Technological aspects in the production of a large aluminium shell

To minimize MHD instabilities in the external plasma region, reverse-field-pinch experiments should be equipped with a stabilizing shell, made of a high-conductivity material and fitted as near as possible to the plasma edge. The most significant technologies adopted for constructing the stabilizing shell of the RFX Project are described. The focus is particularly on the forming and machining processes used to produce the shell quarters and the technology adopted for the electrical insulation of the vertical gaps (which are characterized by high mechanical and dielectrical stresses). The details of these technologies and the main test results are reported