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Title: Design of an automated powder-handling process for isotope detector fabrication

Conference ·
OSTI ID:6503833

During the assembly of isotope detectors, operating personnel manipulate many different types of highly radioactive oxides. The energetic radiation from these oxides presents an exposure problem to operating personnel. Because of the routine nature of this process and the need to minimize radiation exposures to operating personnel, automation was recognized as a means to address these issues. A robot arm was selected as the material transfer device to interact with several automated subsystems. The subsystems will perform the necessary manipulations to weigh and transfer the oxides into the target capsules. The equipment used in this project includes a Precision Robot Inc. PRI-1100 robot arm, a custom-designed glovebox for the robot arm, a pneumatically operated, custom end effector, a cutting device used to open the oxide container, an automated powder feeder, and an electronic balance. The entire system is designed to operate via an IBM personal computer. The computer control system also provides data base capabilities to store pertinent data about each batch of oxide that is processed by the system. 1 fig.

Research Organization:
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-36
OSTI ID:
6503833
Report Number(s):
LA-UR-88-3497; CONF-890304-13; ON: DE89003466
Resource Relation:
Conference: 3. topical meeting on robotics and remote systems, Charleston, SC, United States, 13 Mar 1989; Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English