SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Glowforge©, the Seattle-based maker of the iconic 3D laser printer, is excited to announce the launch of its Proofgrade™ materials line. Proofgrade is the first line of materials that are sourced, encoded, and lab-tested for perfect printing, every time. They are specially formulated for the Glowforge 3D laser printer and work well with other cutter/engravers using CO2 laser technology. Current offerings include custom hardwoods, plywoods, veneer, acrylic, and leather, each manufactured especially for the Proofgrade line.
The launch follows the industry-staggering introduction of the Glowforge 3D laser printer. In 2015, Glowforge set the record for the largest 30-day crowdfunding campaign in history with $27.9 million in pre-orders - a record it still holds today. Now, two years later and after more than $70,000,000 of product sales, thousands of the pre-ordered printers are being delivered to delighted customers.
“I am deeply impressed with the fact that with zero prior laser experience I was immediately able to start cutting my own designs,” said Seattle-based graphic designer Daria Penta.
“Since having our Glowforge in our home, it has been in near-constant use by the whole family,” said Laird Popkin, an enterprise architect from Florida. “My wife is thrilled to be able to draw on paper or in Adobe Illustrator and turn that into real things - she has launched an Etsy store already. My son takes great pride in having designed a stackable box for storing stuff in his bedroom. My daughter has even cut some items while she is away at college remotely, via the web!”
“Since getting my Glowforge, I’ve always had at least several paid projects going at any given time,” said Mike Plummer, a reality television video editor from California. “If things continue on this path I’ll be able to turn this into a full-time job which would allow me to work from home with our son.”
Glowforge’s success has been in part because industrial laser cutter/engraver technology has always been too expensive and complicated for consumers to use. And a big part of that complication is choosing the right materials.
“You can use your Glowforge to print beautiful things out of dozens of materials. But it can be tricky if you’re not a materials expert,” explains Glowforge CEO Dan Shapiro. “Will it look great? What settings do you use? Is it compatible with your laser? Proofgrade materials solve those problems to make printing as simple as point-and-click.”
Proofgrade materials offer unique features that make this possible, including:
- A peel-off protective coating that ensures all materials look perfect right out of the printer
- Wood products that are clear of knots and treated with a stunning and durable satin coat finish, for impeccable results without sanding or painting
- Leather products from clear, full-grain, vegetable-tanned leather that will last for decades
- Barcode technology enabling Glowforge printers to recognize each piece and auto-adjust to print perfectly every time
Proofgrade materials are available immediately to Glowforge owners and will be launching soon for all customers.
“When Proofgrade was announced, I thought I wouldn’t use it. But I just ordered more last week,” said Indiana-based software engineer Eric Steele. “It’s just so consistent. No entering of settings. Saves me a lot of time. Just fantastic!”
Glowforge 3D laser printers are currently available on Glowforge.com, and Glowforge owners can purchase Proofgrade materials at Proofgrade.com.
About Glowforge
Glowforge is a Seattle-based startup that makes a 3D laser printer. Glowforge's wireless desktop laser makes it simple for designers, artists, and makers to take products directly from digital design to reality. Unlike 3D printers that build objects out of plastic, Glowforge uses lasers to print products out of durable and beautiful materials like wood, leather, acrylic, paper and fabric. A sleek and efficient design makes this industrial-grade technology beautiful and affordable, and a friendly cloud-based app makes it easy to create amazing things with Glowforge. For more information, please visit https://glowforge.com/.
