Short answer
Incorporate standardized test artifacts into your design process to rigorously evaluate and refine additive manufacturing systems, ensuring predictable and high-quality outcomes.
- Field
- Modelling
- Source
- Journal of Research of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (2014)
- Method
- Comparative analysis and empirical testing
- Evidence
- Strong effect
A well-designed test artifact can provide a standardized method for evaluating and improving additive manufacturing (AM) systems by identifying specific error sources. This modelling research insight is drawn from a 2014 study published in Journal of Research of the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Using Comparative analysis and empirical testing, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Incorporate standardized test artifacts into your design process to rigorously evaluate and refine additive manufacturing systems, ensuring predictable and high-quality outcomes.
Standardized Test Artifacts Accelerate Additive Manufacturing System Improvement
A well-designed test artifact can provide a standardized method for evaluating and improving additive manufacturing (AM) systems by identifying specific error sources.
Journal of Research of the National Institute of Standards and Technology · 2014
Key Findings
- 01A standardized test artifact can reveal specific performance characteristics and limitations of AM systems.
- 02Measurements from the test artifact can be directly correlated with specific error sources within the AM process.
- 03The test artifact facilitates a systematic approach to improving AM system accuracy and reliability.
Application
Design takeaway
Incorporate standardized test artifacts into your design process to rigorously evaluate and refine additive manufacturing systems, ensuring predictable and high-quality outcomes.
How to apply
When evaluating or developing an additive manufacturing process, design and utilize a test artifact that incorporates features sensitive to known potential failure modes (e.g., overhangs, fine details, dimensional accuracy).
Project actions
- 01When designing your test artifact, consider features that test different aspects of the manufacturing process (e.g., overhangs, bridges, fine details, dimensional accuracy).
- 02Plan your measurement strategy carefully to ensure consistent and accurate data collection.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Provides a systematic and quantifiable method for AM system evaluation.
- +Facilitates direct comparison between different AM systems and processes.
- +Links specific errors to actionable improvements.
Limitations
The cost and time required to design, print, and measure test artifacts can be significant. The interpretation of results may require specialized knowledge of the manufacturing process.
Reliability & validity
Reliability would be assessed by repeating the printing and measurement process multiple times under the same conditions. Validity is established by the artifact's ability to accurately reflect known performance issues of AM systems and its potential to guide improvements.
Think critically
To what extent can a single test artifact truly capture the full performance envelope of a complex additive manufacturing system, and what are the risks of over-reliance on such a standardized approach?
Design Principles
"Standardization of testing methodologies enables objective comparison and systematic improvement of complex manufacturing processes."
For designers and engineers working with AM, standardized test artifacts offer a crucial benchmark for assessing the performance of different machines and materials. This allows for more informed decisions in material selection, process parameter tuning, and ultimately, the reliable production of complex geometries.
What This Means for Your Design
Think of a test artifact like a standardized exam for 3D printers. By creating a specific object with challenging features, you can see exactly where a printer struggles and then fix those problems.
How to use in your project
- 1.Reference this study when discussing the importance of testing and evaluation in your design project, particularly if you are using or proposing an additive manufacturing process.
- 2.Use the concept of a test artifact to justify a specific testing phase in your design development.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
Paragraph starter
The development of standardized test artifacts, as demonstrated by Moylan et al. (2014), provides a robust methodology for characterizing and improving additive manufacturing systems. By designing an artifact with features that probe specific capabilities and limitations of the technology, designers and engineers can systematically identify error sources and implement targeted optimizations, leading to enhanced product quality and process reliability.
Source
Journal of Research of the National Institute of Standards and Technology
An Additive Manufacturing Test Artifact
journal · 2014
View sourceQuestions About This Research
- What does the research say about standardized test artifacts accelerate additive manufacturing system improvement?
- Incorporate standardized test artifacts into your design process to rigorously evaluate and refine additive manufacturing systems, ensuring predictable and high-quality outcomes. Evidence: Journal of Research of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (2014).
- Why does "Standardized Test Artifacts Accelerate Additive Manufacturing System Improvement" matter for design?
- For designers and engineers working with AM, standardized test artifacts offer a crucial benchmark for assessing the performance of different machines and materials. This allows for more informed decisions in material selection, process parameter tuning, and ultimately, the reliable production of complex geometries.
- How can designers apply this research?
- Incorporate standardized test artifacts into your design process to rigorously evaluate and refine additive manufacturing systems, ensuring predictable and high-quality outcomes.
- What were the main findings?
- A standardized test artifact can reveal specific performance characteristics and limitations of AM systems.. Measurements from the test artifact can be directly correlated with specific error sources within the AM process.. The test artifact facilitates a systematic approach to improving AM system accuracy and reliability.
- What research method was used?
- Comparative analysis and empirical testing.
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2014 journal from Journal of Research of the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When evaluating or developing an additive manufacturing process, design and utilize a test artifact that incorporates features sensitive to known potential failure modes (e.g., overhangs, fine details, dimensional accuracy).
- What are the limitations?
- The effectiveness of the artifact is dependent on the precision of measurement tools and the accuracy of the error-source correlation model. Generalizability across all AM technologies and materials may vary.