3D Printing for Nuclear Science and Engineering
3D Print your very own nuclear fuel assembly using Blender and Cura, designed from a real Pressurized Water Reactor!
Ratings 0.00 / 5.00
What You Will Learn!
- Learn the fundamentals of Blender, a free and open-source modelling and animation program used by artists worldwide
- Discover how nuclear reactors can be used to power commercial ships - and 3D print the reactor for one!
- Create a nuclear fuel assembly from scratch, to scale with the real thing!
- Learn how to operate a Creality Ender 3 FDM Printer, one of the most common and affordable printers on the market
- Iterate on your design - take principles learned from this course to customize a fuel assembly to your liking
Description
Ever wanted a nuclear reactor core to show off at family, classmates, or coworkers? I'll guide you through the anatomy of a nuclear reactor down from the uranium fuel pins all the way up to a full-size nuclear reactor core! We will be modelling a pressurized water reactor design by UK-based researchers* for commercial maritime propulsion!
This course is accessible to anyone with a personal computer - no expertise in nuclear physics required. I designed this course to be completed in less than a week for those with busy lives and full schedules. This course is perfect for students and educators alike - students can showcase their 3D printed nuclear reactor to gain a competitive advantage in scholarship applications, and educators can quickly explain technical concepts about nuclear reactor design with physical models to show the classroom.
No 3D Printer? No problem! I'll introduce you to services where you can send your 3D model to others where they will print the model and ship it directly to you.
By enrolling in this course, you will:
Learn the anatomy of a Pressurized Water Reactor and how researchers plan to use one to power commercial cargo and passenger ships
Easily navigate Blender, a free and open source 3D modelling and animation program used by artists and engineers alike
Correctly build a 3D model of a nuclear reactor in Blender, starting with individual fuel pins, then fuel rods, then fuel assemblies, and finally the entire reactor core
Optimize your 3D model design for better performance in Blender and perfect 3D prints
Iterate on your 3D model to customize the course's fuel assembly to your own liking
Familiarize yourself with a Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) 3D printer and understand key safety considerations
Setup your printer for a successful and stress-free print job
See how researchers from the USA and Russia are using 3D Printing technology to make *real* nuclear reactor fuel and core components
3D printing is a rapidly evolving technology that is quickly transforming education and manufacturing - don't get left behind! Join me in learning the basics of 3D printing and see if you'd like to dive deeper into the lucrative world of Additive Manufacturing.
*Peakman, Aiden, Hywel Owen, and Tim Abram. "The core design of a Small Modular Pressurised Water Reactor for commercial marine propulsion." Progress in Nuclear Energy 113 (2019): 175-185.
Who Should Attend!
- High school students needing an awesome project for Physics, Chemistry, or Engineering Technology classes
- STEM Educators wanting to utilize 3D modeling and 3D printing in their science lessons
- Nuclear professionals seeking an introduction to modelling for science education and communication
- Nuclear professionals wanting to learn the fundamentals of 3D printing for advanced manufacturing techniques of new reactors