Overview
EN ISO/ASTM 52911-2:2019 - Additive manufacturing - Design - Part 2: Laser-based powder bed fusion of polymers (LB‑PBF/P) - is a CEN-adopted international standard that compiles state-of-the-art design guidance for laser-based powder bed fusion of polymers. It specifies process features, design recommendations and a review of best practices for designing polymer parts produced by LB‑PBF/P. The document complements and extends general design-for‑AM guidance given in ISO/ASTM 52910.
Key topics and technical requirements
The standard covers practical, technical design considerations important for successful LB‑PBF/P production, including:
- Process characteristics: part size limits, benefits, limitations, economic and time-efficiency considerations for powder bed fusion.
- Feature constraints: guidance on islands, overhangs, and the stair-step effect that affect manufacturability and surface quality.
- Dimensional and geometric accuracy: discussion of expected tolerances, data resolution and part representation.
- Material and structural properties: polymer-specific behavior, residual stresses and anisotropy of mechanical properties.
- Build orientation & nesting: recommendations for part orientation, packing parts efficiently in the build chamber, powder coating effects and oversintering risks.
- Surface finish & post-processing: expected surface roughness, finishing routes and powder removal strategies.
- Design elements: wall thickness, holes, lattices, fluid channels, springs, fasteners, bearings, movable assemblies, integrated markings, and cutting/joining approaches.
- Examples: practical case examples (e.g., grippers, spring‑integrated parts) illustrate applied design choices.
The standard also contains normative references, terms/definitions, symbols and a bibliography for further reading.
Applications and who should use it
EN ISO/ASTM 52911-2 is intended for practitioners involved in polymer additive manufacturing and design-for-additive-manufacturing (DfAM):
- Product designers and mechanical engineers creating polymer parts for LB‑PBF/P
- Additive manufacturing engineers and process planners optimizing builds
- Quality managers and technicians defining inspection/acceptance criteria
- R&D teams developing lattice structures, internal fluid channels or integrated mechanisms
- Procurement and standards professionals referencing EN/ISO compliance
Typical applications include functional prototypes, complex end-use polymer components, customized parts with internal features, and assemblies optimized for weight and performance.
Related standards
- ISO/ASTM 52910 - General design guidelines for additive manufacturing (complementary)
- Other parts of the ISO/ASTM 52911 series covering broader PBF design topics
Keywords: additive manufacturing, LB‑PBF/P, laser-based powder bed fusion, polymers, EN ISO/ASTM 52911-2:2019, design guidelines, design for additive manufacturing, 3D printing.