Glowforge cutting torches

The reports, as CPSC published them

1. No one hurt

   Made Nov 3, 2021 · , sent to the company Nov 19, 2021 · , published by CPSC Dec 6, 2021

   The product, in the report: Glowforge laser cutting system Model Glowforge Pro I own a Glowforge laser cutting system. The company is based out of Seattle. After a little over a year of use I have come to the conclusion that these machines appear to be built using very unsafe design practices and their use could lead to catastrophic fire. Electrical faults are rife. The component layout is dangerous. The tube cooling capacity is poor and susceptible to overheating. The main cable that controls the laser head is exceptionally easy to damage during cleaning or maintenance, and the insulation wears off alarmingly quickly, exposing the conductor traces. The main cable also runs very close the stepper motor. These motors run very warm and there is not adequate separation between it and the cable to ensure safety (or reliability). The cable then runs through the drag chain, where it is subject to a great deal of friction and wear. In addition, the machine is advertised as a ‘Pro’ device that is able to cut wood, acrylic and more. However, the electronics, heat sink and exhaust fan are all located next to each other in the same area of the machine. The accumulation of dirt in fumes in both the fan and over those critical components is alarming. The design reduces cooling capacity over time. Finally, there is a red tension cable that carries around 26,000 volts and feeds the laser tube. This cable is not designed to be flexed or strained at all and is very fragile. However, the high tension cable is installed next to the main ribbon cable (mentioned above) which carry control signs. Mains and high voltage signals should also be separated by a considerable margin for safety - the potential for noise and errors passing between the cables could cause glitches, faults and represent a fire hazard. The final area I am concerned with is the ducting supplied with the system. The ductwork expands every time the machine is in use and the creasing and uncreasing cause punctures in the duct, allowing cutting fumes to vent into the user’s work space. The ductwork is not rated for fume extraction. Overall, all of these flaws combined means not only is the machine being falsely advertised as a ‘Pro’ commercial production unit, it’s incredibly unsafe. The vast majority of these lasers are sold and marketed to at-home hobbyists, teachers, and students who would not typically be familiar with the threat of electrical failure and fire these design flaws could lead to. The Glowforge Owner’s forum (which the company runs) is filled with many comments/tickets about fires in these machines, so the company knows these can lead to life-threatening problems but has done nothing to correct these issues. I feel very strongly there should be a recall on these machines.

   I own a Glowforge laser cutting system. The company is based out of Seattle. After a little over a year of use I have come to the conclusion that these machines appear to be built using very unsafe design practices and their use could lead to catastrophic fire. Electrical faults are rife. The component layout is dangerous. The tube cooling capacity is poor and susceptible to overheating. The main cable that controls the laser head is exceptionally easy to damage during cleaning or maintenance, and the insulation wears off alarmingly quickly, exposing the conductor traces. The main cable also runs very close the stepper motor. These motors run very warm and there is not adequate separation between it and the cable to ensure safety (or reliability). The cable then runs through the drag chain, where it is subject to a great deal of friction and wear. In addition, the machine is advertised as a ‘Pro’ device that is able to cut wood, acrylic and more. However, the electronics, heat sink and exhaust fan are all located next to each other in the same area of the machine. The accumulation of dirt in fumes in both the fan and over those critical components is alarming. The design reduces cooling capacity over time. Finally, there is a red tension cable that carries around 26,000 volts and feeds the laser tube. This cable is not designed to be flexed or strained at all and is very fragile. However, the high tension cable is installed next to the main ribbon cable (mentioned above) which carry control signs. Mains and high voltage signals should also be separated by a considerable margin for safety - the potential for noise and errors passing between the cables could cause glitches, faults and represent a fire hazard. The final area I am concerned with is the ducting supplied with the system. The ductwork expands every time the machine is in use and the creasing and uncreasing cause punctures in the duct, allowing cutting fumes to vent into the user’s work space. The ductwork is not rated for fume extraction. Overall, all of these flaws combined means not only is the machine being falsely advertised as a ‘Pro’ commercial production unit, it’s incredibly unsafe. The vast majority of these lasers are sold and marketed to at-home hobbyists who would not typically be familiar with the threat of electrical failure and fire these design flaws could lead to. The Glowforge Owner’s forum (which the company runs) is filled with many comments/tickets about fires in these machines, so the company knows these can lead to life-threatening problems but has done nothing to correct these issues. I feel very strongly there should be a recall on these machines.

   Model

   Glowforge Pro

   Serial number

   QBQ-622-4

   Bought from

   https://glowforge.com/

   Bought

   Aug 16, 2020

   Where

   Little Rock, Arkansas: Home/Apartment/Condominium

   Who was involved

   Age 37, Female

   The reporter’s relation to them

   Self

   As this report names them

   Brand Glowforge, made or sold by Glowforge Inc.

   How badly, in CPSC’s words

   Incident, No Injury

CPSC’s disclaimer

Sources