By Liz Nickels
Canada is one of 18 countries involved with the ISO/TC 261 international standardization committee on additive manufacturing, set up in 2011 by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
"Additive manufacturing is revolutionizing the high-tech manufacturing field – facilitating the work of innovators with their designs, re-designs and prototypes," said John Walter, Standards Council of Canada's chief executive officer. "Canada now has wide-ranging industry influence in setting these important international standards."
Additive manufacturing is spreading quickly through cutting-edge sectors such as aeronautics, plastics, and metal fabrication. The quickly changing nature of these activities has shown a need for standards governing a number of aspects, including terms and definitions, process chains (materials and software), testing procedures, quality parameters for primary materials and end products, and other basics.
Setting standards
"Advances in technology such as additive manufacturing require standards to set quality parameters and develop testing procedures,” said BNQ director Jean Rousseau. “BNQ is proud to partner with product manufacturers, equipment manufacturers, research centres, and governments to manage the SCC mirror committee's work on additive manufacturing.”
Canada mirror committee members will be able to follow, comment on, and influence standardization projects and proposals made by the international committee. They can do this on the Canadian e-forum provided by the Standards Council of Canada, allowing for opinions, concerns, and positions of Canada mirror committee members to be forwarded to the ISO/TC 261 international committee.
