Composite CNC Machine Housing for Laser Radiation Containment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Computer-numerically-controlled (CNC) machines face challenges in containing laser radiation, which can lead to safety risks and material damage due to reflections or unexpected beam diversion, necessitating improved housing designs to prevent electromagnetic energy escape.

Innovation Solution

A housing with a composite construction using a structural material, such as plastic, combined with a protective material that dissipates, absorbs, or scatters electromagnetic energy, reducing permeability and enhancing safety and durability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a housing made of structural material (e.g., plastic) is used to encase the CNC machine, then manufacturing cost savings and ease of manufacture are achieved, but the housing has high permeability to electromagnetic energy, allowing laser radiation to escape

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidelectromagnetic energy escape

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The housing combines structural material (e.g., plastic) with protective material (e.g., metal mesh, conductive coating, or electromagnetic shielding material) to create a composite structure. The structural material provides ease of manufacture and cost savings, while the protective material layer provides electromagnetic energy containment, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing ease and radiation protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a housing with protective material is used to contain laser radiation, then operator safety and material protection are improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelaser radiation containmentVSAvoidhousing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is divided into functional segments: the structural material portion provides mechanical support and ease of manufacture, while the protective material portion (applied as a separate layer, coating, or attached component) provides electromagnetic shielding. This segmentation allows each material to perform its specialized function without requiring complete redesign of the entire housing structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The protective material acts as an intermediary layer between the internal CNC machine components and the external environment. This intermediate protective layer contains laser radiation while allowing the structural material housing to maintain its simple, easy-to-manufacture form, thus reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of manufacture

If traditional housing materials are used without protective material, then the housing structure remains simple and cost-effective, but safety risks and potential material damage occur due to electromagnetic energy escape

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidsafety and durability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The protective material is incorporated into the housing design beforehand, during the manufacturing process, rather than as an afterthought. This prior inclusion of protective material ensures that laser radiation containment is built into the housing structure from the start, preventing safety issues before they can occur while maintaining manufacturing efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution effectively contains laser radiation, enhancing operator safety and preventing material damage while offering manufacturing cost savings and improved resilience.

Implementation Method 1

The protective material can, among other possible benefits, dissipate, absorb, and/or scatter electromagnetic energy emitted by the laser to prevent the electromagnetic energy from escaping the housing

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAbsorption (EM radiation): Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 2

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectScattering: Scattering

Data Source

PatentUS11433477B2Housing for computer-numerically-controlled machine

Publication Date: 2022.09.06 MAKEBLOCK HONGKONG HOLDING LTD

AI summary

A computer-numerically-controlled machine can include a light source and a housing. The light source can be configured to deliver electromagnetic energy to at least one location on a material at least partially disposed within the computer-numerically-controlled machine. The housing can include at least one side part surrounding an interior space and the at least one location on the material. The housing can include a structural material defining at least a portion of the interior space. The housing can further include a protective material protecting the side part. The protective material can reduce a permeability of the side part to the electromagnetic radiation relative to the structural material alone.