Multi-user computer-numerically-controlled machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11460828-B2
Application number	US-202017013290-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 4, 2020
Priority date	Nov 25, 2016
Publication date	Oct 4, 2022
Grant date	Oct 4, 2022

Abstract

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.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method carried out by a computing system, the method comprising:
modifying an instruction set for a computer-numerically-controlled (CNC) machine after receipt of a first modification to the instruction set from a first application executing on a first computing device, wherein the instruction set is executable to control one or more components of the CNC machine; and
while the instruction set is being executed:
removing, after receipt at the computing system of an abandonment signal from the first application, an ability of the first application to modify the instruction set, the abandonment signal indicating that the first application is no longer modifying the instruction set;
enabling, after receipt at the computing system of a connection signal from a second application, an ability of the second application to modify the instruction set; and
modifying the instruction set after receipt at the computing system of a second modification to the instruction set from the second application.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the CNC machine comprises a sensor configured to capture data from the CNC machine, and wherein the connection signal comprises a request to transmit, to the first computing device, at least a portion of the data captured by the sensor.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising displaying, at a display device, a graphical representation of at least one of a material in the CNC machine, a current user of the CNC machine, a status of the CNC machine, a remaining time of a job being executed by the CNC machine, a waiting user scheduled to use the CNC machine, a delay time between consecutive uses of the CNC machine, and a schedule of jobs queued to be executed by the CNC machine.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first application and the second application were previously associated with a same user account at the computing system.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein a user associated with the same user account first modifies the instruction set associated with a machining process via the first application, and later invokes the second application to resume the machining process which has been abandoned by the first application.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second application executes on a second computing device.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising prohibiting a second user associated with a second user account logged into the second application from viewing a result of or modifying the instruction set while a first user associated with a first user account logged into the first application is connected to the CNC machine.

8. A computing system comprising:
at least one processor;
non-transitory computer-readable medium; and
program instructions stored on the non-transitory computer-readable medium that are executable by the at least one processor such that the computing system is configured to perform operations comprising:
modifying an instruction set for a CNC machine after receipt of a first modification to the instruction set from a first application executing on a first computing device, wherein the instruction set is executable to control one or more components of the CNC machine; and
while the instruction set is being executed:
removing, after receipt at the computing system of an abandonment signal from the first application, an ability of the first application to modify the instruction set, the abandonment signal indicating that the first application is no longer modifying the instruction set;
enabling, after receipt at the computing system of a connection signal from a second application, an ability of the second application to modify the instruction set; and
modifying the instruction set after receipt at the computing system of a second modification to the instruction set from the second application.

9. The computing system of claim 8 , wherein the first application and the second application were previously associated with a same user account at the computing system.

10. The computing system of claim 8 , further comprising:
the CNC machine.

11. The computing system of claim 8 , further comprising program instructions stored on the non-transitory computer-readable medium that are executable by the at least one processor such that the computing system is configured to perform operations comprising:
transmitting the instruction set to the CNC machine.

12. A non-transitory computer-readable medium, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium is provisioned with program instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause a computing system to perform operations comprising:
modifying an instruction set for a CNC machine after receipt of a first modification to the instruction set from a first application executing on a first computing device, wherein the instruction set is executable to control one or more components of the CNC machine; and
while the instruction set is being executed:
removing, after receipt at the computing system of an abandonment signal from the first application, an ability of the first application to modify the instruction set, the abandonment signal indicating that the first application is no longer modifying the instruction set;
enabling, after receipt at the computing system of a connection signal from a second application, an ability of the second application to modify the instruction set; and
modifying the instruction set after receipt at the computing system of a second modification to the instruction set from the second application.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein the CNC machine comprises a sensor configured to capture data from the CNC machine, and wherein the connection signal comprises a request to transmit, to the first computing device, at least a portion of the data captured by the sensor.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12 , further comprising displaying, at a display device, a graphical representation of at least one of a material in the CNC machine, a current user of the CNC machine, a status of the CNC machine, a remaining time of a job being executed by the CNC machine, a waiting user scheduled to use the CNC machine, a delay time between consecutive uses of the CNC machine, and a schedule of jobs queued to be executed by the CNC machine.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein the first application and the second application were previously associated with a same user account at the computing system.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein a user associated with the same user account first modifies the instruction set associated with a machining process via the first application, and later invokes the second application to resume the machining process which has been abandoned by the first application.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein the second application executes on a second computing device.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein the first application and the second application provide different functionality.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the first application provides first functionality comprising an ability to modify a design, and the second application provides second functionality comprising previewing, halting or commencing machine operations.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein the o

Assignees

• Glowforge Inc

Inventors

• Shapiro Daniel
• Gosselin Mark
• Wright Anthony
• Haug Scott
• Wright Linden

Classifications

• G05B2219/36542

  Cryptography, encrypt, access, authorize with key, code, password · CPC title

• G05B19/4068 Primary

  Verifying part program on screen, by drawing or other means · CPC title

• G05B19/409 Primary

  characterised by using manual data input [MDI] or by using control panel, e.g. controlling functions with the panel; characterised by control panel details or by setting parameters (G05B19/408, G05B19/4093 take precedence) · CPC title

• G05B2219/45165

  Laser machining · CPC title

• G05B2219/36531

  Inhibit, ignore or postpone new command if previous is still in execution · CPC title