I also wanted to add the joint study by Mark Cola & Vivek Dave in welding deformities. Los Alamos Labs studies in shapes and contours: http://www.lanl.gov/contour/ Mark Cola and Vivek Dave et. al. study in stress mapping: The method is similar to that of using CMM's to calculate angles but compares the points measured by neutron diffraction (to obtain an image): http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=3&ved=0CDgQFjAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lanl.gov%2Fcontour%2FTIWR.pdf&ei=qSn4UsKjM4elsATdsoGYCA&usg=AFQjCNGn8oWZ98kI5zMv6fvdqekR1TV0TA&sig2=kxPIBS5xX0Gx5sWfHDHJnA&bvm=bv.60983673,d.dmQ&cad=rja Their knowledge fits perfectly with Metronics expertise in lasers and alignment.