Research equipment

The Nuclear AMRC hosts a selection of state-of-the-art machining centres and other manufacturing technology.

This allows our researchers to develop new manufacturing processes and techniques, optimise machining performance, and push the frontiers of current production technology. Member companies have the opportunity to access the capabilities of the latest machines, and study new ways of working for their own factories.

Initial equipment includes:

Starrag Heckert HEC 1600

  • Large, high precision horizontal boring machine, capable of working on parts of up to 8t weight.
  • Integrated tool selection, multi-axis heads, adaptable workspindle and automatic pallet changer allow for highly flexible working with minimal downtime.
  • Research is focused on developing new and innovative machining techniques for nuclear pumps, valves and tube sheets.

Mori Seiki NT6600

  • Large multi-axis mill-turn machine with sub-spindle, bar support unit and three programmable travelling steadies.
  • Capable of machining very slender workpieces of over 6m length, or large components of up to 1m diameter and 7t weight.
  • Used for producing a wide variety of components such as large seals and valve bodies.
  • Research focus is on innovative machining techniques for the rapid manufacturing of ultra-slender reactor components with length to diameter ratios of over 150:1

Mori Seiki NMV5000

  • Compact flexible machining centre for small complex parts.
  • Features 5 axes of movement, including highly dynamic and rigid direct drive rotary axes, allowing high-speed 5-side machining capability.
  • Can produce components such as pump and valve bodies, of up to 70cm diameter and 300kg weight, in a single setting.
  • Research focus is on optimising machining performance to significantly reduce the time and cost of production.

Nikon machining robot cell

  • Low-cost flexible machining robot guided by indoor GPS.
  • A new concept in machining, capable of a range of operations on very large parts such as pressure vessels, without the need for very large machining centres.
  • iGPS allows the robot, tools and workpiece to be tracked to within fractions of a millimetre.
  • The R&D challenge is to create a single robot system to carry out machining, welding, dressing and inspection over a large area to very high precisions.

Virtalis ActiveCube

  • Fully immersive cave-like virtual reality environment, with 3D images on three walls and floor.
  • A valuable interactive tool for training, simulation, assembly research, and design reviews.
  • Users will be able to fly through a  model of an entire reactor system, and see how all systems and components fit together.