Overview - ISO/ASTM 52919:2025
ISO/ASTM 52919:2025, "Additive manufacturing - Qualification principles - Test methods for metal casting sand moulds," specifies how to evaluate mechanical and physical properties of sand moulds produced by additive manufacturing (AM). It focuses on practical test methods for properties relevant to metal casting - tensile strength, transverse (bending) strength, gas permeability, and thermal expansion - and on qualification practices tailored to AM-specific behaviours such as anisotropy and build-space variability.
Key technical topics and requirements
- Scope and intent
- Applies to AM-made sand moulds used in metal casting; complements existing foundry test practices by addressing AM-specific factors.
- Sampling principles
- Test specimens should be sampled across the build space (edge, middle, top, bottom) to capture location-dependent variability.
- Multiple specimen orientations (e.g., 0°, 45°, 90°) are required to assess anisotropy from layer-by-layer AM processes.
- Specimens from multiple build cycles/production lots should be evaluated to detect run‑to‑run variation.
- Applicable test methods
- Mechanical tests: tensile strength and bending/transverse strength - use testing machines and geometries consistent with established foundry standards, adapted where necessary for AM specimens.
- Physical tests: gas permeability (to prevent casting defects from trapped gases) and thermal expansion (behavior in high-temperature casting environments).
- Quality considerations specific to AM
- Factors such as machine positioning error, binder/laser fluctuations, recoater or jet head effects, and environmental conditions (temperature, humidity) can create uneven properties.
- Recognises the trade-off for sand moulds: sufficient strength during casting but controlled crushability for removal after solidification.
- Documentation and use
- Requirements for reporting, purchasing clauses for AM-made sand moulds, and procedures for verifying AM machine performance are included.
Practical applications - who uses this standard
- Foundries using AM to produce sand moulds for metal casting
- AM machine manufacturers (binder jetting, powder-bed processes) validating machine performance
- Quality engineers and metallurgical labs performing mechanical and permeability testing
- Purchasing and supply-chain professionals specifying acceptance criteria for AM-made sand moulds
- Research and development teams optimizing AM process parameters for mould applications
Related standards
- ISO/ASTM 52900 - Additive manufacturing: fundamentals and vocabulary
- ISO/ASTM 52901 - Requirements for purchased AM parts
- ISO 17295 - AM part positioning, coordinates and orientation
ISO/ASTM 52919:2025 bridges additive manufacturing and traditional foundry testing, enabling standardized qualification of AM-made sand moulds for reliable, repeatable metal casting results. Keywords: additive manufacturing, AM-made sand moulds, metal casting, test methods, tensile strength, gas permeability, thermal expansion, anisotropy, sampling specimens.
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