Many software tools promise first-time-right additive manufacturing of your metal parts, thanks to process simulation. The NAFEMS Metal Additive Manufacturing Focus Group has looked at the current generation of tools and the methods behind them. From a collective 20+ years experience with physics-based simulation of additive manufacturing processes, we have written a document that points out the pitfalls to be avoided when getting started with this kind of manufacturing process simulation, and what to pay attention to when seeking high precision.