Project Background

Nuclear power plants, nuclear-industry facilities and radioactive-waste disposal centers need to cut and reduce many forms of radioactive metal waste. Objects may range from small fasteners to tanks, brackets and other large components, with weights from tens of grams to hundreds of kilograms.

This diversity places high demands on the flexibility, reach and tooling capability of the processing equipment.

Solution Overview

The radioactive metal waste cutting and volume-reduction system developed by Chengdu South Electronic Instrument consists of a powered manipulator, a fixed manipulator, a cutting workbench and a control system.

The two manipulators work together to cover the operating space. Multiple tools, including grippers, clamps, grinding tools, saws and cutting tools, can be changed automatically. During operation, the powered manipulator clamps and cuts the waste object, while the fixed manipulator assists with sorting and packaging cut pieces. Large objects can be processed through coordinated dual-manipulator operation.