Developing a robotic welding strategy for the nuclear sector

For Framatome, IRT Jules Verne mobilized its robotics and metal processes teams to evaluate the robotic WAAM technology for stainless steel hardfacing, combined with 3D scanning detection.

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Developing a robotic welding strategy for the nuclear sector — Scan & Plan

SCAN&PLAN at a glance

As part of a service provided for Framatome, IRT Jules Verne mobilized its robotics and metal processes teams around a dual industrial challenge: to improve the control of the variability of manufacturing processes through robotization, and to evaluate the ability of robotic WAAM technology to perform overlays on 304 stainless steel.
Called Scan&Plan, this service made it possible to optimize a detection algorithm by 3D scanning, to define optimal welding parameters and to create weld seams according to a defined kinematics. It marks a first stage of collaboration between the IRT Jules Verne and the nuclear sector, outside its historical sectors of aeronautics, naval and energy.

01 CHALLENGES

The industrial challenges of the R&D Service

improving the control of the variability of manufacturing processes through robotization;
evaluate the capability of robotic WAAM technology for hardfacing on 304 stainless steel.
extend the expertise of the IRT Jules Verne to a new sector, that of nuclear power, outside its historical sectors of aeronautics, naval and energy.

02 DEVELOPED TECHNOLOGIES

The SCAN&PLAN strategy developed

IRT Jules Verne combined the expertise of its robotics and metal processes teams to meet the challenge posed by Framatome:

optimization of a detection algorithm based on a 3D scan of the parts to be reloaded;
definition of optimal welding parameters for 304 stainless steel overlay;
production of weld seams according to a defined robotic kinematics;
cross-mobilization of the robotics and metal processes teams of the IRT Jules Verne with the experts of Framatome.

03 RESULTS & impacts

The results & impacts of the collaboration

Successful optimization of the detection algorithm via 3D scan;
definition of optimal welding parameters for robotic WAAM overlay on 304 stainless steel;
production of weld seams in accordance with the defined kinematics;
strengthening of the synergy between the robotics and metal processes teams of the IRT Jules Verne and the experts of Framatome;
extension of the IRT Jules Verne's expertise to the nuclear sector, outside its historical sectors of aeronautics, naval and energy.

This fruitful collaboration is a first step that IRT Jules Verne and Framatome hope will last.

partner Voices

Framatome Florian Merceret Robotics Projects Manager

“The specific need was to develop a technological building block for generating robotic trajectories, avoiding the need for manual programming, which is very time-consuming. We approached IRT Jules Verne for its expertise in robotics and welding processes. The solution developed provides us with a technological building block that we can deploy across our robotic cells and in our plants to meet the requirements of our various industrial processes. IRT Jules Verne has fully met the requirements set out in the initial specifications.”

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04 INDUSTRIAL PERSPECTIVES

The prospects of the collaboration with Framatome

Towards an extension of the nuclear sector

This R&D service paves the way for an expansion of IRT Jules Verne's expertise to nuclear power, in addition to its historical sectors of aeronautics, naval and energy.

01 Energy

And what's next ? A collaboration that we hope will last

This first stage of collaboration between IRT Jules Verne and Framatome paves the way for new joint work on the robotization of welding processes for the nuclear sector.

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