The Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) of the U.S. Department of Energy has received the SME Aubin 2026 award. The prize recognizes its work with 3D printing to build nuclear components. The technique promises to reduce timelines and costs in a sector where precision cannot tolerate errors. Additive manufacturing thus enters a field dominated by extreme safety.
Additive manufacturing for radioactive environments 🛡️
ORNL has developed 3D printing processes using materials such as stainless steel and nickel alloys. These components are intended for reactors and containment systems. The technology enables complex geometries that traditional machining cannot achieve. It also reduces the number of welds, which are weak points in nuclear structures. Quality control includes computed tomography and non-destructive testing. The goal is to certify parts for use in active power plants.
3D printer, now also a nuclear plumber 🔧
The idea that a 3D printer could manufacture parts for a reactor sounds like science fiction. But Oak Ridge has achieved it, and they have even won an award. Now all that's left is for someone to print a radiation-resistant coffee cup. Meanwhile, engineers celebrate that 3D printing is no longer just for making plastic keychains. The nuclear future is being built layer by layer, and without filament jams.