The qualification standard (DIN EN ISO/ASTM 52920) states that witness samples should be manufactured alongside the component to be used in application. The witness samples are to be analyzed to qualify the manufacturing process (e.g. ensure relative density, static and/or dynamic properties) and eventually for qualification of the product.

PBF-LB/M components usually differ geometrically from the witness samples. For example, sudden cross-sectional changes and/or undercuts are usually found in components but not in witness samples, which are usually composed of simple geometries, such as round bars or cubes.

For this purpose, a generic component was designed to resemble and include geometric features expected in turbomachinery components. Witness samples were integrated in the generic component design, which combined form the Sample Extraction Component (SEC). The SEC allows the extraction of three samples (one in each of the build orientation 0°, 45°, 90°) to compare their characteristics with those of standard witness samples.