TS EN ISO/ASTM 52921

TS EN ISO/ASTM 52921 is a terminology standard focused on coordinate systems and test methodologies used in additive manufacturing. It brings together the terms used for machine and system axes, part location, and part orientation, with the practical aim of giving users a common language when reporting and comparing test results from parts produced on AM systems.

At a general technical level, coordinate systems are the reference framework used to describe where a machine element or a part sits in space and how it is oriented. In additive manufacturing this matters because build direction, reference planes, and axis conventions affect how parts are described, measured, and compared. As a terminology document, this standard defines and organizes the vocabulary; it does not by itself prescribe a full manufacturing process or define performance limits for every AM technology.

How the terminology supports reporting and comparison

The standard is intended, where possible, to align with ISO 841 and to clarify how those principles are adapted to additive manufacturing. That alignment helps avoid ambiguity between machine coordinates and part coordinates, which is especially important in test reports, education, research, and media communication. Clear terminology supports reproducibility because the same spatial reference can be understood consistently across different organizations and AM platforms.

• Terms for machines and systems and their coordinate systems
• Vocabulary for part location and orientation
• Language used when reporting tests on parts made by AM systems
• An ISO 841-oriented framework adapted to additive manufacturing
• Non-cartesian systems are excluded from the scope

This TSE edition has been withdrawn, so it represents the terminology framework of its time. Even so, the subject remains foundational: in additive manufacturing, precise language is essential for design communication, test interpretation, and consistent documentation across the product lifecycle.