ASTM ISO/ASTM52901-16

Standard Guide for Additive Manufacturing – General Principles – Requirements for Purchased AM Parts

SCOPE
1.1 This document defines and specifies requirements for purchased parts made by additive manufacturing.  
1.2 It gives guidelines for the elements to be exchanged between the customer and the part provider at the time of the order, including the customer order information, part definition data, feedstock requirements, final part characteristics and properties, inspection requirements, and part acceptance methods.  
1.3 It is applicable for use as a basis to obtain parts made by additive manufacturing that meet minimum acceptance requirements. More stringent part requirements can be specified through the addition of one or more supplementary requirements at the time of the order.  
1.4 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 31-Oct-2016
• ICS: 25.030 - Additive manufacturing
• Technical Committee: F42 - Additive Manufacturing Technologies
• Drafting Committee: F42.05 - Materials and Processes

Relations

• Refers: ASTM D3122-95(2009) - Standard Specification for Solvent Cements for Styrene-Rubber (SR) Plastic Pipe and Fittings
• Effective Date: 01-May-2009
• Refers: ASTM D3122-95(2002) - Standard Specification for Solvent Cements for Styrene-Rubber (SR) Plastic Pipe and Fittings
• Effective Date: 10-Sep-1995
• Refers: ASTM D3122-95 - Standard Specification for Solvent Cements for Styrene-Rubber (SR) Plastic Pipe and Fittings
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-1995

Overview

ISO/ASTM 52901:2016 establishes internationally recognized guidelines for specifying requirements when purchasing parts produced by additive manufacturing (AM). Developed under the joint leadership of ASTM International and ISO, this standard defines essential elements for clear communication between customers and AM part providers. It ensures that additively manufactured components meet minimum acceptance requirements, enabling reliable procurement, consistency in quality, and reduction in misunderstandings or disputes.

This guide is applicable to all industries utilizing additive manufacturing for part production, including aerospace, automotive, medical, and industrial sectors. By clearly outlining the order information, part definitions, feedstock requirements, final part characteristics, inspection, and acceptance criteria, ISO/ASTM 52901 supports organizations aiming for high-quality AM parts that align with their specific needs.

Key Topics

ISO/ASTM 52901 addresses the following critical areas when ordering and supplying AM parts:

• Order Information: Specifies requirements for customer and provider identification, part IDs, delivery details, and documentation references.
• Part Definition: Outlines how to convey detailed part information, including engineering drawings, digital files, geometry, tolerances, surface texture, and build orientation.
• Feedstock Requirements: Details standards for material properties, storage, handling, and use of recycled materials relevant to the part's performance.
• Manufacturing and Repair Processes: Describes the agreed methods for producing and repairing AM components, including post-processing and permissible imperfections.
• Process Control: Covers documentation and process repeatability, including measurement methods and record retention between customer and provider.
• Inspection and Acceptance:
  • Defines pre-shipment inspection and stages of acceptance (qualification, first production, final/reference parts)
  • Outlines documentation and quality records required to demonstrate conformity
  • Specifies methods for customer and provider agreement on testing, inspection, and non-conformance management

Applications

ISO/ASTM 52901:2016 delivers practical value for multiple stakeholders in the additive manufacturing supply chain:

• Manufacturing and Engineering Teams: Ensures consistent, high-quality AM components by standardizing expectations and reducing risks in procurement.
• Procurement Specialists: Provides a clear checklist for AM part orders, including part definition, validation, and shipping information.
• Quality Assurance Departments: Standardizes inspection criteria, acceptance methods, and reporting, improving supplier collaboration and regulatory compliance.
• Designers and Product Developers: Enables precise communication of functional and performance requirements, reducing errors and revisions.
• End Users & Integrators: Supports reliable sourcing of parts that meet application-specific requirements for safety, function, and durability.

By adopting ISO/ASTM 52901, organizations can streamline the additive manufacturing procurement process, eliminate ambiguities, and facilitate global trade by adhering to a recognized international framework.

Related Standards

To further support the requirements and best practices in AM part procurement, the following referenced standards and resources are relevant:

• ISO/ASTM 52900: Additive manufacturing - General principles - Terminology
• ISO/ASTM 52921: Standard terminology for additive manufacturing – Coordinate systems and test methodologies
• ISO/ASTM 52915: Specification for Additive Manufacturing File Format (AMF)
• ISO 17296-3: Additive manufacturing - General principles - Main characteristics and corresponding test methods
• ISO 1101, ISO 1302, ISO 25178-1: Geometrical product specifications – Tolerancing and surface texture standards
• ISO 2768-1, ISO 2768-2: General tolerances for linear, angular, and geometrical features
• ASTM D3122, ASTM E2910: Requirements for material specification and methods for acceptance of products

Implementing ISO/ASTM 52901 in conjunction with these related standards ensures a comprehensive, systematic approach to ordering, manufacturing, and accepting additive manufacturing parts, supporting consistent product quality across industries.

Standards Content (Sample)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
ISO/ASTM 52901:2016(E)
Standard Guide for
Additive Manufacturing – General Principles – Requirements
for Purchased AM Parts
This standard is issued under the fixed designation ISO/ASTM 52901; the number immediately following the designation indicates the
year of original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.
2,3
1. Scope 2.3 ISO/ASTM Standard:
ISO/ASTM 52921 Standard terminology for additive manu-
1.1 This document defines and specifies requirements for
facturing – Coordinate systems and test methodologies
purchased parts made by additive manufacturing.
2.4 ISO Standard:
1.2 It gives guidelines for the elements to be exchanged
ISO 17296-3 Additive manufacturing – General principles –
between the customer and the part provider at the time of the
Part 3: Main characteristics and corresponding test meth-
order, including the customer order information, part definition
ods
data, feedstock requirements, final part characteristics and
properties, inspection requirements, and part acceptance meth-
3. Terms and definitions
ods.
3.1 Definitions: For the purposes of this document, the
1.3 It is applicable for use as a basis to obtain parts made by
terms and definitions given in ISO/ASTM 52900 and the
additive manufacturing that meet minimum acceptance re-
following apply.
quirements. More stringent part requirements can be specified
3.1.1 pre-shipment inspection—inspectioncarriedoutbythe
through the addition of one or more supplementary require-
part producer on the parts to be supplied according to the part
ments at the time of the order.
definition or on the test units in order to verify that these parts
are in compliance with the order requirements.
1.4 This international standard was developed in accor-
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard- 3.1.2 qualification part—part fabricated prior to commenc-
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
ing production which is used to qualify specific aspects of the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom- manufacturing process or part characteristics in order to use as
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical a basis to initiate production.
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
3.1.3 first production part—part with the same geometry
(and with the same tolerances), same material and same
2. Normative references
properties as the one requested by the order that allows
verification by the customer that the production processes are
2.1 The following documents are referred to in the text in
capable of producing parts that meet the requirements.
such a way that some or all of their content constitutes
requirements of this document. For dated references, only the
3.1.4 reference part—part with characteristics similar to the
edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition
desired final parts but with different geometry or scale or
of the referenced document (including any amendments) ap-
features that can be easily measured or characterized.
plies.
3.1.4.1 Discussion—Reference parts are typically sacrificial
2.2 ASTM Standards:
parts with simple geometries that are used to verify build
D3122 Specification for Solvent Cements for Styrene-
properties and reduce measurement effort.
Rubber (SR) Plastic Pipe and Fittings
3.1.5 acceptance—agreement between the customer and
part provider that the delivered part(s) meet the purchase order
requirements.
This international standard is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F42
on Additive Manufacturing Technologies and is the direct responsibility of
Subcommittee F42.05 on Materials and Processes and also is under the jurisdiction
of ISO/TC 261. Available from International Organization for Standardization (ISO), ISO
Current edition approved Oct. 17, 2016. Published March 2017. Central Secretariat, BIBC II, Chemin de Blandonnet 8, CP 401, 1214 Vernier,
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or Geneva, Switzerland, http://www.iso.org.
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on following addresses: IEC Electropedia: available at http://www.electropedia.org/
the ASTM website. and ISO Online browsing platform: available at http://www.iso.org/obp.
© ISO/ASTM International 2017 – All rights reserved
ISO/ASTM 52901:2016(E)
NOTE 1—Disclosure of proprietary information is subject to agreement
3.1.6 inspection plan—Set of instructions specifying the
between the customer and the part provider.
process of verification including appropriate resources and
sequence of inspections to be referenced by the manufacturing
4.3.2 Part geometry
plan.
4.3.2.1 The part definition shall include the following ele-
3.1.7 part provider—manufacturer or distributor of parts ments:
produced by an additive manufacturing process. (a) the engineering drawing reference (number, index and
version) if applicable,
3.1.8 customer—person or group ordering and receiving
(b) the digital file reference (name, format, version) if
parts manufactured by additive manufacturing equipment.
applicable,
(c) the geometry description by:
4. Requirements
(1) an engineering drawing that fully defines the part, or
4.1 General
(2) a digital file containing the 3D model or the part
4.1.1 The elements described in 4.2 to 4.5 shall be included
geometry information; for electronic data exchanges, the cus-
in the purchase order subject to agreement between the
tomer and the part provider shall ensure that the systems used
customer and the part provider. Annex A1 provides a typical
are compatible, and define:
content of a purchase order.
(i) the method for supplying digital files, including level
of confidentiality and methods for data protection,
4.2 Part ordering information
(ii) the format of the electronic data, and
4.2.1 The part order shall include the following elements:
(iii) the procedures for creating the digital file (including
(a) customer organization and contact information (prefer-
source of the electronic data and conversion requirements
ably with points of contact for ordering, payment and deliv-
necessary to produce the digital file).
ery);
(b) definition of the part(s) to be manufactured; 4.3.2.2 The part geometry description documents may be
(c) associated conditions of delivery to the customer; supplied by the customer or by the part provider.
(d) other purchase requirements;
NOTE 2—The STL file format used by many additive manufacturing
(e) reference identification of this document, i.e. ISO/
machines does not contain units of measurement as metadata. When only
ASTM 52901 and other relevant national/international regula-
STLfiles are provided by the customer, ordering information is to specify
tions;
the units of measurements of the part along with the digital file. More
information about digital files can be found in ISO/ASTM 52915.
(f) customer part order identification (requisition number,
requisition date, etc.);
4.3.3 Tolerances
(g) designation or description of the part(s) desired (part
4.3.3.1 The tolerances shall be specified (e.g. general
number/identification, revision index, etc.);
tolerances, see ISO 2768-1 and ISO 2768-2 and/or specific,
(h) quantity of parts desired;
ISO 1101), including the definition of functional (e.g. machin-
(i) required delivery date, if single order;
ing allowance for finishing or rework) and aesthetic or cos-
(j) required delivery quantity, frequency and time duration
metic zones, so that the part provider can orient the part
of the order, if ongoing or multiple orders;
according to the requirements, and decide on the location and
(k) required marking or tagging of the parts, including, for
type of part support structures if needed.
example, labels, serial number, lot number, feedstock type, part
4.3.4 Surface texture
provider’s reference, inspection identifier, traceability
4.3.4.1 The surface texture (also known as surface finish) of
reference, etc.;
the part should be specified, if possible by reference to existing
(l) part packaging requirements for delivery to customer;
standards (e.g., by using ISO 1302 and/or ISO 25178-1).
(m) customer shipping address;
4.3.4.2 The surface texture requirement may be specified by
4.2.2 The specific values of the elements are subject to
a maximum value of roughness/waviness for the whole part or
agreement between the customer and the part provider.
by a specific roughness/waviness for one or more critical
4.3 Definition of the part to be manufactured
surfaces.
4.3.1 General
NOTE 3—The surface texture typically depends on several process
4.3.1.1 The part definition shall include the following ele-
parameters including part orientation and layer thickness.
ments:
– part geometry;
4.3.5 Part manufacturing process
– tolerances;
4.3.5.1 The desired manufacturing process for building the
– surface texture;
part shall be identified, including necessary post processing
– build orientation, if necessary to meet the customer
steps (e.g. heat treatment, surface finishing).
requirements;
4.3.5.2 The build orientation shall follow the rules given in
– feedstock for the part to be manufactured; if necessary to
ISO/ASTM 52921.
meet the customer requirements;
NOTE 4—The build orientation is usually chosen by the part provider to
– repair methods (taking into account the testing categories
meet the requirements; however, the customer can specify the build
defined in ISO 17296-3);
orientation of the part if needed to achieve specific mechanical properties.
– acceptable imperfections or deviations;
– process control information. 4.3.6 Feedstock for the part to be manufactured
© ISO/ASTM International 2017 – All rights reserved
ISO/ASTM 52901:2016(E)
4.3.6.1 The type and/or limits of the chemical composition applicable standards or shall be agreed upon between the part
of the feedstock for the part to be manufactured shall be provider and the customer. Since standards specific to additive
specified by reference to existing standards and/or material manufacturing are still under development, relevant part char-
specifications. acteristics that are not described in the current standards shall
4.3.6.2 The purchase order shall mention or reference ap-
be agreed upon between the part provider and the customer.
propriate specifications for: Part characteristic information shall be included in the quality
– characteristics of the feedstock for the part to be
record for the purchased AM part.
manufactured,
4.4.3 Functionality
–storage,handling,andprocessingrequirementsforproper
4.4.3.1 The desired functionality of the part, as well as its
use of feedstock and to control its properties, and
performance requirements, shall be described from the cus-
– if necessary to meet the customer requirements, informa-
tomer view to communicate the purpose and intended use of
tion about the allowed use of recycled (reused feedstock).
the part. This description shall include a listing of part
NOTE 5—If the customer is concerned about the country of origin of the functions and functional requirements, identification of the
feedstock or the producer of feedstock, the desired source of feedstock
intended working environment and related environmental
may be specified.
parameters, definition of specific performance requirements for
4.3.7 Repair methods
each part function, and (if applicable) identification of the
4.3.7.1 Any repair shall be communicated to the customer
performance test methods to be used to evaluate the confor-
and authorized prior to being performed. The authorized repair
mance of the part to the performance requirements. The
methods (such as repair by material deposition, welding,
high-level purpose for the part (e.g., prototype vs. pre-
gluing, or bonding) and corresponding repair conditions shall
productionsamplevs.end-usepart)maydictatedifferentlevels
be specified if needed and shall be approved by the customer.
of detail needed to specify the functional and performance
4.3.8 Acceptable imperfections(s) or non-conformance
requirements of the part, and the level of detail shall be agreed
4.3.8.1 Allowances for cracks, defects, discontinuities, for-
upon between the part provider and the customer to ensure
eign material, inclusions, acceptable imperfections(s) or
sufficient communication.
deviation(s), discolorations, and porosity shall be agreed upon
4.4.4 Inspection
between the part provider and the customer.
4.4.4.1 Test methods and inspection criteria to measure,
4.3.9 Process control information
evaluate, or visually inspect part characteristics shall meet
4.3.9.1 Requirements for manufacturing process repeatabil-
applicable standards and shall be agreed upon between the part
ity shall be identified, including reference to relevant standards
provider and the customer. Requirements for specific inspec-
or measurement methods for assessing repeatability, particu-
tion methods, such as computed
...