REPRESENTATIVE PART, METHODS OF DESIGNING REPRESENTATIVE PARTS, METHODS OF FORMING AND TESTING REPRESENTATIVE PARTS, AND METHODS OF QUALIFYING ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS

A method of forming a representative part correlating to an actual part. The method includes receiving an actual part design, analyzing the actual part design to identify one or more design elements, based on the one of more design elements; generating a representative part design incorporating the one or more design elements and having a differing overall shape comparative to the actual part design, and forming a representative part based on representative part design. A representative part correlating to an actual part includes one or more design elements of the actual part and a different overall shape relative to the actual part. A method of qualifying an additive manufacturing system or process for forming an actual part.