Liquidmetal Technologies Inc (LQMT)

[Barney Vissur]

I don't know (published 8/29/13)...I thought investment casting was definitively not a suitable process for manufacturing BMG's...

0042] In this regard, and in one embodiment, the method includes melting the metal or alloy composition at an elevated temperature and then cooling the molten composition to a lower temperature at a rate that is sufficient to avoid crystallization. Cooling may be achieved in a mold such that, once cooled, the orthodontic appliance is formed. Methods for manufacturing the orthodontic appliance include, but are not limited to, metal casting, such as, die casting and investment casting. In particular, one of the casting processes practiced by Liquid Metal Technologies of Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., is suitable for manufacturing a metallic glass orthodontic appliance.

0042] In this regard, and in one embodiment, the method includes melting the metal or alloy composition at an elevated temperature and then cooling the molten composition to a lower temperature at a rate that is sufficient to avoid crystallization. Cooling may be achieved in a mold such that, once cooled, the orthodontic appliance is formed. Methods for manufacturing the orthodontic appliance include, but are not limited to, metal casting, such as, die casting and investment casting. In particular, one of the casting processes practiced by Liquid Metal Technologies of Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., is suitable for manufacturing a metallic glass orthodontic appliance.

Read more: http://www.faqs.org/patents/app/20130224676#ixzz392iDpl54

Ormco is a nice-sized company - about a half bill in revenues. If they're referencing the LQMT process, it would appear royalties are a possibility - how far off is the eternal question.