Overview
EN ISO 17296-2:2016 (ISO 17296-2:2015) - Additive manufacturing - General principles - Part 2: Overview of process categories and feedstock - provides a clear, high-level description of the fundamental process principles used in additive manufacturing (AM). It groups AM technologies into seven process categories and explains how different feedstock types (liquids, pastes, powders, droplets, sheets, etc.) are used to create product geometry. The standard is an adopted CEN publication meant to improve clarity and communication between designers, suppliers and users of AM services.
Key topics
- Process fundamentals: Describes how AM directly fabricates parts from 3D CAD data and the distinction between single-step and multi-step process chains. Notes common need for post‑processing to achieve final part properties.
- Seven process categories: Provides an overview of widely used AM categories (as defined in ISO 17296 series), including:
- Vat photopolymerization (feedstock: liquid/paste photoreactive resins)
- Material jetting
- Binder jetting
- Powder bed fusion
- Material extrusion
- Directed energy deposition
- Sheet lamination
- Feedstock types and usage: Explains the relationship between process categories and feedstock classes (liquids, powders, droplets, sheets, pastes) and how feedstock selection affects part geometry and properties.
- Part classification & traceability: Introduces the concept of part classes (from high to low requirements for quality and traceability) which will be detailed in follow-up standards.
- Scope limitations: Clarifies that detailed specifications for specific feedstock/process combinations, material properties, acceptance criteria and test methods are covered in subsequent standards (not in this part).
Applications and who uses it
- Manufacturers and service bureaus: to choose appropriate AM processes and feedstock for prototyping or end-use parts.
- Design engineers and product developers: to understand process limitations and plan for manufacturability and post-processing.
- Quality, procurement and regulatory teams: to align specifications, traceability and acceptance criteria with evolving AM standards.
- Standards developers and researchers: as the foundational mapping of process categories to feedstock, guiding development of subsequent, more prescriptive standards.
Related standards
- ISO 17296-1: Terminology for additive manufacturing.
- ISO 17296-3: Main characteristics and corresponding test methods (covers part properties and test methods).
- ISO 17296-4: Overview of data processing for AM.
Keywords: EN ISO 17296-2:2016, ISO 17296-2, additive manufacturing, process categories, feedstock, vat photopolymerization, powder bed fusion, material extrusion.
