Overview
EN ISO/ASTM 52901:2018 (ISO/ASTM 52901:2017) - published by CEN - defines and specifies requirements for purchased parts produced by additive manufacturing (AM). It is a top‑level, process‑agnostic standard that establishes the minimum information and acceptance criteria to be exchanged between a customer and an AM part provider at the time of order. The standard supports clear communication of customer order information, part definition data, feedstock requirements, final part characteristics, inspection requirements and part acceptance methods. More stringent requirements can be added to purchase orders as supplementary requirements.
Key Topics and Requirements
- Part ordering information: essential fields and data the customer must provide to obtain AM parts that meet expectations.
- Part definition data: geometry, CAD/model files, tolerances and surface texture specifications.
- Feedstock requirements: material identity, certification, batch/lot traceability and handling instructions.
- Part manufacturing process: specified AM process, build strategy, and authorized outside service providers.
- Process control and repair: process control information, permitted repair methods and acceptable non‑conformances.
- Part characteristics & performance: required mechanical, dimensional and functional characteristics; final part properties.
- Inspection and acceptance: inspection plan, pre‑shipment inspection, acceptance methods and documentation.
- Qualification artefacts: use of qualification parts, first production parts and reference parts to demonstrate capability before full production.
Applications and Who Uses It
This standard is intended for any organization procuring or producing AM parts across industries such as aerospace, medical devices, automotive, defense, tooling and industrial production. Typical users include:
- Procurement teams issuing purchase orders for AM parts.
- Design and manufacturing engineers specifying tolerances, geometry and functional requirements.
- AM service providers and contract manufacturers preparing bids and manufacturing plans.
- Quality and inspection personnel developing inspection plans and acceptance criteria.
- Regulatory and compliance stakeholders ensuring traceability and documented acceptance.
EN ISO/ASTM 52901 helps reduce ambiguity in AM supply chains, lowers risk of non‑conforming parts, and provides a consistent baseline for specifying purchased AM components.
Related Standards
- ISO/ASTM 52900 - Terminology for additive manufacturing.
- ISO 17296‑3 - AM characteristics and corresponding test methods.
- ISO/ASTM 52921 - Coordinate systems and test methodologies.
- ASTM F3122 - Guide for evaluating mechanical properties of AM metal materials.
Keywords: additive manufacturing, AM parts, purchased parts, part acceptance, inspection requirements, feedstock requirements, tolerances, ISO/ASTM 52901, EN ISO/ASTM 52901:2018, CEN.