BWX Technologies, Inc.'s (BWXT) Radioactive Material Machine Shop (known as the “Hot” Machine Shop or HMS) is fully equipped with the machine tools necessary to machine radioactive and non-radioactive parts and specimens from all types of materials. Included in the HMS is an optical comparator to ensure proper dimensioning. In addition to this equipment, shielding has been erected to permit the out-of-cell machining of radioactive specimens. If samples are emitting high dose rates, they can be transferred to the Hot Cell Facility for rough machining to a size and radiation level that will allow handling in the HMS. The Hot Cell Facility is equipped with a remote bench top mill and remote cut-off saws for this exact purpose.
EQUIPMENT
- Computer numerically controlled (CNC) electrical discharge milling (EDM) machine
- Vertical CNC milling machine
- CNC surface grinder
- Engine lathe
- Precision miniature lathe
- Horizontal / vertical band saws
- Abrasive cut-off saws
- Precision diamond saw
- Optical comparator
SERVICES
The HMS's equipment has been used to produce a variety of mechanical property specimens, including:
- Charpy specimens -- Full size -- 1/2 size -- 1/3 size -- 1/4 size
- Reconstituted full-size Charpy specimens
- Full-size tensile specimens
- Miniature tensile specimens
- Compact tension specimens
The HMS has also prepared samples for analytical evaluations,such as:
- Transmission electron microscopy
- Positron annihilation
- Atom probe field-ion microscopy
- Small-angle neutron scattering