Abstract: A method may include projecting, onto a surface within a computer numerically controlled machine, a structured light having a known property. One or more sensors may generate an image of the structured light projected on the surface within the computer numerically controlled machine. One or more characteristics of the surface may be determined by comparing a property of the structured light shown in the image to the known property of the structured light. Examples of characteristics include a size, a distance to the surface, a height, a thickness, an angle of the surface, edges, surface properties, jigs, fiducial alignment markers, patterns encoding data, and visual designs on the surface of the material that are intended for reproductions. A surface map indicating the characteristics of the surface at various locations may be generated to enable, for example, a calibration, alignment, and/or optimization of the computer numerically controlled machine.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: Systems and methods disclosed herein include one or more computing devices configured to obtain one or more images of a material that has been placed at least partially within a CNC machine, where the one or more images are captured via one or more sensors associated with the CNC machine, determine one or more edges of the material based on the one or more images of the material, and determine whether the material can accommodate one or more placements of a design on the material based at least in part on the one or more edges of the material. Some embodiments additionally or alternatively include determining one or more material margins based on the one or more material edges, and determining whether the material can accommodate one or more placements of a design on the material based at least in part on the one or more material margins.

Abstract: A method may include projecting, onto a surface within a computer numerically controlled machine, a structured light having a known property. One or more sensors may generate an image of the structured light projected on the surface within the computer numerically controlled machine. One or more characteristics of the surface may be determined by comparing a property of the structured light shown in the image to the known property of the structured light. Examples of characteristics include a size, a distance to the surface, a height, a thickness, an angle of the surface, edges, surface properties, jigs, fiducial alignment markers, patterns encoding data, and visual designs on the surface of the material that are intended for reproductions. A surface map indicating the characteristics of the surface at various locations may be generated to enable, for example, a calibration, alignment, and/or optimization of the computer numerically controlled machine.

Abstract: A method for computer numerically controlled processing may include receiving configurations for a fabrication in which a computer numerically controlled machine processes a material to achieve one or more designs. An analysis may be performed to determine whether a thermal event occurs during the fabrication. The analysis may include performing one or more of a time-variant simulation and a time-invariant simulation of the fabrication. The thermal event may include one or more regions of the material exhibiting an undesirable response to the electromagnetic energy delivered to the material. One or more outputs may be generated based on the result of the thermal verification. The outputs may include a visualization of the quantity of energy exposure across the material, an alert if a thermal event is determined to occur during the fabrication, and corrective actions for resolving potential thermal events.