Materials testing ensures quality by subjecting materials and products to controlled conditions to evaluate properties and behavior under stress. Learn how mechanical, physical, and chemical properties are evaluated to determine suitability for different applications.

Shane Collins often hears people say that there aren’t any additive manufacturing standards. This is frustrating because he’s worked on additive standards for more than 10 years and there are dozens out now.

Nondestructive testing (NDT) is used in engineering industries to test equipment, components, and materials without causing any damage. With a reliance on quality assurance and rating systems for tools to be used for the correct tasks, adhering to industrial safety norms is a large factor behind the NDT market.

Materials testing in metal additive manufacturing (AM) involves characterization of raw materials and evaluation of finished parts. The raw materials used in metal AM processes include powders, filaments and sheets. 

As additive manufacturing gains traction as a means for making production parts, standards need to keep pace, ensuring quality and constancy across industries. Already, ASTM and other standards bodies are leading the effort.

When it comes to testing aerospace components, the costs of imperfections go far beyond the financial. Thus it is critical that nondestructive testing (NDT) for aerospace vehicles and parts is made foolproof in finding even the tiniest hint of damage or defect.

Standards make up the backbone of quality assurance in manufacturing.