UP NEXT: Callie Higgins, NIST

Standards as Essential Tools for AM Adoption:  A Case Study on Standards Development in Vat Photopolymerization

Monday, June 8, 2026

2:00-3:00 EDT

Abstract: As vat photopolymerization (VPP) transitions from rapid prototyping to mass production, the lack of standardized material characterization remains a critical barrier to widespread industry adoption. End-users require reliable, comparative data to establish trust, while material developers need unified benchmarks to validate performance. This presentation chronicles the journey behind the first-ever VPP standard: a standard test method to generate the working curve and extract critical photopolymer parameters, critical exposure (Ec) and light penetration depth (Dp).

Using this approach as a real-world case study, this talk will outline the lifecycle of industrial standard development and walk through the initial impetus (widespread variance in interlaboratory data) that triggered two comprehensive interlaboratory studies. These studies provided the rigorous empirical foundation necessary to convene a NIST-led working group comprising over 30 diverse industry stakeholders. Attendees will gain insight into the essential steps of the standardization process, from aligning competing commercial interests to navigating consensus-driven metrology. Ultimately, this talk highlights how collaborative, non-competitive frameworks establish the consumer trust and data reproducibility required to scale the photopolymer industry.