Abstract: Exemplary embodiments described herein relate to methods and systems for casting metal alloys into articles such as BMG articles. In one embodiment, processes involved for storing, pre-treating, alloying, melting, injecting, molding, etc. can be combined as desired and conducted in different chambers. During these processes, each chamber can be independently, separately controlled to have desired chamber environment, e.g., under vacuum, in an inert gas environment, or open to the surrounding environment. Due to the flexible, independent control of each chamber, the casting cycle time can be reduced and the production throughput can be increased. Contaminations of the molten materials and thus the final products are reduced or eliminated.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide methods and apparatus for active cooling regulation of a melting process. In one embodiment, a meltable material can be melted in a vessel that includes cooling channel(s) configured therein. A contact temperature TContact of the vessel at an interface with the melt can be measured and compared with a skull forming temperature TSkull and a wetting temperature TWetting of the melt on the vessel. A cooling rate can be regulated to regulate TContact to be TSkull<TContact<TWetting. In another embodiment, TContact can be regulated in a value close or equal to a wetting threshold temperature TTh-I, wherein TTH-I=TWetting—a temperature safety margin for TWetting. In yet another embodiment, TContact can be regulated such that TTh-II?TContact?TTh-I, wherein TTh-II=TSkull plus a temperature safety margin for TSkull.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide methods and apparatus for forming bulk metallic glass (BMG) articles using a mold having a stationary mold part and a movable mold part paired to form a mold cavity. A molten material can be injected to fill the mold cavity. The molten material can then be cooled into a BMG article at a desired cooling rate. While injecting and/or cooling the molten material, the movement of the movable mold part can be controlled, such that a thermal contact between the molten material and the mold can be maintained. BMG articles can be formed without forming an underfilled part. Additional structural features can be imparted in the BMG article during formation. At least a portion of the formed BMG article can have an aspect ratio (first dimension/second dimension) of at least 10 or less than 0.1.

Abstract: Disclosed is a vessel for melting and casting meltable materials. The vessel may be a surface temperature regulated vessel for providing a substantially non-wetting interface with the molten materials. In one embodiment, the vessel may include one or more temperature regulating channels configured to flow a fluid therein for regulating a surface temperature of the vessel such that molten materials are substantially non-wetting at the interface with the vessel. Disclosed also includes systems and methods for melting and casting meltable materials using the vessel.

Abstract: A cryptographic processor for redundantly-processing cryptographic operations is disclosed. The cryptographic processor includes a number of input ports, a first and second cryptographic engines, comparison logic and a plurality of output ports. The number of input ports is configured to accept both plaintext and ciphertext. Each of the number of input ports is coupled to both the first and second cryptographic engines. The comparison logic is configured to determine if the first and second cryptographic engines produce a result that is different. The number of output ports is configured to produce both plaintext and ciphertext.

Abstract: A high-assurance system for processing information is disclosed. The high-assurance system comprising first and second processors, a task matching circuit, and first and second outputs. The task matching circuit configured to determine a software routine is ready for execution on the first processor, and delay the first processor until the second processor is ready to execute the software routine. The first output of the first processor configured to produce a first result with the software routine. The second output of the second processor configured to produce a second result with the software routine, where the first result is identical to the second result.