Speaker
Description
3D printing is a proven manufacturing method used in all industries, enabling manufacture of forms that would be near impossible using traditional manufacturing techniques. Neutron instruments often require components with demanding geometries and quality requirements, such as thin-walled collimators. In this work, new techniques have been developed to overcome some of the challenges faced when 3D printing with custom-made neutron shielding filaments, such as Boron Carbide and Gadolinium Oxide filaments. When using traditional 3D model slicer software, the user is at the mercy of the slicer algorithm to determine the printhead path routing, which can leave scarring across the delicate printed object. This talk will demonstrate a strategy used to create optimised and deliberate printhead path routing which results in collimator geometry with defect free internal channels.
Key Words
3D printing, Collimator, Filament, Boron carbide, Gadolinium oxide, Shielding, Slicer