Glowforge Inc.

Disclosed embodiments include a head attached to a gantry. The head includes an optical assembly to focus a laser beam onto a surface of a material to be processed by a CNC machine and a measurement assembly with emitter(s) and detector(s), where the detector(s) are for measuring intensity of light emitted from the emitter(s) and reflected off the surface of the material. Processors are configured to (i) determine a material type of the material, (ii) determine a distance between the optical assembly and the material surface based on (a) measurement(s) of the intensity of the light emitted from the emitter(s) and reflected off the material surface, and (b) measurement parameter(s) associated with the determined material type, and (iii) control focusing of the laser beam onto the surface of the material based on the determined distance between the optical assembly and the surface of the material.

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 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 computer numerically controlled machine may include a movable head configured to deliver electromagnetic energy to a part of a working area in which the movable head may be commanded to cause delivery of the electromagnetic energy. The interior space may be defined by a housing and may include an openable barrier that attenuates transmission of light between the interior space and an exterior of the computer numerically controlled machine when the openable barrier is in a closed position. The computer numerically controlled machine may include an interlock that prevents emission of the electromagnetic energy when detecting that the openable barrier is not in the closed position. The commanding may result in the computer numerically controlled machine executing operations of a motion plan for causing movement of the movable head to deliver the electromagnetic energy to effect a change in a material at least partially contained within the interior space.

A system can include 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 can further include an optical system comprising a plurality of optical elements in the computer numerically controlled machine. The plurality of optical elements can be oriented at a fixed angle to each other to deliver the electromagnetic energy from the head to the material.

A computer-numerically-controlled machine can include a light source and a housing. The light source can be configured to deliver electromagnetic energy to at least one location on a material at least partially disposed within the computer-numerically-controlled machine. The housing can include at least one side part surrounding an interior space and the at least one location on the material. The housing can include a structural material defining at least a portion of the interior space. The housing can further include a protective material protecting the side part. The protective material can reduce a permeability of the side part to the electromagnetic radiation relative to the structural material alone.

A method for dithering can include receiving, at a computer numerically controlled machine comprising a laser, a motion plan corresponding to a first image. The output of the laser can be dithered, in accordance with the motion plan, to effect a change in a material within an interior space of the computer numerically controlled machine. The change can substantially reproduce at least a portion of the first image on the material. The dithering can include providing laser energy to the material at a native resolution based at least on a spot size of the laser. The spot size can be determined based at least on one or more parameters of the computer numerically controlled machine and/or one or more properties of the material. The laser energy can be delivered at locations separated by a distance no less than the spot size.

A system can include 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 can further include an optical system comprising a plurality of optical elements in the computer numerically controlled machine. The plurality of optical elements can be oriented at a fixed angle to each other to deliver the electromagnetic energy from the head to the material.

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.

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.