ISO/ASTM 52900 certification
The rocky road to standardizing additively manufactured components for aerospace and medical technology.
1. Introduction: Out of the Wild West
In its early years, industrial 3D printing was an area of trial-and-error pioneers. This was sufficient for prototypes. However, if additively manufactured metal parts are to be used in turbines, spaceships or the human body, they must be standardized, traceable and certifiable.
To close this gap, ISO (International Organization for Standardization) and ASTM International (American Society for Testing and Materials) have joined forces. The umbrella standard series ISO/ASTM 52900 is now the heart of certification in metal 3D printing.
What does ISO/ASTM 52900 primarily regulate?
It is the basic terminology standard. It standardizes the terms (e.g. "PBF-LB" instead of the countless brand names such as SLM, DMLS or LaserCUSING). In addition, it forms the foundation for all more specific standards (e.g. for construction, material testing, machine safety).
2. The pillars of certification in AM
Simply printing out a component and bringing it to market is impossible in regulated industries. The certification is based on three main pillars, all of which are flanked by their own ISO/ASTM standards:
- 1. Material certification:Not all powders are created equal. Standards regulate particle size distribution (PSD), flowability, moisture and correct storage and traceability (batch tracking).
- 2. Machine and process certification:The machine must be calibrated regularly (laser power, positioning accuracy, oxygen content in the chamber). This is where standards such as ISO/ASTM 52941 (system performance) come into play.
- 3. Component and quality testing (NDT):It must be defined how often and with what (computed tomography, dye penetrant testing) components must be tested non-destructively (non-destructive testing) to ensure that there are no pores lurking inside.
3. Industry-specific challenges
ISO/ASTM 52900 is the basis, but individual industries place their own, often draconian, hurdles on top of it:
- Medical technology (MDR & FDA): For implants, the biocompatibility of the final (not just the raw) material must be proven. Even the smallest changes to the laser parameters often require a re-validation of the entire process (Process Validation IQ/OQ/PQ).
- Aviation (EASA Part 21 & Nadcap): Absolute traceability applies here. Even 20 years later, you have to be able to prove from which exact powder batch (lot number) a specific engine part was printed and what the weather was like in the room on the day of printing (humidity).
4. Certification of construction (DfAM)
The design itself must also be certifiable. Engineers cannot simply design lattice structures based on feeling. Standards for Design for Additive Manufacturing (DfAM) require clear documentation on how cavities are depowdered and how support structures must be designed so that their removal does not damage the component surface below defined tolerances.
5. Conclusion: Standards as a barrier to market entry
The path to ISO/ASTM certification is expensive, lengthy and requires enormous organizational discipline (Quality Management Systems such as ISO 13485 or AS9100). However, for companies that want to gain a foothold in the high-end segment as contract manufacturers or OEMs, penetration of the ISO/ASTM 52900 series of standards is the absolute basic requirement for any business model.