Moving material during laser fabrication

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017235293-A1
Application number	US-201615334104-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 25, 2016
Priority date	Feb 12, 2015
Publication date	Aug 17, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

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.

First claim

1 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
delivering, via a moveable head of a computer numerically controlled machine, electromagnetic energy sufficient to cause a first change in a material at least partially contained within an interior space of the computer numerically controlled machine; imaging a feature of the material using at least one camera present inside the interior space to update a position of the material; and aligning the moveable head 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.

2 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the feature comprises the first change.

3 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the feature comprises an aspect of an appearance of the material prior to the first change.

4 . The computer-implemented method of claim 3 , wherein the feature comprises a corner of, a hole in, and/or an edge of the material.

5 - 10 . (canceled)

11 . The computer-implemented of claim 1 , further comprising moving the material through a pass-through slot in a housing that at least partially defines the interior volume.

12 . The computer-implemented of claim 1 , wherein the different position results from an unintentional movement of the material.

13 . The computer-implemented of claim 12 , further comprising determining that the unintentional movement may have occurred based on data from one or more sensors of the computer numerically controlled machine.

14 . (canceled)

15 . The computer-implemented of claim 1 , wherein the at least one camera comprises a first camera and a second camera, and wherein the imaging comprises moving the second camera to facilitate further imaging of the material based information from an image produced by the first camera.

16 - 17 . (canceled)

18 . The computer-implemented method of claim 15 , wherein the first camera is mounted on an openable barrier of a housing that at least partially defines the interior space, and the second camera is mounted on the moveable head.

19 . A computer numerically controlled machine comprising:
a moveable head inside an interior space of the computer numerically controlled machine, the moveable head configured to deliver electromagnetic energy; at least one camera present inside the interior space; and a controller configured to perform operations comprising:
causing the moveable head to deliver first electromagnetic energy sufficient to cause a first change in a material at least partially contained within the interior space.
commanding the at least one camera to image a feature of the material to update a position of the material; and
causing alignment of the moveable head 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.

20 . The computer numerically controlled machine of claim 19 , wherein the at least one camera comprises a camera mounted on the moveable head.

21 . The computer numerically controlled machine of claim 19 , wherein the at least one camera comprises a camera not mounted on the moveable head.

22 . The computer numerically controlled machine of claim 19 , wherein the at least one camera comprises a camera mounted to an openable barrier of a housing that at least partially defines the interior volume.

23 . (canceled)

24 . The computer numerically controlled machine of claim 19 , further comprising a pass-through slot in a housing that at least partially defines the interior volume, the pass-through slot accepting the material at a size that cannot be completely enclosed within the interior space and allowing changes to the position of the material to be made.

25 - 26 . (canceled)

27 . A computer readable medium comprising a non-transitory machine-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by at least one programmable processor, cause the at least one programmable processor to perform operations comprising:
delivering, via a moveable head of a computer numerically controlled machine, electromagnetic energy sufficient to cause a first change in a material at least partially contained within an interior space of the computer numerically controlled machine; imaging a feature of the material using at least one camera present inside the interior space to update a position of the material; and aligning the moveable head 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.

28 . The computer readable medium as in claim 27 , wherein the feature comprises the first change.

29 . The computer readable medium as in claim 27 , wherein the feature comprises an aspect of an appearance of the material prior to the first change.

30 . The computer readable medium as in claim 29 , wherein the feature comprises a corner of, a hole in, and/or an edge of the material.

31 . The computer readable medium of claim 27 , wherein the at least one camera comprises a first camera and a second camera, and wherein the imaging comprises moving the second camera to facilitate further imaging of the material based information from an image produced by the first camera.

32 . The computer readable medium of claim 34 , wherein the first camera is mounted on an openable barrier of a housing that at least partially defines the interior space, and the second camera is mounted on the moveable head.

Assignees

• Glowforge Inc

Inventors

• Shapiro Daniel
• Gosselin Mark
• Wright Anthony
• Putney Dean
• Ellis Timothy
• Banka Lauren

Classifications

• B29C64/393

  for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes · CPC title

• B23K26/0876

  in at least two axial directions · CPC title

• B23K26/38

  by boring or cutting · CPC title

• B23K26/0853

  Devices involving movement of the workpiece in at least two axial directions, e.g. in a plane · CPC title

• G05B2219/37359

  Contour, to sense corners, edges of surface · CPC title