Welding fixture for nuclear fuel pin cladding assemblies

A non-metallic welding fixture is described for holding a driver sleeve, a nuclear fuel pin end cap with stem and the open end of a length of nuclear fuel pin cladding in precise positions relative to one another for closure welding with the driver sleeve coaxially fitted about the end cap and cladding. The fixture consists of: a rod-shaped holder having a longitudinal cavity extending inwardly from one axial end of the holder; means within the cavity of the rod-shaped holder for coaxially locating the end cap, the driver sleeve and the fuel pin cladding in required longitudinal positions relative to one another; and contamination trap means within the cavity of the rod-shaped holder adapted to be located about the end cap stem for retaining contaminant particles ejected axially from the cladding during closure about the end cap