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Division Spotlight
Materials Science & Technology
The objectives of MSTD are: promote the advancement of materials science in Nuclear Science Technology; support the multidisciplines which constitute it; encourage research by providing a forum for the presentation, exchange, and documentation of relevant information; promote the interaction and communication among its members; and recognize and reward its members for significant contributions to the field of materials science in nuclear technology.
Meeting Spotlight
Utility Working Conference and Vendor Technology Expo (UWC 2024)
August 4–7, 2024
Marco Island, FL|JW Marriott Marco Island
Standards Program
The Standards Committee is responsible for the development and maintenance of voluntary consensus standards that address the design, analysis, and operation of components, systems, and facilities related to the application of nuclear science and technology. Find out What’s New, check out the Standards Store, or Get Involved today!
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Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
Taking shape: Fusion energy ecosystems built with public-private partnerships
It’s possible to describe fusion in simple terms: heat and squeeze small atoms to get abundant clean energy. But there’s nothing simple about getting fusion ready for the grid.
Private developers, national lab and university researchers, suppliers, and end users working toward that goal are developing a range of complex technologies to reach fusion temperatures and pressures, confounded by science and technology gaps linked to plasma behavior; materials, diagnostics, and electronics for extreme environments; fuel cycle sustainability; and economics.
G. E. Lee, N. B. Alexander, E. Diaz, J. D. Sheliak
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 59 | Number 1 | January 2011 | Pages 227-233
Technical Paper | Nineteenth Target Fabrication Meeting | doi.org/10.13182/FST11-A11529
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
A system for automated assembly and mounting of targets at high throughput rates has been developed at General Atomics. Major components of the system include two, six-axis industrial robot arms; a high-precision glue-dispensing system; a vision system; and a piezoelectric translation stage for precise positioning of parts. All operations are controlled by computer, with feedback from the vision system to the piezoelectric stage and robots.Assembly and mounting of cone-in-shell targets is described. A key requirement for these targets is that the virtual cone tip (the projection of the cone sides to a single point in space) must be aligned to the shell center to within ±10 m. Major steps in the process include (a) gluing capsules to zirconia handling posts with water-soluble glue; (b) cutting holes in the tops of the capsules to accept cones; (c) assembling the cones to the capsules, forming a target; (d) gluing carbon fiber "stalks" to carriers on which the targets are mounted; and (e) removing targets from the handling posts and gluing them to stalks on carriers.The system has been demonstrated to be capable of assembling and mounting on the order of 500 targets per week. With further optimization, throughput rates of 1000 per week appear achievable.