A slicing and conveying system forms a three or more flavor-combined draft. At the source node a status of each one of the set of communications paths is maintained, and the data traffic is load-balanced across those ones of the set of communications paths having an operational status. For example, virtual touchable buttons may be configured in the periphery of the keyboard. In use, the laser assembly in conjunction with the mirror assemblies directs upper and lower laser beams through 360 degree scans to impinge on the targets ; laser radiation reflected from the targets is detected by the detectors, allowing trigonometric calculation of target positions using information derived from the scans of the upper and lower beams. When a switching element SW2 is turned on, the voltage of the capacitor is applied between an electrode and a workpiece. The heat pipe includes an evaporating section located above the reflecting cup and a condensing section thermally connecting with the annular supporting surface of the heat sink.