Lloyd’s Register, TWI Update Additive Manufacturing Certification

Lloyd’s Register (LR) and TWI have revised and released their jointly produced framework for 2017, now called “Guidance Notes for the Certification of Metallic Parts made by Additive Manufacturing.” The framework has been updated to include the experience both companies have gained from client assurance and certification, joint industry projects and their involvement in standards development for additive manufacturing (AM).

The framework is aimed at helping manufacturers and end users of equipment and components achieve quality-driven and safe adoption of additive manufacturing. The updated issuance of these guidance notes reflects a more user-friendly approach to manufacturing certification, breaking down the approach into five key areas: design, materials, manufacturing, post-processing and inspection, and testing. The scope of technologies and processes has also been extended to reflect industry trends, and now includes wire-arc additive manufacturing (WAAM), a process commonly used for larger-scale parts and production in shorter amounts of time.

“The disruptive nature of AM combined with the cross-industry potential has really lent itself to a collaborative approach to developing a more standard way to qualify and certify all aspects of parts made by AM,” said Claire Ruggiero, innovation director at LR. “Along with TWI, we have created and participated in joint industry projects across the globe to help apply our expertise directly to clients and consortiums, resulting in a safer and more certifiable approach. The 2017 guidance notes continue this approach by sharing our expertise.”

Both LR and TWI have also launched a joint industry project, “Achieving Regulatory and Code Compliance for Additive Manufacturing.” The project will investigate the routes to regulatory compliance of parts selected by project sponsors, and produce data and assessment criteria for the introduction and acceptance of parts through third-party inspection. This will give project sponsors a head start on their competition by receiving technical services and support covering design and manufacturing through to testing and inspection.

LR and TWI’s certification framework for AM metallic components provides a step-by-step approach to provide the necessary level of consistency, qualification and confidence to enable manufacturers an approach they can use alongside LR’s inspection and certification services.

Download a copy of the guidance notes here. Click here for more information on LR’s AM services and joint industry projects. Also, find out more about TWI here.

Sources: Press materials received from the company.