---
title: 3D Printing Speeds Up Nuclear Power Part Production
description: Pressurized water reactors (PWCs) use nuclear fission to heat water and create steam which in turn drives turbines to produce electricity.
---

![X](https://info.westinghousenuclear.com/hubfs/Blog/pg_blog_search_x.png)

[![Westinghouse](https://info.westinghousenuclear.com/hubfs/Blog/WEC_Logo_blog_278x67.png "Westinghouse")](https://info.westinghousenuclear.com/news-insights)

[Home](https://info.westinghousenuclear.com/news-insights) > [In the Headlines](https://info.westinghousenuclear.com/in-the-headlines)

Share

### Sign Up for News

### Contact Us

# 3D Printing Speeds Up Nuclear Power Part Production

 January 09, 2025 by [Westinghouse Electric Company](https://info.westinghousenuclear.com/in-the-headlines/author/westinghouse)

The Cool Parts Show - January 9, 2025: Pressurized water reactors (PWCs) use nuclear fission to heat water and create steam which in turn drives turbines to produce electricity. To drive and control the reaction, each reactor has multiple assemblies of fuel and control rods, held in place by spacer grids. These grids are conventionally manufactured through stamping and welding. However, Westinghouse Electric Company and Carnegie Mellon University have collaborated on a new design, which can be manufactured additively using laser powder bed fusion to produce each grid as just one piece. 3D printed spacer grids have the potential to reduce the total part count, speed production, reduce cost and enable new or adapted designs for these critical components.

[Watch Video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDAWWeogLmw)

- [About](https://westinghousenuclear.com/about)
- [Innovation](https://westinghousenuclear.com/innovation)
- [Energy Systems](https://westinghousenuclear.com/energy-systems)
- [Nuclear Fuel](https://westinghousenuclear.com/nuclear-fuel)
- [Operating Plants](https://westinghousenuclear.com/operating-plants)
- [Careers](https://westinghousenuclear.com/careers)

[![Westinghouse](https://info.westinghousenuclear.com/hubfs/Blog/WEC_Logo_blog_footer.png "Westinghouse")](https://westinghousenuclear.com/)

©2026 Westinghouse Electric Company LLC. All rights reserved. | [Privacy Statement](https://westinghousenuclear.com/privacy-statement) | [Terms of Use](https://westinghousenuclear.com/terms-of-use) | [Cookie Notice](https://westinghousenuclear.com/cookie-notice/)

- [![X](https://westinghousenuclear.com/assets/img/footer-social-X.svg)](https://x.com/WECNuclear)
- [![Facebook](https://westinghousenuclear.com/assets/img/footer-social-facebook.png)](https://www.facebook.com/WestinghouseNuclear)
- [![YouTube](https://westinghousenuclear.com/assets/img/footer-social-youtube.png)](https://www.youtube.com/user/westinghousenuclear)
- [![LinkedIn](https://westinghousenuclear.com/assets/img/footer-social-linkedin.png)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/westinghouse-electric-company/)

```json
{
  "@context" : "https://schema.org",
  "@type" : "NewsArticle",
  "author" : {
    "@type" : "Person",
    "name" : "Westinghouse Electric Company",
    "url" : "https://info.westinghousenuclear.com/in-the-headlines/author/westinghouse"
  },
  "dateModified" : "2025-08-20T18:38:24",
  "datePublished" : "2025-01-09T06:00:00",
  "headline" : "3D Printing Speeds Up Nuclear Power Part Production",
  "mainEntityOfPage" : {
    "@id" : "https://info.westinghousenuclear.com/in-the-headlines/3d-printing-speeds-up-nuclear-power-part-production",
    "@type" : "WebPage"
  },
  "publisher" : {
    "@type" : "Organization",
    "logo" : {
      "@type" : "ImageObject",
      "url" : "https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/5524892/Westinghouse_Logo.png"
    },
    "name" : "Westinghouse Electric Company, LLC",
    "url" : "https://westinghousenuclear.com/"
  }
}
```