California Institute of Technology

Andrew Kennett

Douglas C Hofmann

Kobie T Boykins

John Paul C Borgonia

Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention implement bulk metallic glass-based macroscale gears. In one embodiment, a method of fabricating a bulk metallic glass-based macroscale gear, where at least either the thickness of the gear is greater than 3 mm or the diameter of the gear is greater than 9 mm, includes: obtaining design parameters of the gear to be formed; selecting a bulk metallic glass from which the gear will be formed based on the obtained design parameters, where the selected bulk metallic glass is characterized by a resistance to standard modes of wear and a resistance to brittle fracture such that a gear can be formed from the selected bulk metallic glass that accords with the obtained design parameters; and fabricating the gear from the selected bulk metallic glass that accords with the obtained design parameters.

Systems and methods for implementing bulk metallic glass-based macroscale gears

Methods for fabricating bulk metallic glass-based macroscale gears

Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention efficaciously implement robust gearbox housings. In one embodiment, a method of fabricating a gearbox housing includes: providing an alloy composition from which the gearbox housing will be fabricated from; casting the alloy composition around a solid body so as to form a part characterized by the inclusion of a cavity, where the cast part includes a metallic glass-based material; and nondestructively separating the cast part from the solid body.

Systems and methods for implementing robust gearbox housings

Systems and methods to fabricate objects including metallic glass-based materials using low-pressure casting techniques are described. In one embodiment, a method of fabricating an object that includes a metallic glass-based material includes: introducing molten alloy into a mold cavity defined by a mold using a low enough pressure such that the molten alloy does not conform to features of the mold cavity that are smaller than 100 &#x3bc;m; and cooling the molten alloy such that it solidifies, the solid including a metallic glass-based material.

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Montrose, CA, United States of America

Andrew Kennett