Progress on First-of-a-Kind Feeder Superconducting Machine Joints and Surrounding Structure Assembly in ITER Magnet System

The assembly of the feeder machine joint has started under challenging conditions, making it difficult to meet the stringent requirements. The challenges of making machine joints and their surrounding support structure in an industrial environment must be successfully overcome. The quality of the worker skills and process control is managed through a rigorous training and qualification program as well as tool acceptance testing. Full-scale mock-ups provide candidate workers with valuable experience in an environment similar to the construction site. The first-of-a-kind assembly on the segmented superconducting busbars and surrounding structural parts is progressing using an approach in which risks are identified, assessed, and prioritized. Lessons learned during the construction of the ITER machine joints are implemented in subsequent assemblies. Status of the construction on the first-ever feeder joint assembly is reported.