Overview
ISO/ASTM 52900:2021 - "Additive manufacturing - General principles - Fundamentals and vocabulary" is the joint ISO/ASTM international standard that establishes a consistent vocabulary and basic principles for additive manufacturing (AM). The second edition (2021) replaces the 2015 edition and provides clear, classified definitions for terms used across AM technologies that build physical 3D geometries by successive addition of material. The standard aims to eliminate ambiguity in terminology to improve communication, specification and interoperability across industry, research and regulation.
Key topics
- Core scope: Establishes and defines terms used in AM, organized by fields of application.
- Process categories: Standardized names and abbreviations for major AM process families:
- Binder jetting (BJT)
- Directed energy deposition (DED)
- Material extrusion (MEX)
- Material jetting (MJT)
- Powder bed fusion (PBF)
- Sheet lamination (SHL)
- Vat photopolymerization (VPP)
- Machine and system definitions: Terms for AM system, machine, build chamber, build platform, build volume and users/operators.
- Process characterization: Single‑step vs multi‑step processes, support structures, material handling and positioning/coordinate terminology.
- Material and part terminology: Definitions for feedstock/material suppliers, part properties, part evaluation and post‑processing references.
- Annexes:
- Annex A (normative): Identification of AM processes based on categories and determination of characteristics.
- Annex B (informative): Fundamental principles and discussion of additive vs subtractive and formative methodologies.
- Editorial updates (2021): New/modified terms, added abbreviations for the seven process categories and a new Annex A to support process specification.
Practical applications
- Creates a unified vocabulary for drafting technical specifications, procurement documents, test plans and regulatory submissions.
- Supports consistent communication between OEMs, machine builders, material suppliers, service bureaus and end users.
- Useful for quality assurance, inspection criteria, interoperability of CAD/CAM/print workflows, and curriculum development in education and training.
- Facilitates comparison and selection of AM processes (e.g., PBF vs MEX) based on clearly defined process characteristics.
Who should use this standard
- AM engineers, product designers and manufacturing planners
- Machine and materials suppliers
- Quality, metrology and regulatory professionals
- Research organizations, educators and standards committees (ISO/TC 261, ASTM F42)
- Procurement teams and service bureaus establishing contracts or material specifications
Related standards
ISO/ASTM 52900:2021 is a foundational vocabulary document intended to be used alongside other AM-specific standards from ISO/TC 261 and ASTM F42 for process qualification, material testing, design guidelines and interoperability.