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• ORNL Uses 3D Printing to Fabricate Canisters for Large-Scale Metal Parts May 19
Additional Context
Scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have found a way to use 3D printing to build the canisters needed for powder metallurgical hot isostatic pressing, a process that compresses metal powder into dense structural components used in nuclear reactors, hydropower systems, and aerospace applications. The approach eliminates the multiple forming, machining, and welding steps traditionally required to make those canisters, cutting both costs and production time.
PM-HIP works by filling a sealed container with metal powder, then applying high heat and pressure to compress the material into a fully dense part. The problem has always been the canisters themselves. Fabricating them through conventional methods introduced defects and limited how complex the final part could be. The ORNL team’