A 3D-printed CAP1400 fuel prototype component was created at China North Nuclear Fuel Co Ltd, on Jan 9, in the debut application of 3D printing in nuclear fuel elements manufacturing in China.

China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), with China North Nuclear Fuel Co Ltd as its backbone member company, has realized the combination of nuclear fuel elements production and 3D painting under the “Internet Plus” strategy, laying the foundation of a wider application of 3D printing in the field.

Fusing design and processing, nuclear fuel elements manufacturing is a high-end precise procedure with a complicated structure requiring diversified operations.

Since its invention, 3D printing has focused on precise manufacturing capable of producing components of any shape through graphic data on a computer. Thus R&D is sharply reduced, productivity raised and cost lowered.