ASTM WK94968
New Test Method for Defining the Printability Zone of Manually Fed Extrusion Printers
1. Scope
This standard establishes a test method for defining the printability zone of cementitious materials extruded through manually fed printers. The printability zone is the optimal range of rheological properties (i.e., yield stress and viscosity) within which a material can be reliably extruded and deposited as a single layer within design tolerances. This method provides mix design guidelines to achieve consistent rheological behavior and evaluates the interaction of printability factors such as extrudability, shape retention, and layer deposition. Since the printability zone is determined by the extrusion system, falling within this zone ensures successful single-layer deposition, though additional layers depend on the material's buildability.Keywords
AM; additiveRationale
This test method is essential for industries involved in the development of extrusion-based 3D printers as well as those formulating cementitious materials for additive manufacturing across various applications. Currently, the lack of standardized methods to define printability limits the scalability and reliability of 3D printing in construction and related sectors. Most existing approaches rely on qualitative assessments, with limited reproducibility or correlation to measurable rheological parameters. This standard provides a systematic, quantitative framework for identifying the printability zone based on the interaction between rheological properties (yield stress and viscosity) and printability factors (extrudability, shape retention, and layer deposition). The standard supports greater process control, improved material performance, and broader adoption of extrusion-based additive manufacturing technologies by enabling consistent evaluation and optimization of printable materials.
Work Item Status
Date Initiated: 05-15-2025
Technical Contact: Reza Foruzanmehr
Item: 000
Ballot:
Status: