Glowforge Aura 3D Printer Craft Laser Engraver and Cutter Machine, Compatible with Mac & PC, Works with Wood, Acrylic, Metal, Leather

I've mostly been using it on paper for stencils so far. It's nice and easy to pop in .SVG files, you can rescale, rotate, reposition. Decent size relative to the cutting area, and you can open the sides to slide through longer material. It comes in a nice box that I'm holding onto for whenever I move. Pretty minimal plastic packaging. I got the filter, it turns off and on by itself. With paper there's a little bit of a burnt wood smell that dissipates quickly. I've got some 1/8" basswood I'm going to try out next. Overall really solid if you're looking for a plug-n-play laser.

A Powerful and User-Friendly Craft Printer with Impressive Precision I recently purchased the Glowforge Aura craft printer and have been impressed so far. Setup was a breeze—about 20 minutes from unboxing to printing. The clear step-by-step videos made the process easy to follow. A computer and home WiFi are required for setup, but mobile devices can be used afterward. The Glowforge platform is intuitive, with a clean interface. The box includes one piece of "proofgrade" wood, perfect for getting started without sourcing materials. For my first project, I made the Glowforge gift box using 20 lb paper as recommended. Masking tape (not included) secured the paper, and the print took just five minutes. The precision exceeded my expectations. My second project was a snap-and-store box with custom-traced artwork (monster face on the lid). Navigating the interface took some minor trial and error, but I figured out how to “trace” my design and add cut-outs. The print took 45 minutes, which surprised me, but the intricate details were impressive—especially on the included "proofgrade light basswood plywood." One cut didn't go all the way through, but I could pop it out with some force. Peeling off masking tape left soot on my fingers, which is expected with burned wood. I also engraved a side of the box (see flowers) after completing the original print. Sizing and placing the art was easy on my small piece of pre-cut material but removing the masking tape beforehand slightly affected the result—I'd engrave first next time. I also purchased the personal air filter instead of venting outside. It filtered well, though a slight burning odor lingered briefly. Overall, the Glowforge Aura is a powerful yet user-friendly craft printer. With excellent guidance materials and impressive results, it's a fantastic addition to any craft space.

I got the aura with the filter and I was quite surprised at how light both units were compared to the Glowforge Pro (I also own that and it's heavy). The unboxing and setup experience is surprisingly lightning quick: you remove a few pieces of padding and foam, connect the laser assembly to the gimbal track, power the unit on, and run the setup app to connect it to your home WIFI. A lot of care went into the customer experience to get up and running with the unit as quickly as possible. Once connected, most of the registration is automatic, achieved by simply logging into your glowforge account from within the setup app. After that, just load up a design in the web-based app, and hit print, and a few moments later you'll have your design! I believe the Aura is a diode laser, vs the Pro's CO2 laser. Diode lasers are better for engraving TiO2 into tile vs CO2 lasers (too powerful), and I'm hoping to use this unit to engrave some photographs onto ceramic tile! Both the Aura and the Filter look super sleek and clean, and the app is really easy to use. Glowforge has made engraving and cutting really accessible, which is great for people who are curious about the skill but don't want to spend weeks learning to calibrate CNC laser engravers/cutters or learn really complex CNC software to make those engravings/cuttings. My son is really into thunderstorms at the moment, so we used the Magic Canvas feature of the Glowforge app to generate a small thunderstorm as a first print on the included piece of engraving material! And, he's really sensitive to loud noises, so the quiet fan noise from both units was an added bonus (the pro's internal fan is quite a bit louder than the aura and filter combined).

I have been wanting a glow forge for a long time. when the aura became available I waited for the price to come down a little bit and I finally got one and I'm absolutely in love. it was easy to set up, easy to import the files needed and it did exactly what it said it would do. I have no regrets about this purchase. My husband even likes it, it is a great addition to my crafting room and adding a whole new skill level.

I recently purchased the Glowforge Aura, and I couldn't be more thrilled with how easy and fast it was to get started. From unboxing to cutting my first project, the entire process took less than 30 minutes! The setup instructions were clear and straightforward, making the whole experience smooth and stress-free. One of the highlights was the inclusion of a sample piece of Proofgrade wood, which allowed me to dive right in and test the machine right after setup. It was a thoughtful touch that helped me quickly understand how the Glowforge Aura works and what it's capable of. The compact design is another major plus. It fits perfectly in my office without taking up too much space, making it a great option for anyone working in smaller areas. Despite its size, the Glowforge Aura doesn't compromise on power or functionality—it's a small machine with big capabilities. If you're considering purchasing one, I highly recommend investing in the filter. It significantly reduces fumes and keeps your workspace fresh and comfortable, especially if you're working in a shared or indoor environment. Overall, the Glowforge Aura is an impressive machine that's beginner-friendly, efficient, and perfectly suited for creative professionals and hobbyists alike. I can't wait to explore more projects with it!

Its very easy to setup and use!

Great machine for crafting! There is a learning curve when using the Glowforge app but once you get use to it, it's really easy to use.

The aura is very easy to operate and understand. I am loving mine so far

I'm brand new to the laser world. There is definitely a learning curve. It is a slow process when engraving. I think I just need more practice and learning the software. I think it will get better with more practice. The few products I have done have turned out pretty well.