2. Normative references
2.1 The following documents are referred to in the text in
such a way that some or all of their content constitutes
requirements of this document. For dated references, only the
edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition
of the referenced document (including any amendments) ap-
plies.
2.2 Standards:
ISO 3369 Impermeable sintered metal materials and hard-
metals — Determination of density
2
ISO 4499-4 Hardmetals — Metallographic determination of
microstructure — Part 4: Characterisation of porosity,
carbon defects and eta-phase content
2
ISO 6892-1 Metallic materials — Tensile testing — Part 1:
Method of test at room temperature
2
ISO 25178 (all parts) Geometrical product specifications
(GPS) — Surface texture: Areal
2
ISO/ASTM 52900 Additive manufacturing — General prin-
ciples — Fundamentals and vocabulary
3
ISO/ASTM 52902 Additive manufacturing — Test artifacts
— Geometric capability assessment of additive manufac-
turing systems
3
ISO/ASTM 52928 Additive manufacturing — Feedstock
materials — Powder life cycle management
3
ASTM E8/E8M Test Methods for Tension Testing of Metal-
lic Materials
3
3. Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions of ISO/ASTM
52900 and the following apply.
SO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the
following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https://www.iso.org/obp
— IEC Electropedia: available at https://www.electropedia.org/
3.1 performance characteristics—defined characteristics
which are measured in a defined framework (in this document
based on generic build jobs and produced specimens) and can
be used to evaluate machines on an objective basis.
3.2 machine KPIs—machine key performance indicators
(KPIs) measure the relevant output of a production machine in
a defined framework, e.g. timeframe, defined production lots.
Note 1 to entry: Throughout this document, various such
KPIs are introduced and their meaning, as well as how to
measure them, is explained in detail.
EXAMPLE Overall equipment effectiveness.
3.3 quality level—defined ranges of values for a specified
set of quality parameters such as relative density, surface
roughness, mechanical properties, etc.
3.4 specimen package—set of different specimens.
Note 1 to entry: Examples of different specimens are shown
in Table 1.
4. Methodology for generic machine evaluation
4.1 Specification of use-cases
4.1.1 General
This section introduces the methodology of generic machine
evaluation. The generic machine evaluation shall be used to
carry out an assessment to evaluate the performance of a
PBF-LB/M machine on a defined objective basis.
The methodology of generic machine evaluation introduced
here is not intended to define and verify compliance of target
metrics but should instead be used to generate information and
efficiency metrics to enable machine assessment and compari-
son. Further details of the machine acceptance process are
shown in ISO/ASTM TS 52930. For this document it is
mandatory that consistent handling sequences can be achieved
through a good operator’s expertise, since it is important on
AM systems for a stable component quality (see ISO/ASTM
52926 series).
The generic machine evaluation shall be used to generate a
sufficient, neutral, and documented evaluation basis for two
different use-cases, which are described in 4.1.2 and 4.1.3.
4.1.2 Use-case 1 – Benchmarking of machines
The framework and methodology introduced in 4.3.1 shall
be used in the context of benchmarking of machines.
Therefore, a minimum of 1 run of the described build jobs
according to 4.2.2 shall be produced and tested in the described
way. To strengthen the statistical significance of the
benchmark, production and evaluation of additional build jobs
shall be necessary. This is an option at the discretion of the
machine manufacturer or the user.
4.1.3 Use-case 2 – Generic evaluation in factory/
site acceptance test
The framework and methodology introduced in 4.3.1 shall
furthermore be used in the machinery procurement process,
more specific in the factory and site acceptance test. Before
using the methodology, the specific target values for the
performance indicators shall be agreed on between user and
machine manufacturer. During factory and site acceptance test,
at least one build job run is mandatory.
This methodology can also be used to evaluate build
job-to-build job performance. For a better evaluation of the
machine, further evaluations of build jobs with specific rel-
evant part designs can be taken into consideration. The frame
conditions for such specific build jobs can be derived from the
framework of the expected (future) build jobs or be pre-
arranged by agreement between machine manufacturer and
user.
4.2 Specification of specimen and build job design
4.2.1 Specification of generic specimen and testing stan-
dards
In the following, the test specimens used in the generic
construction jobs and for the evaluation of these construction
jobs as well as the associated tests are defined. This section
gives an overview of the relevant use cases for the generic
machine evaluation and introduces the framework for the data
generation (specimens used, test methods, build job design and
quality requirements).
Specimen geometries to be used throughout the generic
build job are described in Table 1.
2
Available from International Organization for Standardization (ISO), ISO
Central Secretariat, Chemin de Blandonnet 8, CP 401, 1214 Vernier, Geneva,
Switzerland, https://www.iso.org.
3
For referenced ASTM and ISO/ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website,
www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For
Annual Book of ASTM Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s
Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
ISO/ASTM 52945:2023(E)
2© ISO/ASTM International 2024 – All rights reserved