Abstract: Systems and methods resolve stresses in additive manufacturing. A stress resolution profile including frequency and amplitude parameters of an ultrasonic input are determined based on physical properties of the product. Successive layers of a material are added and energy is applied to incorporate the material of each layer into the product. An ultrasonic input is applied with the determined parameters to resolve stress as the product is built up. The ultrasonic input is varied as a depth of the material incorporated into the product increases.

Abstract: Prior to manufacturing a product by additive manufacturing, a stress relief profile including frequency and amplitude parameters of an ultrasonic input is determined based on physical properties of the product, including resonant frequencies of the product and a material from which the product is manufactured. Successive layers of a material are added and energy is applied to incorporate the material of each layer into the product. A processor accesses stress relief profile parameters for each layer, determines whether a layer requires stress relief and determines a frequency and a power level for the stress relief at the layer. An ultrasonic input is applied with the determined parameters to relieve stress as the product is built up.

Abstract: Systems and methods resolve stresses in additive manufacturing. A stress resolution profile including frequency and amplitude parameters of an ultrasonic input are determined based on physical properties of the product. Successive layers of a material are added and energy is applied to incorporate the material of each layer into the product. An ultrasonic input is applied with the determined parameters to resolve stress as the product is built up. The ultrasonic input is varied as a depth of the material incorporated into the product increases.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for repairing a damaged area within a cored passage of a component. The method includes providing a repair tool that has a support portion, a leading portion extending from a first end of the support portion, and a trailing portion extending from a second end of the support portion. The leading portion of the repair tool is inserted into a first opening of the cored passage, and is threaded through the cored passage until the support portion is positioned at the damaged area within the cored passage. A restoration activity is performed on the damaged area as the support portion supports the cored passage proximate to the damaged area. Upon completion of the restoration activity, the repair tool is removed from the cored passage.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for repairing a damaged area within a cored passage of a component. The method includes providing a repair tool that has a support portion, a leading portion extending from a first end of the support portion, and a trailing portion extending from a second end of the support portion. The leading portion of the repair tool is inserted into a first opening of the cored passage, and is threaded through the cored passage until the support portion is positioned at the damaged area within the cored passage. A restoration activity is performed on the damaged area as the support portion supports the cored passage proximate to the damaged area. Upon completion of the restoration activity, the repair tool is removed from the cored passage.

Abstract: A clamp device for holding sports equipment, and particularly hockey sticks having an elongated shaft portion, is provided. The clamp device a support surface adapted to receive the elongated portion thereon and first and second clamp portions extending from the support surface and arranged in spaced relation, and otherwise sized and dimensioned to receive the elongated portion in a friction fit relationship between the first and second clamp portions. An apparatus for holding a plurality of hockey sticks is also provided. The apparatus has mounted on a base surface thereof a plurality of clamp devices.

Abstract: The present invention operates as an expert system to automatically determine an optimal method for reducing the size of an electronic file containing at least one embedded image by determining optimal methods for compressing each image. Further, in one embodiment, linked images are also compressed. User control of relevant parameters such as image compression options, retention or removal of unnecessary data associated with embedded or linked images, and downsampling images to better match the output resolution of specific output devices is provided in further embodiments. Further, to prevent cumulative degradation of images through repeated lossy compression, images that have already been compressed or optimized are preferably flagged so that they are not compressed more than once.

Abstract: The present invention operates as an expert system to automatically determine an optimal method for reducing the size of an electronic file containing at least one embedded image by determining optimal methods for compressing each image. Further, in one embodiment, linked images are also compressed. User control of relevant parameters such as image compression options, retention or removal of unnecessary data associated with embedded or linked images, and downsampling images to better match the output resolution of specific output devices is provided in further embodiments. Further, to prevent cumulative degradation of images through repeated lossy compression, images that have already been compressed or optimized are preferably flagged so that they are not compressed more than once.

Abstract: An image passthrough extension structure and method facilitating the transfer of compressed data image files from a software application to a device via the computer system operating system. The application determines whether the device is capable of decoding the specific compressed data file by polling the device driver. If the driver returns a “no support” message, the application processes the compressed data file in a conventional manner. If the driver returns a “support” message, the application transfers the compressed data file, along with the additional processing information, to the device driver utilizing the conventional file transfer operating system data structures modified to incorporate the compressed data file passthrough function.

Abstract: The present invention operates as an expert system to automatically determine an optimal method for reducing the size of an electronic file containing at least one embedded image by determining optimal methods for compressing each image. Further, in one embodiment, linked images are also compressed. User control of relevant parameters such as image compression options, retention or removal of unnecessary data associated with embedded or linked images, and downsampling images to better match the output resolution of specific output devices is provided in further embodiments. Further, to prevent cumulative degradation of images through repeated lossy compression, images that have already been compressed or optimized are preferably flagged so that they are not compressed more than once.