The onslaught of 3D printers has created a booming market for machines that can make quality products at home. Glowforge is a new object-maker that's a 3D laser printer, cutter and engraver rolled into one. It will help DIY enthusiasts churn out a range of products with wood, acrylic, leather, fabric or even glass. The cutter uses a dual camera technology for realtime autofocus so it helps aligns the laser head with your pattern and makes the cutting process easy. The camera recognizes the material and even follows the beam of light, which is the width of a human hair, so it can adjust the timing and position every step of the way.
You can create an intricate pattern on Illustrator (or similar software) and the machine will cut or engrave your designs for you. But you don't have to be a designer to work this machine. You can draw a simple smiley emoji directly onto the surface you want to print and the camera will trace it for you. There's an accompanying app to control the machine with an easy swipe. The company raised over 27 million dollars in its own independent crowdfunding campaign late last year and the $2395 pre-ordered machines are scheduled to ship next quarter. If you're aiming to be the next millionaire on Etsy, you might want to order one of these now.
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