SIST EN ISO/ASTM 52941:2026

• Abstract:

  This document specifies requirements and test methods for the qualification and re-qualification of laser beam machines for metal powder bed fusion additive manufacturing for aerospace applications.; This document can also be applied to non-aerospace applications if this is part of a contract.; It can also be used to verify machine features during periodic inspections or following maintenance and repair activities.

• Status: Published
• Public Enquiry End Date: 02-Dec-2023
• Publication Date: 12-Oct-2026
• ICS: 25.030 - Additive manufacturing
• ICS: 49.025.01 - Materials for aerospace construction in general
• Technical Committee: VAR - Welding
• Current Stage: 6060 - National Implementation/Publication (Adopted Project)
• Start Date: 15-Sep-2026
• Due Date: 20-Nov-2026
• Completion Date: 13-Oct-2026
• Ref Project: EN ISO/ASTM 52941:2026 - Additive manufacturing for aerospace - System performance and reliability tests for laser metal powder-bed fusion machines for metallic materials (ISO/ASTM 52941:2026)

• Replaces: SIST EN ISO/ASTM 52941:2021 - Additive manufacturing - System performance and reliability - Acceptance tests for laser metal powder-bed fusion machines for metallic materials for aerospace application (ISO/ASTM 52941:2020)
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2026

SIST EN ISO/ASTM 52941:2026 is a CEN standard for additive manufacturing that covers system performance and reliability tests for laser metal powder-bed fusion machines for metallic materials. It specifies requirements and test methods for qualifying and re-qualifying these machines for aerospace applications, and it can also be used for non-aerospace contracts, periodic inspections, and checks after maintenance or repair.

What does SIST EN ISO/ASTM 52941:2026 specify?

SIST EN ISO/ASTM 52941:2026 specifies how to check the performance and reliability of laser beam machines used for metal powder bed fusion additive manufacturing in aerospace. The document is organized into general clauses on scope, references and definitions, followed by equipment, operating conditions, qualification testing, and the test report.

Annex	What it covers
Annex A	Example of a test report
Annex B	Geometric pattern for the trajectory accuracy test

Clause 6 contains the technical test methods. Clause 7 defines what has to be recorded in the final report, so the results can be traced and compared over time.

What are the key requirements of SIST EN ISO/ASTM 52941:2026?

SIST EN ISO/ASTM 52941:2026 focuses on proving that the machine works as intended under controlled conditions, with calibrated measurements and documented results. In practice, it is a machine acceptance and requalification document, not just a checklist.

• Clause 4 requires the equipment to be installed, operated and maintained according to documented instructions. This matters because qualification results are only meaningful if the machine is used in a controlled, repeatable state.

• Clause 5 requires qualification testing to be carried out within the environmental and operational conditions specified by the manufacturer and the user, including temperature, humidity, utilities, shocks or vibrations, chamber pressure and process gas purity. It also requires health and safety measures for laser radiation and fire and explosion protection.

• Clause 6.1 and 6.2 require qualification testing with calibrated measuring instruments and cover laser power, power stability, pulsed wave behavior, beam characteristics, minimum beam waist position, beam position, trajectory accuracy and scanning speed. For users, this shows whether the laser system delivers the expected output at the point of use inside the build chamber.

• Clause 6.2.10 treats multi-laser machines separately by working zone, and adds cross-calibration when parts span more than one zone. If multiple lasers target the same location, their positions have to stay aligned closely enough for consistent builds.

• Clause 6.3 checks the precision and reproducibility of the build platform, feeding platform, other powder feed mechanisms and the powder spreading device. These checks matter because layer positioning and powder distribution directly affect build quality.

• Clauses 6.4 to 6.7 require verification of the heating system, atmosphere control, data recording and safety systems. The atmosphere section also requires calibrated sensors, a calibration protocol and gas-tightness testing.

• Clause 6.8 allows optional demonstrators or test artifacts, build area assessment and a gas flow test by hot wire anemometer. These optional checks help users look beyond single-point tests and assess quality across the build area.

• Clause 6.9 requires requalification after modification or major changes in operating conditions, including repair, replacement of key components or relocation. Software changes may also trigger requalification, which is important for keeping prior acceptance valid.

What terms does SIST EN ISO/ASTM 52941:2026 define?

SIST EN ISO/ASTM 52941:2026 defines the terms it uses so that machine suppliers, users and test labs apply the same meaning during qualification.

• scanning speed - the relative linear speed of laser beam movement in the plane of the build platform.
• warm-up time - the time from switching on the machine until the build cycle can start, as specified by the manufacturer.
• feeding platform - a platform that moves incrementally to supply powder to the powder spreading device.
• powder spreading device - the mechanism that distributes and evenly spreads powder on the build surface.
• rated laser power - the maximum power capability specified by the laser manufacturer.
• minimum beam waist position - the focal spot location where the beam is most concentrated and has the smallest cross section.

Who uses SIST EN ISO/ASTM 52941:2026?

SIST EN ISO/ASTM 52941:2026 is used by aerospace additive manufacturing suppliers, machine builders, buyers, quality teams and test laboratories. It is relevant when a machine is being accepted, requalified, inspected periodically or checked after maintenance or repair.

It is also useful for contract settings outside aerospace when the parties agree to apply it. In practice, the document supports procurement, incoming inspection, machine validation, maintenance sign-off and technical audits.

Which standards are used with SIST EN ISO/ASTM 52941:2026?

• ISO 11146 (all parts) - provides the test methods for laser beam widths, divergence angles and beam propagation ratios, which supports beam characterisation.
• ISO 11554 - provides test methods for laser beam power, energy and temporal characteristics, which supports the power and pulsed-wave checks.
• ISO/ASTM 52900 - provides general additive manufacturing principles and vocabulary.
• ISO/ASTM 52921 - provides additive manufacturing coordinate systems and test methodologies.
• ISO/ASTM 52902 - is used for demonstrators and test artifacts in the optional tests.

What does the SIST EN ISO/ASTM 52941:2026 document contain?

SIST EN ISO/ASTM 52941:2026 contains detailed test methods for laser beam performance, machine motion, atmosphere control and supporting systems. Clause 6 includes procedures for measuring beam power, stability, spot and focus behavior, beam position, trajectory accuracy and scanning speed, plus checks on build and feeding platform movement.

It also includes optional checks using demonstrator parts, build area assessment and gas-flow measurement, with example figures for an ultrasonic inspection layout and a hot-wire anemometer setup. Clause 7 defines the test report content, and Annex A gives an example report format while Annex B gives an example trajectory pattern for accuracy testing.

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-november-2026
Nadomešča:
SIST EN ISO/ASTM 52941:2021
Dodajalna izdelava v letalski in vesoljski industriji - Preskusi zmogljivosti sistema
in zanesljivosti za stroje za spajanje kovinskega prahu na podlagi z laserskim
žarkom za kovinske materiale (ISO/ASTM 52941:2026)
Additive manufacturing for aerospace - System performance and reliability tests for laser
metal powder-bed fusion machines for metallic materials (ISO/ASTM 52941:2026)
Additive Fertigung - Systemleistung und Betriebssicherheit - Abnahmeprüfung von
pulverbettbasierten Laserstrahlanlagen für metallische Werkstoffe in Luft- und
Raumfahrtanwendungen (ISO/ASTM 52941:2026)
Fabrication additive pour l'aérospatiale - Essais de performance et de fiabilité du
système pour machines de fusion laser sur lit de poudre pour les matériaux métalliques
(ISO/ASTM 52941:2026)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN ISO/ASTM 52941:2026
ICS:
25.030 3D-tiskanje Additive manufacturing
49.025.01 Materiali za letalsko in Materials for aerospace
vesoljsko gradnjo na splošno construction in general
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EN ISO/ASTM 52941
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
August 2026
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 25.030 Supersedes EN ISO/ASTM 52941:2020
English Version
Additive manufacturing for aerospace - System
performance and reliability tests for laser metal powder-
bed fusion machines for metallic materials (ISO/ASTM
52941:2026)
Fabrication additive pour l'aérospatiale - Essais de Additive Fertigung - Systemleistung und
performance et de fiabilité du système pour machines Betriebssicherheit - Abnahmeprüfung von
de fusion laser sur lit de poudre pour les matériaux pulverbettbasierten Laserstrahlanlagen für metallische
métalliques (ISO/ASTM 52941:2026) Werkstoffe in Luft- und Raumfahrtanwendungen
(ISO/ASTM 52941:2026)
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 17 August 2026.

CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this
European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references
concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN
member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by
translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management
Centre has the same status as the official versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and
United Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2026 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN ISO/ASTM 52941:2026 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
European foreword . 3

European foreword
This document (EN ISO/ASTM 52941:2026) has been prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 261
"Additive manufacturing" in collaboration with Technical Committee CEN/TC 438 “Additive
Manufacturing” the secretariat of which is held by AFNOR.
This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an
identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by February 2027, and conflicting national standards
shall be withdrawn at the latest by February 2027.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CEN shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
This document supersedes EN ISO/ASTM 52941:2020.
Any feedback and questions on this document should be directed to the users’ national standards
body/national committee. A complete listing of these bodies can be found on the CEN website.
According to the CEN-CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of the
following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria,
Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland,
Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of
North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and the
United Kingdom.
Endorsement notice
The text of ISO/ASTM 52941:2026 has been approved by CEN as EN ISO/ASTM 52941:2026 without
any modification.
International
Standard
ISO/ASTM 52941
Second edition
Additive manufacturing for
2026-08
aerospace — System performance
and reliability tests for laser metal
powder-bed fusion machines for
metallic materials
Fabrication additive pour l'aérospatiale — Essais de performance
et de fiabilité du système pour machines de fusion laser sur lit de
poudre pour les matériaux métalliques
Reference number
ISO/ASTM 52941:2026(en) © ISO/ASTM International 2026

ISO/ASTM 52941:2026(en)
© ISO/ASTM International 2026
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on
the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address below
or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester. In the United States, such requests should be sent to ASTM International.
ISO copyright office ASTM International
CP 401 • Ch. de Blandonnet 8 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, USA
Phone: [phone] Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Email: [e-mail] Email: [e-mail]
Website: www.iso.org Website: www.astm.org
Published in Switzerland
© ISO/ASTM International 2026 – All rights reserved
ii
ISO/ASTM 52941:2026(en)
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Equipment . 2
5 Environmental and operational conditions . 2
6 Qualification testing . 2
6.1 General .2
6.2 Laser beam tests .2
6.2.1 Testing the laser power for continuous wave lasers .2
6.2.2 Testing the laser power stability for continuous wave lasers .3
6.2.3 Testing of pulsed wave lasers .3
6.2.4 Evaluation of the laser beam characteristics.3
6.2.5 Evaluation of the minimum laser beam waist position in different working
plane locations .3
6.2.6 Evaluation of the thermal stability of the minimum beam waist position .3
6.2.7 Testing the laser beam position .4
6.2.8 Trajectory accuracy .4
6.2.9 Scanning speed .4
6.2.10 Requirements for equipment with multiple laser beam sources .4
6.3 Mechanical function test .5
6.3.1 General .5
6.3.2 Build platform positioning .5
6.3.3 Feeding platform positioning.5
6.3.4 Other powder feed processing mechanics .5
6.3.5 Movement of the powder spreading device .5
6.4 Heating system .6
6.5 Atmosphere inside the working space .6
6.6 Data recording .6
6.7 Safety systems .6
6.8 Optional tests .6
6.8.1 Demonstrators and test artefacts .6
6.8.2 Build area assessment .6
6.8.3 Gas flow test by hot wire anemometer .7
6.9 Requalification .8
7 Test report . 8
Annex A (informative) Example of a test report . 10
Annex B (informative) Geometric pattern for the trajectory accuracy test .11
Bibliography .12

© ISO/ASTM International 2026 – All rights reserved
iii
ISO/ASTM 52941:2026(en)
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through
ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee
has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations,
governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely
with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are described
in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the different types
of ISO document should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the editorial rules of the
ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
ISO draws attention to the possibility that the implementation of this document may involve the use of (a)
patent(s). ISO takes no position concerning the evidence, validity or applicability of any claimed patent
rights in respect thereof. As of the date of publication of this document, ISO had not received notice of (a)
patent(s) which may be required to implement this document. However, implementers are cautioned that
this may not represent the latest information, which may be obtained from the patent database available at
www.iso.org/patents. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and expressions
related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to the World Trade
Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), see www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.
This document was prepared by ISO/TC 261, Additive manufacturing, in cooperation with ASTM F 42, Additive
Manufacturing Technologies, on the basis of a partnership agreement between ISO and ASTM International
with the aim to create a common set of ISO/ASTM standards on additive manufacturing, in collaboration
with the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) Technical Committee CEN/TC 438, Additive
manufacturing, in accordance with the Agreement on technical cooperation between ISO and CEN (Vienna
Agreement).
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (ISO/ASTM 52941:2020), which has been
technically revised.
The main changes are as follows:
— title changed from “Additive manufacturing — System performance and reliability — Acceptance tests
for laser metal powder-bed fusion machines for metallic materials for aerospace application” to “Additive
manufacturing for aerospace — System performance and reliability tests for laser metal powder-bed fusion
machines for metallic materials”;
— extension of the scope of application to non-aerospace applications if this is part of a contract;
— normative references has been updated;
— 6.2 has been revised;
— test report has been revised;
— example of a test report in Annex A slightly revised;
— editorial changes.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html.

© ISO/ASTM International 2026 – All rights reserved
iv
International Standard ISO/ASTM 52941:2026(en)
Additive manufacturing for aerospace — System performance
and reliability tests for laser metal powder-bed fusion
machines for metallic materials
1 Scope
This document specifies requirements and test methods for the qualification and re-qualification of laser
beam machines for metal powder bed fusion additive manufacturing for aerospace applications.
This document can also be applied to non-aerospace applications if this is part of a contract.
It can also be used to verify machine features during periodic inspections or following maintenance and
repair activities.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content constitutes
requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references,
the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 11146 (all parts), Lasers and laser-related equipment — Test methods for laser beam widths, divergence
angles and beam propagation ratios
ISO 11554, Optics and photonics — Lasers and
...