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Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete (GFRC) is not only changing the face of concrete, but it's providing a world of new product and business opportunities for those already in the industry or for those looking to get started. While GFRC has proven its worth with conventional products like building facades, fireplaces and countertops, advanced mold making technology is taking GFRC beyond the typical applications and opening the door to new creative possibilities.

Made up of a cement-based composite reinforced with glass fibers, GFRC has all the characteristics of regular concrete. A number of additional qualities, however, give it significant advantages. Most obviously, GFRC is up to 80% lighter than concrete, so it's easier to work with and install. Despite its light weight, GFRC also boasts superior strength and durability, making it a material that can stand the test of time. Add the fact that GFRC is easily molded into intricate and detailed designs in a wide selection of colors, forms and textures, and you've got a perfect replacement for precast concrete and an ideal material for a range of creative projects.

BUILDING A NEW FOUNDATION FOR GFRC

The foundation for any GFRC project is a mold. Up until now, given the nature of mold making, building this foundation has been a critical challenge. The specialized nature of mold making has pushed many away from creating molds in-house, so even the most basic of molds tend to be farmed out or purchased - a costly proposition. For those that have taken things into their own hands, creating detailed molds means time-consuming hand carving at the hands of a skilled artisan. Ultimately, many businesses end up relying on a basic set of undifferentiated molds, limiting what they can provide to their customers.

With traditional processes holding back creativity and productivity, it may have been a matter of time before technology came to the rescue. In this case, new mold making technology is simplifying and automating the creation of molds. Thanks to a foam carving system developed by Streamline Automation, the days of hand carving molds are over. This system combines 3D laser scanning, CNC routing and various supporting processes with the versatility of high density foam to create a system that revolutionizes mold making - giving every business involved with GFRC the power to create the kind of molds they want.

TRADITIONAL CRAFTSMANSHIP MEETS ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY

The system's starting point is its 3D laser scanner and customized software. These components allow molds to be designed without the skills of an artist, bringing mold making to the masses. Starting with a scale model of the piece or just an idea, the user can create an editable data file that forms the basis for the rest of the process. If a physical model of the piece exists, it can be scanned to create a perfect digital replica. If a physical model doesn't exist, design software can be used to model it in 3D. In both cases, working with data allows designs to be edited, scaled and saved for future use - bringing new levels of flexibility and creative freedom to mold making.

Once the data file has been created, it is sent to a 3D router that perfectly replicates the piece using high-density foam. Creating a negative or positive version with perfect accuracy, scale and detail, the router automates the carving process and eliminates the labor of hand carving. Negatives can be coated with a thin coat of durable material to create an instant mold, while positives form the basis of Streamline's proprietary mold making processes. The end result of either process is a detailed, durable mold that's created in a fraction of the time of traditional processes.

TAKING GFRC INTO THE FUTURE

"The combination of automation, accuracy and speed creates a powerful mold making engine that is taking GFRC to where regular concrete can't go." explains Streamline President Dwayne Lehman. "It creates molds with unbelievable quality, but it does it with an automated process that anyone can follow. You can now mold whatever you want to, from new takes on traditional products to new products that were cost prohibitive before. We've created a way for any business to create their own molds without sacrificing quality and without putting creative control in someone else's hands." With this mold making power, the product possibilities for GFRC are endless:

• Detailed architectural elements
• Perfect historical reproductions and restorations
• Eye-catching building facades
• Stunning reliefs and wall art
• Innovative sinks, fireplaces and countertops
• Themed environments and sculptures

This technology is not just about expanding GFRC's horizons with creative new products. It can also generate new business opportunities. By combining improved creativity with the increased efficiency of an automated system, this is a technology that can give businesses a serious advantage over the competition. As Lehman explains, "this system can not only help GFRC businesses take the next step towards giving their customers exactly what they want, but it can also help them grow their productivity and bottom line. This is a classic win-win situation." GFRC, welcome to the future.

For more information about Streamline Automation's FROG3D mold making system and GFRC line of equipment, visit http://www.3dcutting.com/

ABOUT STREAMLINE AUTOMATION Streamline Automation's FROG3D foam carving system helps creative businesses from around the world create stunning molds, architectural features and themed environments with unmatched speed, detail and accuracy. Streamline's clients not only get automated, end-to-end production processes, but they can also increase their production capabilities, boost their creative freedom and expand their businesses. Streamline Automation also provides a range of business-building services developed specifically for the concrete and sculptural industries. These services are designed to deliver the knowledge, skills and operational processes our clients need to grow their businesses around FROG3D- whether they are industry newcomers or seasoned veterans.

AP - A jail in northern Texas has been closed and its nearly 60 inmates transferred as authorities investigate what they call dangerous conditions for jailers and those behind bars - including cells that locked from the inside or contained recliners. Five inmates had already been moved from the Montague County jail to one in a nearby county this month after an FBI raid, said Jack McGaughey, district attorney for Montague, Clay and Archer counties.

There are numerous Nintendo DS Slot 1 Solutions on the market today. With two of the most noteable ones being the R4 DS slot 1 solution and the M3 DS Simply. The favorite of the two it would seem is the M3 DS Simply. Often out of stock at many online retailers. A little known fact however could have you up and playing without worrying about the item being out of stock. I say this because my reasearch has shown me (and confirmed by the manufacturers themselves) that the R4 DS and the M3 DS Simply are virtually identical to each other in both features and functions.

Both the M3 DS and the R4 DS Slot 1 solution are manufactured by the same people - or at the very least - the same factory. What this means for gamers and homebrew enthusiasts is that they can get their hands on the R4 DS and know that they're getting the exact same product they'd be getting if they bought the M3 DS Simply at another shop.

You see, the R4 DS and M3 DS Simply are EXACTLY the same. The only difference between the two units is the packaging and the logo that is displayed on the main screen when you boot up your Nintendo DS or DS Lite. Functionality, features, even firmware upgrades and updates are released at the same time, and it seems all of the features and functions in each update are identical to the other. Whether you get the M3 DS Simply, or the R4 DS Slot 1 Solution, you're going to essentially get exactly the same things - everything you need to load games, homebrew and applications is included in the box.

The R4 DS Slot 1 Solution Package

It's almost a dead giveaway here, except for the fact that the R4 DS comes in it's own R4 DS Box. But you'll notice that once you open the box, the contents of the box are identical to the M3 DS Simply, you even get the same light blue colored keychain / carry case that comes with the M3 DS simply. You get everything you need, right out of the box. This includes the R4 DS slot 1 cartridge, a USB microSD Reader / writer (and this actually allows you to use your microSD as a USB Drive) as well as the keychain carrying case and the software CD.

Setting up the R4 DS is easy

Setup is as simple as can be. The included instruction manual (which is located on the CD itself) details exactly what you need to do in order to get your R4 DS working. The first thing you'll have to do, is insert the microSD Card (not included - but you can buy this anywhere) into the micrSD reader / writer and plug it into any free USB port on your computer. It will instantly come up as a portable drive / flash drive. Here, you can do one of two things. You can either copy the software from the CD, as stated in the manual to the microSD card to put all of the system files on it. I would recommend though that you go to the R4 DS firmware page, and download the latest drivers, as they are often updated there.

Once you've copied your system files to the micro SD Card, it's time to load the games and homebrew applications you'd like to play. Again, this works the exact same way with the M3 DS simply, no difference between the two units at all. Simply copy and paste the files from your PC that you want on the microSD card. A simply drag and drop is all that is needed. The games and homebrew applications work without any patching or fixing or compression. They work as they are, right out of the box so to speak.

Now that you've copied your system files, and the files you'd like to use and play, it's time to put your microSD card into the slot on the top of the R4 DS cartridge. The R4 DS Cartidge is the same size as any standard Nintendo DS or DS Lite game cartirge, so there's no bulging or sticking out once it's inserted into the cartridge slot on your NDS. The micro SD slot is located on the top of the R4 DS and it is actually spring loaded. The microSD card inserts into the slot with the SD label on the opposite side of the actual R4 DS Cartidge label. You'll hear a CLICK sound once you've inserted the microSD Card into the slot, this is to let you know that it is in place, and you're set to turn on your Nintendo DS console. The microSD card fits perfectly flush against the R4 casing.

Once you've turned on your Nintendo DS or Nintendo DS lite, the system files will load from the R4 DS cartridge, exactly the same way they do when using the M3 DS Simply. It takes about 2 seconds for the main menu to appear, with the R4 DS logo on the top screen, and the menu on the bottom. On the bottom screen you can select one of 3 options.

1. GAME MENU - When you select this menu, you'll be instantly taken to a list of all of the game files, homebrew applications, etc.. that you've stored on your microSD card. You can use the controller pad on the NDS to select the file you want to load. If you're loading a game for the first time, you'll be prompted, after selecting the game, to confirm that you want to create a save file for the game. This is needed if you want to save you game. Your game saves are stored on the same microSD card as the game files themselves - this is fantastic if you want to delete those games later, to replace with other files, as you can copy your save game files back to your PC, for future use when you're ready to continue playing that game again.

2. MULTIMEDIA MENU - When you select this second option, you'll launch the multi media player / moonshell. Within this menu, you're able to look at digital photos stored on the microSD Card, listen to your favorite MP3 Songs, watch movies that you've converted from DVD with the included software, as well as read ebooks in TXT format. This essentially turns your Nintendo DS or DS Lite into a full blown multi media entertainment unit.

3. BOOT SLOT 2 - This menu option allows the R4 DS, just like the M3 DS, to boot the GBA Slot, or Slot 2, in your Nintendo DS / DS Lite console. This is for those of us that also want to get our hands on a GBA Flash card, and want to run GBA Homebrew games and applications as well as Nintendo DS. It also adds extra storage for NDS Homebrew, because you can actually use a GBA Flash card to boot NDS files, as long as you use the R4 DS as a PASSME / PASSCARD solution.

All in all, no matter which one you get, both the R4 DS Slot 1 Solution as well as the M3 DS Simply are excellent accessories for the Nintendo DS / DS Lite. Which one you get should only depend on which model is in stock. As stated earlier in this article, the two units are identical in every way. The only difference being the box packaging and the logo that appears when you first boot up your Nintendo DS console.

There are literally hundreds of FREE homebrew Nintendo DS games available online. Many of them rivaling commercial games in both gameplay and graphics / music. In order to play these free homebrew games you'll have to either purchase an R4 DS or and M3 DS simply. Find out more about both of these homebrew game players at http://www.ps2cover.com/nintendo-ds.shtml

AP - Oregon is among a growing number of states exploring ways to tax drivers based on the number of miles they drive instead of how much gas they use, even going so far as to install GPS monitoring devices in 300 vehicles. The idea first emerged nearly 10 years ago as Oregon lawmakers worried that fuel-efficient cars such as gas-electric hybrids could pose a threat to road upkeep, which is paid for largely with gasoline taxes.