GlowforgeAura Laser Engraver and Cutter, DIY Project and Craft Laser Engraving Machine, 6W Diode with Safety Features for at Home Use

Full disclosure: I was a beta tester, so I’ve been able to use this machine before others. There’s some really important information that’s missing from the listing, so read carefully and make sure you’re buying the right product for what you need.First - don’t be mistaken, this isn’t the laser that made Glowforge famous. Aura is less powerful, cheaper, smaller, lighter, and a lot more orange but the Aura has completely transformed my crafting! Setting up the Glowforge Aura was an absolute breeze (you just need wifi). The step-by-step instructions were incredibly easy to follow. Within minutes, I had it up and running. There’s just one button. When it lights up, you push it.One of the most important features: It’s safe. Glowforge is the only laser I know that has a 3rd party testing certificate. With a 6 month old baby, this was extremely important to me.One of the standout features of the Glowforge Aura is the Glowforge Proofgrade materials. These materials are specifically designed to work seamlessly with the laser cutter, ensuring consistent and high-quality results. The variety of materials available is impressive, from wood and acrylic to leather. I tried to save a bit of money and use other materials and although they work great, it takes so much more time and effort. I ended up buying the Proofgrade materials and now I won’t go back! They are so much easier and high quality.The Glowforge Aura can cut through a wide range of materials with precision. Whether you're making intricate pieces, personalized gifts, or more, this laser cutter can handle it. I was amazed at how easily it cut through wood, leaving clean edges and intricate designs with minimal effort on my part.The Glowforge software is a joy to use. It's intuitive and user-friendly, making the design process a breeze. You can also import your own designs or choose from a library of pre-made designs, making it easy for both beginners and experienced designers.I used the Aura air filter with it and the automatic on/off is so great. No extra buttons to push or think about - just attach and go. I have also used it without the filter, which in that case needs to be vented out a window.How it actually works: I created a wood an acrylic sign for my niece’s birthday party that turned out PERFECT. It looked like something you would spend hundreds on. It did take some trial and error to get there though. I first tried to use off-brand white acrylic, adjusting the settings on the machine manually but then learned that this laser does not cut white and clear acrylic because of the type of laser it is. I ended up buying the Proofgrade wood and painting it - saved me so much time and wasted much less material. It did cut easily through green acrylic to make accents for the sign. I also quickly engraved a piece of pink acrylic for a last minute additional sign.The Glowforge Aura has truly taken my crafting hobby to the next level. If you love crafting, this laser cutter is a game-changer that will have you creating stunning projects and inspiring others to do the same. I think Glowforge Aura is the best bang for the buck in its category. If you’re trying to produce a product to make money, upgrade to something bigger. If you’re crafting or making stuff at home - Aura is the best pick for safety, ease of use, and just being a lot of fun to operate.

I was so excited to buy this glow forge aura, I’ve been wanting one since 5 years ago but the pro was so expensive and when they came out with the more affordable aura, I went for it!! I should’ve done my due research:( the aura was amazingly slow. We made the test box they recommended and it took 5 min for it to cut typewriter paper, my son used it to cut leather and it took 5+ hours for a simple design. I tested what I wanted to etch for a cutting board on cardboard first and it took 3 hours to complete. When I did it on my cutting board it took 9.5 hours to etch, and the etching was uneven, and it left some letters incomplete!! I checked the lens to see if it needed cleaning, but the lens was still good. I tried to re-etch it again, but it wouldn’t etch it where it originally etched, so my good cutting board is ruined.Who has 9.5 hours of doing nothing to sit and watch the aura do its thing?!? You have to stay with it to make sure it doesn’t catch fire, plus you have to smell its fumes, it’s winter, the garage doors are open for air circulation and I was freezing. Eventually I went inside the house and checked it every 15-30 minutes. Totally disappointed when I checked it after 3 hours and it missed some parts of the letters.NO owner’s manual was provided (only a quick installation guide); everything about the glowforge aurora is trial and error, the company wants each user to ‘subscribe’ instead of allowing a household-account. This product is produced too quickly without any troubleshooting guide/owner’s manual; owners have to search on-line for any assistance/reviews from other owners.Note the partially-completed letters, inconsistent embossing, scorch marks…overall Cletus with his branding irons and soldering pen would have done a better job than glowforge. HUGELY DISAPPOINTED!If you want to buy a laser printer, maybe go with the glowforge pro, I read it’s faster and you can do more things with it, why waste your money and time for a slow inefficient machine. I ultimately decided to get the xTool D20, I read it was better, faster, similar in cost with the aura, better customer service and I did some actual research instead of blindly buying like I did. Also the YouTube and articles of aura vs. xTool was helpful too.I hope the xTool is better, it not, I’ll write a review on whether it is good or bad on that as well