ANSI and America Makes Launched Standards Database
The new portal tracks progress on 141 identified gaps in additive manufacturing standards.
Updated on Oct. 5, 2026 in Materials Science
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In September 2026, the American National Standards Institute and America Makes launched an online database and released a progress report to track standardisation in additive manufacturing. These tools aggregate data on existing standards, ongoing work, and identified industry gaps.
Why it matters
As 3D printing transitions into industrial-scale production, this centralized resource provides a roadmap for addressing the 141 standardisation gaps that currently hinder cross-industry compatibility. The effort highlights the ongoing need for synchronized technical specifications across complex manufacturing workflows.
The platform tracks 141 standardisation gaps identified in the Additive Manufacturing Standardization Collaborative roadmap version 3.0. Experts update these figures based on work programs and public comments, with five specific gaps addressed in the September 2026 report.
The players
American National Standards Institute
An organization that coordinates the development of voluntary consensus standards for products and services in the United States.
America Makes
A national institute focused on accelerating the adoption of additive manufacturing technologies through public-private partnerships.
Additive Manufacturing Standardization Collaborative
A cross-sector group that identifies and monitors technical standardization needs to support the growth of the 3D printing industry.
The details
The database aggregates technical information by material, manufacturing process, and standard type. Developed with contributions from 300 industry experts, the framework relies on data drawn from the AMSC roadmap, research into developers' work programs, and public calls for comment. Users must complete an online form via the ANSI portal to access the compiled data.
Timeline
September 2026: The Gaps Progress Report was officially published.
April 2027: The next progress report is anticipated for release.
The Tech Race
This effort builds upon the AMSC Standardization Roadmap for Additive Manufacturing Version 3.0 to synchronize disparate industrial efforts. It moves the field from a static set of identified challenges toward a transparent, tracking-based approach for resolving technical barriers.
Engineers and manufacturers can access the database to align their workflows with updated industry standards by completing an online form. While the database is currently available, users should monitor the site for regular updates on the remaining 136 unresolved standardisation gaps.
The takeaway
The industry is moving toward a unified standard for additive manufacturing, signaling a shift from experimental prototyping to regulated industrial production. Watch for the April 2027 report to see if the pace of closing these 141 identified gaps accelerates.
What happens next
The next progress report regarding these standardisation gaps is anticipated in April 2027.
Further reading
For broader context on how technical requirements are evolving, see the Materials Science section.
More information
Access the current state of technical requirements at the Additive Manufacturing Standards Database.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Metal Additive Manufacturing.
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