Overview
ISO/ASTM 52901:2016 establishes internationally recognized guidelines for specifying requirements when purchasing parts produced by additive manufacturing (AM). Developed under the joint leadership of ASTM International and ISO, this standard defines essential elements for clear communication between customers and AM part providers. It ensures that additively manufactured components meet minimum acceptance requirements, enabling reliable procurement, consistency in quality, and reduction in misunderstandings or disputes.
This guide is applicable to all industries utilizing additive manufacturing for part production, including aerospace, automotive, medical, and industrial sectors. By clearly outlining the order information, part definitions, feedstock requirements, final part characteristics, inspection, and acceptance criteria, ISO/ASTM 52901 supports organizations aiming for high-quality AM parts that align with their specific needs.
Key Topics
ISO/ASTM 52901 addresses the following critical areas when ordering and supplying AM parts:
- Order Information: Specifies requirements for customer and provider identification, part IDs, delivery details, and documentation references.
- Part Definition: Outlines how to convey detailed part information, including engineering drawings, digital files, geometry, tolerances, surface texture, and build orientation.
- Feedstock Requirements: Details standards for material properties, storage, handling, and use of recycled materials relevant to the part's performance.
- Manufacturing and Repair Processes: Describes the agreed methods for producing and repairing AM components, including post-processing and permissible imperfections.
- Process Control: Covers documentation and process repeatability, including measurement methods and record retention between customer and provider.
- Inspection and Acceptance:
- Defines pre-shipment inspection and stages of acceptance (qualification, first production, final/reference parts)
- Outlines documentation and quality records required to demonstrate conformity
- Specifies methods for customer and provider agreement on testing, inspection, and non-conformance management
Applications
ISO/ASTM 52901:2016 delivers practical value for multiple stakeholders in the additive manufacturing supply chain:
- Manufacturing and Engineering Teams: Ensures consistent, high-quality AM components by standardizing expectations and reducing risks in procurement.
- Procurement Specialists: Provides a clear checklist for AM part orders, including part definition, validation, and shipping information.
- Quality Assurance Departments: Standardizes inspection criteria, acceptance methods, and reporting, improving supplier collaboration and regulatory compliance.
- Designers and Product Developers: Enables precise communication of functional and performance requirements, reducing errors and revisions.
- End Users & Integrators: Supports reliable sourcing of parts that meet application-specific requirements for safety, function, and durability.
By adopting ISO/ASTM 52901, organizations can streamline the additive manufacturing procurement process, eliminate ambiguities, and facilitate global trade by adhering to a recognized international framework.
Related Standards
To further support the requirements and best practices in AM part procurement, the following referenced standards and resources are relevant:
- ISO/ASTM 52900: Additive manufacturing - General principles - Terminology
- ISO/ASTM 52921: Standard terminology for additive manufacturing – Coordinate systems and test methodologies
- ISO/ASTM 52915: Specification for Additive Manufacturing File Format (AMF)
- ISO 17296-3: Additive manufacturing - General principles - Main characteristics and corresponding test methods
- ISO 1101, ISO 1302, ISO 25178-1: Geometrical product specifications – Tolerancing and surface texture standards
- ISO 2768-1, ISO 2768-2: General tolerances for linear, angular, and geometrical features
- ASTM D3122, ASTM E2910: Requirements for material specification and methods for acceptance of products
Implementing ISO/ASTM 52901 in conjunction with these related standards ensures a comprehensive, systematic approach to ordering, manufacturing, and accepting additive manufacturing parts, supporting consistent product quality across industries.
