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.
