Glowforge Inc.

A system includes a head of a computer numerically controlled machine configured to deliver electromagnetic energy sufficient to cause a change in a material at least partially contained within an interior space of the computer numerically controlled machine. The system further includes an optical system comprising a plurality of optical elements in the computer numerically controlled machine. The plurality of optical elements are oriented at a fixed angle to each other to deliver the electromagnetic energy from the head to the material.

A moveable head of a computer numerically controlled machine may deliver electromagnetic energy sufficient to cause a first change in a material at least partially contained within an interior space of the CNC machine. A feature of the material may be imaged using at least one camera present inside the interior space to update a position of the material, and the moveable head may be aligned to deliver electromagnetic energy sufficient to cause a second change in the material such that the second change is positioned on the material consistent with the first change and with an intended final appearance of the material. Methods, systems, and article of manufacture are described.

A computer numerically controlled machine may include a source configured to deliver an electromagnetic energy to at least one location within an interior space of the computer-numerically-controlled machine. The electromagnetic energy may have a first range of wavelengths from a visible spectrum. An enclosure defining at least a portion of the interior space of the computer numerically controlled machine may include a transparent portion configured to filter the first range of wavelengths associated with the electromagnetic energy. Moreover, the transparent portion may reflect and/or transmit at least a second range of wavelengths from the visible spectrum not associated with the electromagnetic energy such that the transparent portion of the enclosure exhibits a first color corresponding to the second range of wavelengths.

A method for accessing a computer-numerically-controlled machine can include receiving a command to be executed by the computer-numerically-controlled machine. A hardware state of a component in the computer-numerically-controlled machine can be determined by receiving, from the component, data indicative of the hardware state. An origin of the command including a user identification of a user who sent the command and/or a machine identification of a device that sent the command can be determined. Whether the computer-numerically-controlled machine is allowed to execute the command can be determined by applying a set of rules and based on the hardware state and/or the origin of the command. In response to determining that the computer-numerically-controlled machine is allowed to execute the command, the command can be executed at the computer-numerically-controlled machine.

An execution plan segment of an execution plan can be received at a control unit of a computer numerically controlled machine from a general purpose computer. The execution plan segment can define operations for causing movement of a moveable head of the computer numerically controlled machine to deliver electromagnetic energy to effect a change in a material within an interior space of the computer numerically controlled machine. The execution plan segment can include a predefined safe pausing point from which the execution plan can be restarted while minimizing a difference in appearance of a finished work-product relative to if a pause and restart are not necessary. Operations of the computer numerically controlled machine can be commenced only after determining that the execution plan segment has been received up to and including the predefined safe pausing point by the computer numerically controlled machine.

A computer-numerically-controlled (CNC) machine is configured to (i) measure a power of a beam of electromagnetic energy at a location between a source of the electromagnetic energy and a destination in the CNC machine, the beam of electromagnetic energy traveling from the source to the destination being susceptible to one or more interferences, and the one or more interferences being capable of altering the power of the beam of electromagnetic energy by at least diverting, away from an intended path for the beam of electromagnetic energy, at least a portion of the beam of electromagnetic energy, (ii) detect, based at least on the measured power of the beam of electromagnetic energy being less than a threshold value, an interference of the beam of electromagnetic energy, and (iii) in response to detecting the interference of the beam of electromagnetic energy, perform one or more actions.

A method for calibrating a computer-numerically-controlled machine can include capturing one or more images of at least a portion of the computer-numerically-controlled machine. The one or more images can be captured with at least one camera located inside an enclosure containing a material bed. A mapping relationship can be created which maps a pixel in the one or more images to a location within the computer-numerically controlled machine. The creation of the mapping relationship can include compensating for a difference in the one or more images relative to one or more physical parameters of the computer-numerically-controlled machine and/or a material positioned on the material bed. Related systems and/or articles of manufacture, including computer program products, are also provided.

Disclosed embodiments include a gantry assembly that has (i) a moveable carriage with a laser head affixed thereto and (ii) two sides (moveable subassemblies) that are connected by a joining subassembly. One side of the gantry has two motors: (i) a first motor (x-axis motor) that moves the carriage along a first axis (x-axis) between the two sides of the gantry, and (ii) a second motor (y-axis motor) that moves the gantry along a second axis (y-axis) perpendicular to the first axis. In some embodiments, the gantry assembly also includes a drive shaft (or alternative drive mechanism) operated by the second motor (y-axis motor) to facilitate movement of the two sides of the gantry together along the second axis (y-axis).

A method for computer numerically controlled processing may include receiving configurations for a fabrication in which a computer numerically controlled machine processes a material to achieve one or more designs. An analysis may be performed to determine whether a thermal event occurs during the fabrication. The analysis may include performing one or more of a time-variant simulation and a time-invariant simulation of the fabrication. The thermal event may include one or more regions of the material exhibiting an undesirable response to the electromagnetic energy delivered to the material. One or more outputs may be generated based on the result of the thermal verification. The outputs may include a visualization of the quantity of energy exposure across the material, an alert if a thermal event is determined to occur during the fabrication, and corrective actions for resolving potential thermal events.

A method for computer numerically controlled processing may include generating a user interface to enable the configuration of an edge treatment. The user interface may also be generated to enable the configuration of a design corresponding to a combination of the first object and the second object generated by applying one of a plurality of Boolean operation. A computer numerically controlled machine may be configured to deliver an electromagnetic energy in order to effect, in a material, one or more changes corresponding to the edge treatment and/or the design configured by the user. For example, the one or more changes corresponding to the edge treatment may include a variable depth engraving along at least a portion of a perimeter of a material.