scope:

 Additive manufacturing processes are an inherent part of the product development process and the production of serial parts.

The laser sintering process is subject to influences by a number of different factors. In particular the properties of the powder used and the chosen process parameters determine the part properties significantly. The parameters can to some extent be freely defined. Information in the material datasheets about mechanical, physical, chemical and electrical characteristics serves as standard value for the respective materials when standard parameters are used. More precise characteristic values are only available from the internal or external component supplier. For these reasons, only limited reproducibility of part properties can be ensured between different component suppliers and different manufacturing machines.

The aim of this standard is to offer raw material suppliers, system manufacturers, users (customers) and parts suppliers (external and internal) fieldtested guidance and recommendations, as well as to provide standardised reference values and quality control systems for laser sintering.

This will enable complex interactions between material, process parameters and ensuing process conditions to be understood during formation of part properties. This standard provides recommendations for testing the raw powder material, for process control, and for testing the resulting part quality.