Abstract: 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.

Abstract: Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention implement flexible members that include integrated tools made from metallic glass-based materials. In one embodiment, a structure includes: a flexible member characterized by an elongated geometry and an integrated tool disposed at one end of the elongated geometry; where the flexible member includes a metallic glass-based material.

Abstract: Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention implement additive manufacturing techniques that employ different sets of deposition characteristics and/or material formation characteristics during the additive manufacture of an object so as to strategically build up the object. In many embodiments, material used to build up an object is deposited at different deposition rates during the additive manufacture of the object, and the object is thereby strategically built up. In one embodiment, a method of additively manufacturing an object includes: depositing material onto a surface at a first deposition rate so as to define a first region of the object to be additively manufactured; and depositing material onto a surface at a second deposition rate so as to define a second region of the object to be additively manufactured; where the second deposition rate is different from the first deposition rate.

Abstract: Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention operate to structurally interrelate two components using inserts made from metallic glass-based materials. In one embodiment, a method of structurally interrelating two components includes: forming an insert from a metallic glass-based composition; where the formed insert includes a metallic glass-based material; affixing the insert to a first component; and structurally interrelating the second component to the first component using the insert.

Abstract: Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention implement flexible members that include integrated tools made from metallic glass-based materials. In one embodiment, a structure includes: a flexible member characterized by an elongated geometry and an integrated tool disposed at one end of the elongated geometry; where the flexible member includes a metallic glass-based material.

Abstract: Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention implement tailored metallic glass-based strain wave gears and strain wave gear components. In one embodiment, a method of fabricating a flexspline of a strain wave gear includes: forming a MG-based composition into a flexspline using one of a thermoplastic forming technique and a casting technique; where the forming of the MG-based composition results in a formed MG-based material; where the formed flexspline is characterized by: a minimum thickness of greater than approximately 1 mm and a major diameter of less than approximately 4 inches.

Abstract: Methods and alloy systems for non-Be BMG matrix composite materials that can be used to additively manufacturing parts with superior mechanical properties, especially high toughness and strength, are provided. Alloys are directed to BMGMC materials comprising a high strength BMG matrix reinforced with properly scaled, soft, crystalline metal dendrite inclusions dispersed throughout the matrix in a sufficient concentration to resist fracture.

Abstract: Ti-based metal matrix composites, methods of their additive manufacture, and parts manufactured therefrom and thereby are provided. Method include layer-by-layer additive manufacturing for fabricating Ti-based metal matrix composite parts thicker than 0.5 mm, in layers with thickness between 10-1000 micrometers. The parts formed may have one or more of the following properties: a tensile strength greater than 1 GPa, a fracture toughness greater than 40 MPa m1/2, a yield strength divided by the density greater than 200 MPa cm3/g, and a total strain to failure in a tension test greater than 5%.

Abstract: Systems and methods for developing tough hypoeutectic amorphous metal-based materials for additive manufacturing, and methods of additive manufacturing using such materials are provided. The methods use 3D printing of discrete thin layers during the assembly of bulk parts from metallic glass alloys with compositions selected to improve toughness at the expense of glass forming ability. The metallic glass alloy used in manufacturing of a bulk part is selected to have minimal glass forming ability for the per layer cooling rate afforded by the manufacturing process, and may be specially composed for high toughness.

Abstract: Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention implement additive manufacturing techniques that employ different sets of deposition characteristics and/or material formation characteristics during the additive manufacture of an object so as to strategically build up the object. In many embodiments, material used to build up an object is deposited at different deposition rates during the additive manufacture of the object, and the object is thereby strategically built up. In one embodiment, a method of additively manufacturing an object includes: depositing material onto a surface at a first deposition rate so as to define a first region of the object to be additively manufactured; and depositing material onto a surface at a second deposition rate so as to define a second region of the object to be additively manufactured; where the second deposition rate is different from the first deposition rate.

Abstract: Methods for the fabrication of metal strain wave gear flexsplines using a specialized metal additive manufacturing technique are provided. The method allows the entire flexspline to be metal printed, including all the components: the output surface with mating features, the thin wall of the cup, and the teeth integral to the flexspline. The flexspline may be used directly upon removal from the building tray.

Abstract: Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention advantageously shape sheet materials that include metallic glass-based materials. In one embodiment, a method of shaping a sheet of material including a metallic glass-based material includes: heating a metallic glass-based material within a first region within a sheet of material to a temperature greater than the glass transition temperature of the metallic glass-based material; where the sheet of material has a thickness of between 0.

Abstract: 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 ?m; and cooling the molten alloy such that it solidifies, the solid including a metallic glass-based material.

Abstract: Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention implement bulk metallic glass-based strain wave gears and strain wave gear components. In one embodiment, a method of fabricating a strain wave gear includes: shaping a BMG-based material using a mold in conjunction with one of a thermoplastic forming technique and a casting technique; where the BMG-based material is shaped into one of: a wave generator plug, an inner race, an outer race, a rolling element, a flexspline, a flexspline without a set of gear teeth, a circular spline, a circular spline without a set of gear teeth, a set of gear teeth to be incorporated within a flexspline, and a set of gear teeth to be incorporated within a circular spline.

Abstract: Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention implement bulk metallic glass-based macroscale compliant mechanisms. In one embodiment, a bulk metallic glass-based macroscale compliant mechanism includes: a flexible member that is strained during the normal operation of the compliant mechanism; where the flexible member has a thickness of 0.5 mm; where the flexible member comprises a bulk metallic glass-based material; and where the bulk metallic glass-based material can survive a fatigue test that includes 1000 cycles under a bending loading mode at an applied stress to ultimate strength ratio of 0.25.

Abstract: A portable spectrometer, including a smart phone case storing a portable spectrometer, wherein the portable spectrometer includes a cavity; a source for emitting electromagnetic radiation that is directed on a sample in the cavity, wherein the electromagnetic radiation is reflected within the cavity to form multiple passes of the electromagnetic radiation through the sample; a detector for detecting the electromagnetic radiation after the electromagnetic radiation has made the multiple passes through the sample in the cavity, the detector outputting a signal in response to the detecting; and a device for communicating the signal to a smart phone, wherein the smart phone executes an application that performs a spectral analysis of the signal.

Abstract: Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention implement layers of devitrified metallic glass-based materials. In one embodiment, a method of fabricating a layer of devitrified metallic glass includes: applying a coating layer of liquid phase metallic glass to an object, the coating layer being applied in a sufficient quantity such that the surface tension of the liquid phase metallic glass causes the coating layer to have a smooth surface; where the metallic glass has a critical cooling rate less than 106 K/s; and cooling the coating layer of liquid phase metallic glass to form a layer of solid phase devitrified metallic glass.

Abstract: Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention fabricate objects including amorphous metals using techniques akin to additive manufacturing. In one embodiment, a method of fabricating an object that includes an amorphous metal includes: applying a first layer of molten metallic alloy to a surface; cooling the first layer of molten metallic alloy such that it solidifies and thereby forms a first layer including amorphous metal; subsequently applying at least one layer of molten metallic alloy onto a layer including amorphous metal; cooling each subsequently applied layer of molten metallic alloy such that it solidifies and thereby forms a layer including amorphous metal prior to the application of any adjacent layer of molten metallic alloy; where the aggregate of the solidified layers including amorphous metal forms a desired shape in the object to be fabricated; and removing at least the first layer including amorphous metal from the surface.

Abstract: Systems and method for fabricating a metal core truss panel with seamlessly embedded features in accordance with embodiments of the invention are illustrated. One embodiment includes a method for producing a metal core truss panel composite, the method including fabricating a sacrificial core truss panel including a plurality of interconnected truss members and at least one embedded feature, and plating the sacrificial core truss panel with a layer of metal forming a metal core truss panel including a plurality of interconnected metal truss members and at least one seamlessly embedded metal feature.

Abstract: Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention implement copper-based materials in applications where resistance to wear is desired. In one embodiment, a wear-resistant gear includes a gear defined by a rotatable body having teeth disposed on an outer surface of the rotatable body, where the gear body is formed at least in part from a material including copper and X, where X is one of zirconium, titanium, hafnium, rutherfordium, and mixtures thereof and where the atomic ratio of copper to X is approximately between 2:3 and 3:2.