4.1 General

Measurements and observations described in this document are used to assess the performance of an AM system with a given system set-up and process parameters, in combination with a specific feedstock material.

The primary characterization of the AM system obtained by this document is via geometric accuracy, surface finish and minimum feature sizes of the benchmarking test piece(s).

4.2 Comparing results from one machine

The test piece(s) can be built and measured for example when the new machine is installed. The test piece(s) may be used to periodically evaluate the performance or diagnose a fault in one AM system, for example, after system maintenance or as defined by the requirements of a quality system.

The test piece(s) described in this test method may be used as a demonstration of capabilities for a contract between a buyer and seller of AM parts or AM systems.

Data from the measurements described in this document can be used to gauge the impact of new process parameters or material on the AM system performance.

Certain test geometries may be included with every build on a particular AM system to help establish performance traceability. Depending on the needs of the end user, not all test artifacts need to be built, and individual test artifacts can be built separately if required.

1.1 This document covers the general description of benchmarking test piece geometries along with quantitative and qualitative measurements to be taken on the benchmarking test piece(s) to assess the performance of additive manufacturing (AM) systems.

This performance assessment may serve the two following purposes:

The benchmarking test piece(s) is (are) primarily used to quantitatively assess the geometric performance of an AM system. This document describes a suite of test geometries, each designed to investigate one or more specific performance metrics and several example configurations of these geometries into test piece(s). It prescribes quantities and qualities of the test geometries to be measured but does not dictate specific measurement methods. Various user applications can require various grades of performance. This document discusses examples of feature configurations, as well as measurement uncertainty requirements, to demonstrate low and high grade examination and performance. This document does not discuss a specific procedure or machine settings for manufacturing a test piece, which are covered by ASTM F2971 and other relevant process specific specifications.