The Glowforge 3D printer isn’t really a 3D printer, but a laser cutter.

That hasn’t quite happened yet but Glowforge wants to help inventors and creatives make their own products at home: it’s an innovative 3D laser cutter that costs much less than existing laser machinery does.

“The Glowforge turns everyone into a micro-manufacturer”. Glowforge automatically produces a 3D scan of the material, adapting the design based on its measurements. “It’s just-in-time fabrication as well as creating handsome things out of lovely materials that are actually going to last”.

Glowforge raised a solid million Series A from Foundry Group, True Ventures and others earlier this year to build a cheaper and smaller laser cutter that could maintain the same quality as higher end cutters found in professional shops and maker spaces.

Professional laser cutters can retail for tens of thousands of dollars and are usually used on a rental basis. Glowforge runs automatically, using autofocus to achieve accurate depth and position. The printer enables users to create a wide array of objects – like lamp shades and frames for drones – within a few minutes. All the printer needs is an uploaded design and for the user to put in the material needed to make the object. The device is also capable of deriving designs from Adobe’s Photoshop, Illustrator or other software; or even a simple drawing. There’s no need for complex CAD software.

Shapiro envisions the sorts of things Glowforge can make as a good fit for outlets like Etsy, eBay and the local farmer’s market. First, the creator chooses a project and places a piece of material like paper, wood, or leather inside.

For the next month you can preorder the basic Glowforge for US$1,995 (roughly £1,310/AUS$2,850), which is 50 percent off. A Pro model with a more powerful laser is available too for twice the price.

Then, preview and make adjustments on your Mac, PC or tablet and Glowforge’s dual cameras capture the material and give you an accurate preview of the product.