Not Print and instead simplify the design, find another time to cut or make it on the Trotec instead.

Step 11: Turn on both vents next to the Glowforge

Step 12: Click the blinking white button on the top right of the Glowforge, and your print will begin.

Step 12: When your print is done, turn off the vents, take your creation out of the Glowforge, and if no one else is using the Glowforge, click the big red Off button to the right of the Glowforge.

Step 13: After you take out your creation, there will be a layer of sticky paper on top of your material, peel it off to get your final design.