CWA 18132:2024

Methods for the process control of high-resolution mono- and multimaterial additive manufacturing

Scope

This document describes a framework for— the evaluation of additive manufacturing (AM) systems capability and performance boundaries,— the installation calibration of AM systems and— risk assessment and evaluation for medical AM. It defines accuracy and resolution in additive manufacturing and their special meaning for multimaterial prints as well as 4D-prints, consequences for design, with steps towards a standard for implementing a general measure of these parameters. Alignment and boundary behavior of multimaterial AM are related aspects. There is a section on design, where multimaterial boundaries can influence mechanical behavior. The procedures of accuracy determination are then applied to evaluate the influence of positioning in the build room and orientation of the printed object. Very often, the stratified nature of AM procedures leads to an influence of orientation on surface finish and stability. When high-resolution surface patterns are printed, this aspect becomes more important.Entrapment of raw materials (inks, powders, resins) gains a new dimension for multimaterial prints. The removal of support structures is therefore also regarded in this context. Standardized control of the aging of raw materials using in-process control is another concern. Finally, there are always remaining steps that have to be executed by manual labor and are therefore dependent on skill and practice level of an individual. In this document, a framework for accessing process control of these often critical process steps is proposed.