Use of 3D mesh geometries and additive manufacturing in neutron beam experiments

Abstract

PGAI-NT, a neutron-based element composition and structure analysis method, is well applicable to the non-destructive characterization of valuable artefacts, paleontological, bulk geological samples or to industrial reverse engineering. To set up the measurement geometry and scanning positions for items with unconstrained shapes, sizes, and matrices, accurate knowledge of the object's geometry is a must. We applied portable structured-light 3D optical scanning or segmented neutron/X-ray tomography data to produce 3D meshes of the complex samples. Subsequently, 3D printing was used to fabricate detailed replicas of museum objects, as well as their gentle ad hoc sample holders, or produce custom parts of the Budapest PGAA instrument.

Tuning the 3D Printability and Thermomechanical Properties of Radiation Shields

“…Recently, more precise radiation shielding materials have been developed such as glasses and amorphous alloys for use in other nuclear technologies such as radiation protection and medicine [36][37][38]. The advancement in this area of materials development has also occurred with 3D printing technology, where filaments for FFF and inks for DIW have been created in contemporary research [14,[39][40][41][42][43][44]. Indeed, the merging of the two fields of nuclear technology and advanced manufacturing proves especially prolific and rewarding due to the unique part fabrication that 3D printing offers, where commercial entities have begun selling radiation shielding material specifically for additive manufacturing technologies.…”

Position-Sensitive Bulk and Surface Element Analysis of Decorated Porcelain Artifacts

“…To maintain the firm placement and to avoid any damage to the upright standing sample during sample positioning, they were fixed to the sample manipulator using custom-made, disposable 3D-printed sample holders. Its upper part was developed using the exact complement of the artifact’s digital geometry model, while the bottom contains an interlock to mount it on the motorized sample stage [ 41 ]. Further, the measurement geometry, including the shape of the object taken from its scanned surface mesh, can also be reproduced digitally to allow the correction for both neutron- and gamma-ray-related matrix effects by MCNP6 [ 42 ] Monte Carlo computer simulations.…”

Fused filament fabrication of polymer composites for extreme environments

“…With the aim of increasing performance, quality, and profitability while decreasing the amount of waste, development time, and cost, advanced manufacturing (AM) is making rapid gains in materials research, product design, and commercialization [1,2,3,4,5]. Advanced materials research ranges from ways to reduce anisotropy [6,7,8] for three-dimensional (3D) printing and other techniques to imbuing common AM feedstocks with additional functionality, such as sensors [9], antimicrobial agents [10], or drug delivery [11,12].…”