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To: antiRepublicrat
LiquidMetal's alloys (note, there is no alloy called "LiquidMetal") can be cast much thinner in more complex shapes. Estimates show half the weight for a MacBook Pro re-cast using these alloys.

Having worked with some LiquidMetal samples in the past, their estimates and claims should be taken with a VERY large block of salt... There's a reason no one is using LiquidMetal - it doesn't live up to the hype.

As are the rather serious limitations that LiquidMetal's alloys don't have.

And those limitations would be?

79 posted on 08/18/2010 7:34:02 PM PDT by PugetSoundSoldier (Indignation over the Sting of Truth is the defense of the indefensible)
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To: PugetSoundSoldier
Having worked with some LiquidMetal samples in the past

Yeah, you bought a golf club. Beyond that I have a hard time believing.

There's a reason no one is using LiquidMetal - it doesn't live up to the hype.

Nobody's put much effort into it yet. Apple has a long history with new materials. I bet you were a LiquidMetal fan until Apple got involved.

And those limitations would be?

Regular metals don't cast very well due to their crystal structure. There are various methods to overcome many of the problems, most of which involve more time, effort and expense. Apple is not going to intricately investment cast 20+ million consumer products a year.

Apple moved away from plastic for good reasons, the aesthetics, heat conductance and strength just isn't there, but Apple's switch to metal has its own obvious problem: machining is expensive. So Apple is looking for a metal that can be manufactured as cheaply and accurately as a plastic. All evidence shows that LiquidMetal alloys can fill this role. That Apple has been playing with this stuff for a couple years and just decided to dump a ton of money on an exclusive license pretty much shows Apple found some great uses for it.

80 posted on 08/19/2010 6:51:10 AM PDT by antiRepublicrat
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