IP Library Granted Patent US 11,231,693
Granted Patent B2
US 11,231,693 · App. 16/442,198 · Granted Jan 25, 2022

Cloud controlled laser fabrication

Inventors: Daniel Shapiro (Mercer Island, WA); Mark Gosselin (Seattle, WA); Anthony Wright (Seattle, WA); Dean Putney (Seattle, WA); Timothy Ellis (Everett, WA); Lauren Banka (Seattle, WA)
Assignee: Glowforge Inc.
G05B19/18B23K10/006B23K26/032B23K26/08B23K26/082B23K26/0853B23K26/0876B23K26/38B23K37/0211B23K37/0235B23K37/0408B23Q17/22G05B19/402G05B19/406B33Y50/00G05B2219/31186G05B2219/32001G05B2219/36053G05B2219/36199G05B2219/37359G05B2219/37555G05B2219/42307G05B2219/45041G05B2219/45212Y02P80/40Y02P90/80
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,231,693
App. No.
16/442,198
Granted
Jan 25, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

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.

Claims (42)

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

determining, based at least on a data associated with a computer numerically controlled machine, a first parameter associated with a physical property of a material within an interior space of the computer numerically controlled machine;

determining, based at least on the first parameter, a second parameter of a first design; and

generating, based at least on the second parameter, at least a portion of an execution plan defining one or more operations configured to cause the computer numerically controlled machine to deliver an electromagnetic energy to affect a change corresponding to the first design.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the data includes the first parameter, and wherein the first parameter is measured by one or more sensors at the computer numerically controlled machine.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the data includes an identifier associated with the material, and wherein the identifier is captured by one or more sensors at the computer numerically controlled machine.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 , wherein the first parameter of the material is determined by at least retrieving, based at least on the identifier associated with the material, the first parameter or a third parameter enabling a determination of the first parameter.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 , further comprising:

determining, based at least on the identifier associated with the material, to measure the first parameter at multiple locations across the material; and

adjusting, based at least on multiple measurements of the first parameter, the second parameter to reflect one or more changes in the first parameter across the material.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the first parameter comprises a dimension of the material, a kerf dimension of the material, and/or a hardness of the material.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the second parameter comprises a dimension of the first design to be affected in the material and/or another material, a fit of the first design, a size of a slot comprising the first design, a quantity of teeth in the slot, and/or a smoothness of a tab comprising the first design.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

identifying a used portion of the material occupied by the first design and a scrap portion of the material unoccupied by the first design; and

adjusting, based at least on a differentiation between the used portion and the scrap portion of the material, the second dimension such that a kerf is disposed in the scrap portion of the material.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the first parameter comprises a first dimension of a second design affected in the material, and wherein the second parameter comprises a second dimension of the first design to be affected in another material.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

measuring the first parameter at one or more locations in the material where the first design is to be affected by the delivery of the electromagnetic energy.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the first design includes a slot and a tab sized to fit at least partially inside the slot, and wherein the slot and the tab are disposed on a same material or different materials.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 , wherein the first parameter includes a thickness of the material forming the tab, and wherein the second parameter includes a width of the slot capable of accommodating at least a portion of the tab formed from the material.

13. A system, comprising:

at least one data processor; and

at least one memory storing instructions, which when executed by the at least one data processor, result in operations comprising:

determining, based at least on a data associated with a computer numerically controlled machine, a first parameter associated with a physical property of a material within an interior space of the computer numerically controlled machine;

determining, based at least on the first parameter, a second parameter of a first design; and

generating, based at least on the second parameter, at least a portion of an execution plan defining one or more operations configured to cause the computer numerically controlled machine to deliver an electromagnetic energy to affect a change corresponding to the first design.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the data includes the first parameter, and wherein the first parameter is measured by one or more sensors at the computer numerically controlled machine.

15. The system of claim 13 , wherein the data includes an identifier associated with the material, and wherein the identifier is captured by one or more sensors at the computer numerically controlled machine.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the first parameter of the material is determined by at least retrieving, based at least on the identifier associated with the material, the first parameter or a third parameter enabling a determination of the first parameter.

17. The system of claim 15 , further comprising:

determining, based at least on the identifier associated with the material, to measure the first parameter at multiple locations across the material; and

adjusting, based at least on multiple measurements of the first parameter, the second parameter to reflect one or more changes in the first parameter across the material.

18. The system of claim 13 , wherein the first parameter comprises a dimension of the material, a kerf dimension of the material, and/or a hardness of the material.

19. The system of claim 13 , wherein the second parameter comprises a dimension of the first design to be affected in the material and/or another material, a fit of the first design, a size of a slot comprising the first design, a quantity of teeth in the slot, and/or a smoothness of a tab comprising the first design.

20. The system of claim 13 , further comprising:

identifying a used portion of the material occupied by the first design and a scrap portion of the material unoccupied by the first design; and

adjusting, based at least on a differentiation between the used portion and the scrap portion of the material, the second dimension such that a kerf is disposed in the scrap portion of the material.

21. The system of claim 13 , wherein the first parameter comprises a first dimension of a second design affected in the material, and wherein the second parameter comprises a second dimension of the first design to be affected in another material.

22. The system of claim 13 , further comprising:

measuring the first parameter at one or more locations in the material where the first design is to be affected by the delivery of the electromagnetic energy.

23. The system of claim 13 , wherein the first design includes a slot and a tab sized to fit at least partially inside the slot, and wherein the slot and the tab are disposed on a same material or different materials.

24. The system of claim 23 , wherein the first parameter includes a thickness of the material forming the tab, and wherein the second parameter includes a width of the slot capable of accommodating at least a portion of the tab formed from the material.

Assignments (6)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 12, 2026
From: LASER EQUIPMENT COMPANY (ABC), LLC
To: PURPLEVINE IP SINGAPORE PTE. LTD.
Reel/Frame 073443/0113 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 12, 2026
From: PURPLEVINE IP SINGAPORE PTE. LTD.
To: MAKEBLOCK HONGKONG HOLDING LIMITED
Reel/Frame 073443/0728 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 7, 2026
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: LASER EQUIPMENT COMPANY (ABC), LLC
Reel/Frame 073398/0273 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 5, 2026
From: GLOWFORGE INC.
To: LASER EQUIPMENT COMPANY (ABC), LLC
Reel/Frame 073369/0025 →
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 30, 2022
From: GLOWFORGE INC.; GLOWFORGE INTERNATIONAL INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 060556/0845 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 14, 2019
From: SHAPIRO, DANIEL; GOSSELIN, MARK; WRIGHT, ANTHONY; PUTNEY, DEAN; ELLIS, TIMOTHY; BANKA, LAUREN
To: GLOWFORGE, INC.
Reel/Frame 049478/0466 →
Continuity (8)
Continuation 15334120 · Oct 25, 2016
Continuation PCTUS2016017904 · Feb 12, 2016
Provisional Application 62222757 · Sep 23, 2015
Provisional Application 62222758 · Sep 23, 2015
Provisional Application 62222756 · Sep 23, 2015
Provisional Application 62115562 · Feb 12, 2015
Provisional Application 62115571 · Feb 12, 2015
Related Publication 20190310604A1 · Oct 10, 2019