Latest issue of Gaps Progress Report from America Makes and ANSI provides updates on standards, research and conformity assessment activities.
It’s well known that standardization is one of the biggest obstacles for additive manufacturing (AM) adoption. The need for industry-wide AM standards has been felt by every engineer working with 3D printing at one time or another.
That’s why America Makes and the American National Standards Institute have been working on a standardization roadmap for AM as well as a supporting Gaps Progress Report to provide updates on standards, research and conformity assessment activities that aim to address the standardization gaps identified in the roadmap.
The latest version of the progress report is over 200 pages, so we’ve pulled out the latest updates on the five highest priority items identified by the America Makes & ANSI Additive Manufacturing Standards Collaborative.
Gap DE9: AM Simulation Benchmark Model/Part Requirement
Description: Standards for process and simulation type-specific AM benchmark models, tests and/or parts are needed to enable verification and validation of application process simulation tools.
Update(s):
A new AM Bench Test series [led by NIST] will occur in 2025. A NAVAIR project is working with Ansys to evaluate test artifacts used for distortion calibration.
Gap DE15: Design of Test Coupons
Description: No AM standards are currently available for the design of test coupons for additively manufactured structures.
Update(s):
Polymer AM aspects are being addressed with FAA research, CMH-17 and collaboration with ASTM.
Gap DE17: Contents of a Data Package
Description: The contents of a data package that is sufficiently complete such that it could be provided to a vendor and result in components that are identical in physical and performance characteristics has not been defined.
Update(s):
Anticipated FAA research may assist in this area. A round robin study is planned, requesting multiple venders to build components and test articles per a provided design that references industry specs.
Chapter 3.4(c) on Data Management of DoDI 5000.93 Use of Additive Manufacturing in the DoD requires the use of a data package standard and format, as appropriate for AM, in accordance with MIL-ST-31000, ISO/ASTM 52915:20 and accepted non-U.S. Governmental standards.
Version C of MIL-ST31000 on Technical Data Packages is in development and will address AM primarily through references to ASME, ASTM, and ISO standards.
ISO/ASTM PWI CD 52951 Additive Manufacturing — Data — Data packages for AM parts is in ballot and will likely be available in 2025.
ISO/ASTM JG64 on File Formats for AM is implementing a new work project to create specifications for meta-data that will address the of technical data requirements listed in the recommendations to this gap.
ASME Y14.46 Rev A is in development and will provide clarity to address many of the issues in this gap.
Gap DE18: New Dimensioning and Tolerancing Requirements
Description: ASME Y14.46 has been published and specifically deals with dimensioning and tolerancing requirements but additional work is needed on verification and validation.
Update(s):
ASME Y14.46 Rev A is in development and will provide clarify to address lattice structures.
Gap DE31: Feature-based Support for STEP
Description: There is a need for STEP – 242 to be updated to include feature-based information, which is parametric, to better preserve geometry when developed with AM-specific characteristics (generative design, lattice body).
Update(s):
There is an ongoing effort led by NIST with involvement from government, industry, and academia towards this gap (changed to research is needed). AP 238 (STEP NC) Edition 4 will go to ballot in 2024 and will be the first step in addressing this gap.
