Standardization News

A new ASTM International standard for powder bed fusion of plastic materials will provide a common set of terms and definitions, best practices and practices to facilitate ordering and delivery of parts.

F3091, Specification for Powder Bed Fusion of Plastic Materials, will be used to specify end use properties for polyamide parts produced using laser sintering. Properties include mechanical, tolerance, surface finishing and post-processing.

"F3091 bridges a gap between feedstock providers, part manufacturers and end users of parts made using powder bed fusion of plastics," says ASTM member David Bourell, Ph.D., director of the Laboratory for Freeform Fabrication, University of Texas at Austin.

F3091 details information that feedstock providers need to provide to manufacturers. Criteria for part acceptance and rejection are provided, and information on testing is given.

"With F3091, procurers of powder bed fusion parts will have increased confidence that the parts obtained will meet service expectations," says Bourell. The standard will be used for the labeling of powders, location and numbers of test coupons, validation of materials and machines, classification of parts, quality control, packing, ordering information and retesting.

F3091 was developed by Subcommittee F42.05 on Materials and Processes, part of ASTM International Committee F42 on Additive Manufacturing Technologies. All interested parties are invited to become involved in the standards developing activities of F42.05.

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CONTACT Technical Information: David Bourell, University of Texas at Austin • Austin, Texas • Phone: 512-471-3170 | ASTM Staff: Pat Picariello • Phone: 610-832-9720 | Upcoming Meeting: Jan. 26-27, 2015 • ASTM International Headquarters, West Conshohocken, Pa.