EDM Plus Automation Helps Facility Meet Demand

Sometimes, an automation project turns out even better than expected. AREVA is a worldwide leader in the energy field and one of the world's largest suppliers of nuclear technology. One of its facilities is a nuclear fuel manufacturing plant that boasts some 700 workers spread out over 60 buildings. Among its jobs are processing uranium into fuel rods and manufacturing the hardware that makes up the fuel rod assemblies.

A vital hub of this important and highly-technical operation is the Component Fabrication Center. Here, skilled technicians produce the tie plates that hold the fuel rods in a precise and critical alignment. Brazing is used to hold the assembly together. Tolerances are strict. The diameters of the holes that hold the rods in the tie plates are held to plus or minus .0005", depending on specific design; the hole pattern must be accurate to .005 true positional tolerance; and the entire assembly must hold overall tolerance of .015". Most parts are of 304L stainless steel castings. The Center runs two shifts seven days a week.