In research projects, especially when public funding is provided, the effective, economic usability of the results is increasingly in the focus. Research projects must therefore be holistically and long-term oriented. For this purpose, DIN offers many years of expertise to provide optimum support for the market transfer and dissemination of innovative results from research and development.

In INTEGRADDE, DIN is the partner for questions concerning standardization. DIN coordinates the standardization activities of the project. These activities comprise the knowledge transfer regarding standardization, the development of an overview of the current standardization landscape in the subject area AM as well as the development of accompanying standardization measures.

To foster the knowledge transfer a special standardization training was developed aiming to enable the project partners to develop and pursue joint standardization activities.

The overview of the current standardization landscape provides a detailed research on relevant standardization committees and corresponding standards.

In the case of INTEGRADDE, it quickly became clear that ISO/TC 261 "Additive Manufacturing" is trend-setting in AM and that close cooperation should be targeted.

Due to the very different knowledge base in INTEGRADDE about standardization DIN has developed a standardization training especially for the INTEGRADDE project. The aim of the training was to provide knowledge enabling the project partners to develop and pursue joint standardization activities. Furthermore, the training emphasizes the high relevance of standardization for AM and is meant to motivate the project partners to follow current developments in standardization committees as well as to document and disseminate the knowledge acquired in INTEGRADDE in the long term. The training is divided into the following five chapters: Meaning, structure, integration, AM, follow-up. Each chapter has its own conclusion with the most important information in order to realize an easy understanding and the highest possible absorption of the knowledge.

The training provides information on why it is important to push the issue of standardization both from the beginning and continuously and what the benefits of standardization are. This is followed by an explanation of the basic principles of the working method and the underlying process. The third chapter presents the possibilities for participation and gives an assessment of the resources required for participation.

In the chapter specifically focusing on AM, the most important standards are listed and the standards research carried out is explained. In addition, the structure of the standardization committees in the area of AM is explained before finally reaching a conclusion with the most essential information.

After these cornerstones were laid, the actual standardization started. Challenges faced by the project partners due to gaps in standardization were assessed with the help of a two day workshop. On day one the project partners were asked to position themselves within the INTEGRADDE process as well as to identify and to prioritize current challenges with regard to standardization. On the second day of the workshop the challenges were compared to current and planned standardization projects of ISO/TC 261. These comparisons have been discussed and it was determined in which projects INTEGRADDE should participate or comment. The following key issues of INTEGRADDE for standardization could be identified: 

·        Digital thread

·        Quality assessment (operator, machines, process)

·        Software interoperability

·        Process safety

·        Testing (software, non-destructive, destructive)

·        Properties(feedstock conditions, material, finished parts (e.g. defects))

·        Design methods

·        Terminology

Based on these results a common standardization strategy for the INTEGRADDE project has been prepared. Especially the standardization idea of the "digital thread" for which there is currently no current or planned standardization project is of great importance for the INTEGRADDE project. For this reason, the project is currently striving for close cooperation with ISO/TC 261/WG 4 "Data and Design". With the development of the standardization strategy, an important milestone was accomplished regarding standardization. The further implementation of this strategy will be coordinated and supported by DIN.

As steps in standardization DIN will continue to pursue a close collaboration between the standardization bodies and INTEGRADDE.  One step will be to contribute to the assessed standardization projects. DIN further will identify the responsible groups within ISO/TC 261 for the remaining standardization ideas and check how these can be addressed best.

http://www.integraddeproject.eu/590/standardization_in_integradde