Reading firm reveals role in nuclear fusion breakthrough
PTC, a software firm which bases its sales and technical offices in Reading, has revealed the role it played in a recent nuclear fusion breakthrough.
On 13 December 2022, scientists at the Livermore National Laboratory’s National Ignition Facility in California announced they had conducted a fusion experiment which released more energy than was produced by the lasers.
PTC has since revealed that its Creo® computer-aided design (CAD) and Windchill® product lifecycle management (PLM) technology was used during the development of the facility to design the 3.5 million components needed, which is likely the largest assembly ever created using the software, and possibly the largest ever modelled in in 3D CAD.
Jim Heppelmann, President and CEO of PTC, said: “The NIF represents an incredible feat of engineering, whose breakthrough could ultimately transform access to clean energy.
“We are thankful for the collaborative relationship we have enjoyed over the years with LLNL and the United States Department of Energy (DOE) more broadly. The use of PTC software solutions throughout the project’s development demonstrates the tremendous power of our technology.”
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Featured image: The National Ignition Facility in California. Credit: PTC
