Qualification Test Artifact

The provided research paper introduces a novel test artifact specifically designed for laser powder bed fusion (LPBF), a metal additive manufacturing technique. Recognizing the lack of a widely adopted standard artifact beyond basic geometric assessments, the authors developed a compact design with features to evaluate a comprehensive range of factors crucial for LPBF qualification. This single artifact allows for the assessment of microstructure, residual stress, chemical composition, surface integrity, geometric accuracy, internal features, and mechanical properties. The paper details the design considerations and features of the artifact and presents preliminary results from its fabrication on two different LPBF systems, demonstrating its potential for standardizing testing and accelerating the adoption of LPBF for critical applications through a proposed global data exchange program.