Advanced Support Portal

With the growing popularity of desktop-sized hobby lasers, combined with the already wide-spread popularity of personalizing products with sublimation, there is a large surge of customers wanting to integrate their new desktop laser engravers, such as the Glowforge 3D Laser Printer into their current sublimation hobby or business. The Glowforge 3D Laser Printer has taken the personalization industry and DIY hobby markets by storm. Many of these customers are interested in cutting their own shapes using sublimatable hardboard to then be sublimated on with their current sublimation technology.

Many customers wishing to laser cut sublimation hardboard often need help with the best settings to use on their Glowforge 3D Laser Printer. In order to answer this question, it is important to address a few other points first, as these will all affect laser engraving and cutting performance:

• Make sure your laser's mirrors, focus lens and other optics are clean and free of dust and debris.
• Ensure that there are no cracks, scratches, or other forms of damage to the laser mirrors, lens and other optics.
• Ensure that the laser has an adequate laser exhaust system to ensure that the smoke and debris can be properly removed during laser cutting.

Once the laser has been verified to be in good working condition, we can then consider laser setting recommendations.

Based on internal testing, JPPlus recommends the following settings as a STARTING POINT for Glowforge lasers in good working condition:

• When cutting the hardboard, the masking should always be left on the sheet in order to protect the sublimation surface. For 2-sided hardboard sheet, make sure the masking is left on both sides of the sheet.
• Avoid cutting more than 1-2 passes in order to minimize the amount of black charring/buildup on the edges of the sheet.
• After cutting, the edges of the cut pieces can be cleaned by wiping gently with a clean cotton cloth lightly misted with water or isopropyl alcohol.

Currently, JPPlus does not support or service Glowforge laser engravers. If you have any further questions or need further help regarding the hardboard products and fabrication with the laser, please reach out to the Advanced Support Team at 419-500-4877, or email advancedsupport@jpplus.com.