Maintenance is a task you’ll need to get familiar with if you have a Glowforge. It may seem scary at first, but don’t worry, it gets easier the more you do it! Depending on how much  you use your machine, you might need to be cleaning your machine at least once a week. If you are a hobby crafter, you might be able to get away with once every couple of months. Glowforge recommends you clean the lenses every 40 hours. Here’s what I do for my weekly cleaning. 

What you’ll need:

• Cleaner- I use Clear Power from Melaleuca 
• Q Tips
• Blue magnetic tool provided by Glowforge
• Paper Towel
• Lens cloth 

Steps:

1. Carefully take out your crumb tray, you don’t want to bump your lenses. 

2. I start by cleaning the bottom of the Glowforge. I spray the Clear Power and wipe away the dust and debris. 

3. I then very carefully take of the lens box. Use your blue magnet tool to take out the bottom lens. Gently wipe off and place back in. If this lens falls, it will most likely break. 

4. Wipe down all other lenses including the one to the very left of the Glowforge. 

5. I then spray and wipe down the laser tube. I will use Q tips to get in the hard to reach places. 

6. Next I work on the top of Glowforge. I spray the inside of the lid and wipe down the camera. 

7. If your crumb tray is dirty, you can clean that and then insert it back in your Glowforge. There are grooves where it sits. 

8. Lastly, I spray the top of the lid and the outside of the Glowforge. I wipe down all sides and make sure the it looks nice and pretty!

The first time I removed the lens, I was terrified. The last thing I want to do is have to replace a piece to an already expensive machine. Once you get more comfortable, this process will go more smoothly and faster, you just want to make sure you take extra care of the lenses so they last. 

Interested in getting a Glowforge? If you use this link, you will get a discount and I will get a compensation at no cost to you. Also make sure to check out my blog on 10 Things You Should Know About Getting a Glowforge!