On December 23, 2020, Rusatom - Additive Technologies (RusAT; an enterprise of TVEL Fuel Company and Rosatom’s integrator for additive manufacturing business) opened its first Additive Technologies Center (ATC) at the site of the Moscow Polymetal Plant.
Rosatoms’ ATC in Moscow has been created as the first model of a facility combining development, engineering and manufacturing. It is unique for its combination of the shop-floors for 3D printers assembling, printing, post-processing, as well as the laboratory for product research and sample testing. Thus, the engineers of RusAT will be able to check the adopted design and technological solutions immediately after equipment launch and promptly make adjustments to its design.
This is the only additive technologies center in Russia operating domestic equipment. It is aimed mainly at testing additive manufacturing technologies and demonstration of their capabilities for industrial enterprises.
The center is equipped with 3D printers of Rosatom’s own design and production, such as Rusmelt 300M, Rusmelt 600M and Rusmelt 600 RM for printing with metal powders using selective laser melting technology (SLM). These printers run on Russian software and have parameters and characteristics that meet international standards. In addition, the Rusmelt 600M printer has a 600x600 mm construction area, which allows printing products with unique dimensions for the applied SLM-technology.
The second stage of the ATC facility will house complex machines for 3D printing with metal powders and photopolymers using the technologies of selective laser sintering (SLS) and Stereolithography (SLA). The range of testing and auxiliary equipment also will be expanded.
“Opening of the first Additive Technologies Center underlines the role of Rosatom in creating a new technological paradigm in our country. This is an extraordinary milestone not just for the nuclear industry, but on a national scale as well. There is a lot of work ahead to create a whole network of such centers, primarily in the cities and regions of Rosatom enterprises operation. The next such center will be established in Novouralsk on the basis of NPO Centrotech, another enterprise of TVEL Fuel Company. Development and application of these technologies has a great meaning for the entire nuclear industry. We have solutions for using additive manufacturing, from separate elements of some products to essential supplies of equipment", said Alexey Likhachev, Director General of Rosatom State Corporation.
“It is fundamentally important that it is the first such facility in Russia operating Russian-made equipment. All of it has was developed by our engineers. The equipment of the 3D-printers was manufactured at NPO Centrotech, the complete machines have been assembled at the site in Moscow. They run on Russian software. The first installation for the production of powders for 3D-printing has been recently launched at NPO Centrotech. Rosatom has chosen the path of developing the full product line of equipment and services for additive manufacturing, being a manufacturer and a customer at the same time. This center features a fully 3D-printed anti-debris filter for a nuclear fuel assembly. It required fewer materials than traditional manufacturing, and it has a design that would be impossible to reproduce with other methods. By introducing additive technologies in our own business, we show an example for other industries. In fact, we are creating another new industry in Russia with its own centers, expertise, staff and linked universities", commented Natalia Nikipelova, President of TVEL JSC.
“The First Additive Technologies Center of Rosatom is a pilot platform where we will develop the best technological proposals and business solutions for our clients. After debugging the printing modes, we will take orders. By the end of 2021, we plan to launch a full production cycle for AM products. At the current stage of the AM market, the equipment that has been installed at the ATC and will be installed in 2021, will completely cover the needs of our customers. As for financial indicators, after launch of the second stage, the planned revenue of CAT would exceed 300 million rubles by 2030", said Mikhail Turundaev, Director General of RusAT.