Abstract: A hybrid manufacturing machine comprises a workpiece platform, a powder delivery system, and a scan head. The powder delivery system delivers powder from a powder storage system to the workpiece platform. A controller executes a program to perform a manufacturing operation on a part situated on the workpiece platform based upon a three-dimensional representation of the part. The scan head is controlled by the controller to emit a first energy beam that implements an additive process on the part, and a second energy beam that implements a material manipulation process on the part. The hybrid manufacturing machine can also include a measurement device, e.g., a laser profilometer, camera, microscope, etc. Under this configuration, the controller can control the scan head to emit the second energy beam to perform the material manipulation operation as a micro-machining operation to remove structure from the part based upon an output from the measurement device.

Abstract: Methods and systems for aggregating points into segments to facilitate measurements relating to GIS polylines and/or polygons are provided. According to one embodiment, a request for information is received regarding a shape representing a geographic feature displayed within a geographic information system (GIS) application. One or more measurement segments are programmatically identified by selecting multiple measurement vertices from a set of points associated with the shape based on one or more predetermined selection criteria. The remaining intervening points of the set of points not selected as measurement vertices define sub-segments of the measurement segments. A length of each of the measurement segments is then calculated and displayed by summing corresponding sub-segments.

Abstract: A suspended hammock for mountaineering is provided for suspending a climber adjacent a substantially vertical face of a mountain. The hammock includes a supporting membrane which forms a bed of a size to support the climber in a substantially prone position, and a `T`-shaped supporting frame to which the bed is attached by a plurality of suspension straps. The straps are positioned along the edges of the bed, with one strap being positioned at each side of the head end, two straps being positioned on each side in the middle, and a fourth strap being positioned on each side at the foot end of the bed. The straps can be adjusted in length by means of a buckle. The `T`-frame comprises a spreader bar and a cross bar, with the spreader bar being attached to the cross bar at it's midpoint. The suspension straps are attached in a spaced relationship to the first and second ends of the spreader bar.