Enclosure with selective wavelength transmissivity for computer numerically controlled fabrication

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12321152-B2
Application number	US-202217967850-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 17, 2022
Priority date	Oct 15, 2021
Publication date	Jun 3, 2025
Grant date	Jun 3, 2025

Abstract

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.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A computer numerically controlled (CNC) machine comprising:
a source configured to emit electromagnetic energy within an interior space of the CNC machine;
an enclosure defining at least a portion of the interior space, the enclosure at least partially formed from an optically transmissive material, wherein the optically transmissive material is configured such that electromagnetic energy striking the optically transmissive material is propagated, within the optically transmissive material, to a location on the optically transmissive material;
a sensor coupled to the optically transmissive material at the location;
at least one processor;
a 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 CNC machine is configured to:
detect, via the sensor, electromagnetic energy that exceeds at least one of a threshold duration or threshold power level; and
based on detecting the electromagnetic energy, reduce a power level of the electromagnetic energy emitted by the source.

2. The CNC machine of claim 1 , wherein the enclosure at least partially formed from an optically transmissive material comprises a light guide plate.

3. The CNC machine of claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises a photodiode.

4. The CNC machine of claim 1 , wherein the optically transmissive material is configured such that electromagnetic energy striking the optically transmissive material is propagated, within the optically transmissive material, to at least two locations on the optically transmissive material, and wherein the CNC machine comprises a respective sensor coupled to the optically transmissive material at each of the at least two locations.

5. The CNC machine of claim 1 , wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the CNC machine is configured to detect, via the sensor, electromagnetic energy comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the CNC machine is configured to detect, via the sensor, a wavelength of light associated with the electromagnetic energy emitted by the source.

6. The CNC machine of claim 1 , further comprising program instructions stored on the non-transitory computer-readable medium that are executable by the at least one processor such that the CNC machine is configured to:
encode a pulse wave modulated signature in the electromagnetic energy emitted by the source; and
wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the CNC machine is configured to detect, via the sensor, electromagnetic energy comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the CNC machine is configured to detect, via the sensor, the pulse wave modulated signature.

7. The CNC machine of claim 1 , wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the CNC machine is configured to detect, via the sensor, electromagnetic energy that exceeds at least one of a threshold duration or threshold power level comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the CNC machine is configured to detect, via the sensor, continuous electromagnetic energy that exceeds a threshold power level for greater than a threshold sustained duration.

8. The CNC machine of claim 1 , wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the CNC machine is configured to detect, via the sensor, electromagnetic energy that exceeds at least one of a threshold duration or threshold power level comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the CNC machine is configured to detect, via the sensor, instantaneous electromagnetic energy that exceeds a maximum allowable threshold power level.

9. The CNC machine of claim 1 , wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the CNC machine is configured to reduce the power level of the electromagnetic energy emitted by the source comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the CNC machine is configured to terminate emission of electromagnetic energy by the source.

10. 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 CNC machine comprising a source configured to emit electromagnetic energy to:
detect, via a sensor of the CNC machine, electromagnetic energy that exceeds at least one of a threshold duration or threshold power level, wherein the sensor is coupled at a location to an optically transmissive material that at least partially forms an enclosure of the CNC machine, the enclosure defining at least a portion of an interior space of the CNC machine, and wherein the optically transmissive material is configured such that electromagnetic energy striking the optically transmissive material is propagated, within the optically transmissive material, to the location; and
based on detecting the electromagnetic energy, reduce a power level of the electromagnetic energy emitted by the source.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the optically transmissive material is configured such that electromagnetic energy striking the optically transmissive material is propagated, within the optically transmissive material, to at least two locations on the optically transmissive material, and wherein the CNC machine comprises a respective sensor coupled to the optically transmissive material at each of the at least two locations.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the program instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the CNC machine to detect, via the sensor, electromagnetic energy comprise program instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the CNC machine to detect, via the sensor, a wavelength of light associated with the electromagnetic energy emitted by the source.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium is also provisioned with program instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the CNC machine to:
encode a pulse wave modulated signature in the electromagnetic energy emitted by the source; and
wherein the program instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the CNC machine to detect, via the sensor, electromagnetic energy comprise program instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the CNC machine to detect, via the sensor, the pulse wave modulated signature.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the program instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the CNC machine to detect, via the sensor, electromagnetic energy that exceeds at least one of a threshold duration or threshold power level comprise program instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the CNC machine to detect, via the sensor, continuous electromagnetic energy emitted by the source that exceeds a threshold power level for greater than a threshold sustained duration.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the program instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the CNC machine to detect, via the

Assignees

• Glowforge Inc

Inventors

• Shapiro Daniel
• Gosselin Mark
• Webster Douglas

Classifications

• G05B2219/33099

  Computer numerical control [CNC]; Software control [SWC] · CPC title

• G05B19/4155 Primary

  characterised by program execution, i.e. part program or machine function execution, e.g. selection of a program · CPC title