Additive manufacturing using Laser Powder Bed Fusion (PBF-LB/M) offers a high degree of design freedom and the ability to produce complex geometries. However, it continues to pose significant challenges in the areas of component handling and clamping. The manual handling and alignment of PBF-LB/M components is a time-consuming process, prone to errors, and limits the reproducibility and quality of downstream manufacturing processes. In particular, the secure gripping, precise positioning, and clamping of delicate structures are critical bottlenecks. It is evident that contemporary clamping and handling systems are frequently characterized by rigidity, necessitating manual interventions, and are unable to ensure adequate process reliability.

This study proposes a novel automated handling concept that is capable of efficiently gripping, transporting, and clamping PBF-LB/M components without causing damage to the component surface. The system builds upon an existing concept of clamping elements and expands upon it through the development of a specialized gripping system tailored to the specific requirements of additively manufactured components. A central component of this process is the automated integration of such tooling points—specifically developed clamping and reference elements—within the digital process chain.

Initial validation results demonstrate a reproducible and automated integration of PBF-LB/M components into downstream manufacturing and metrology processes. By combining adaptable gripping strategies with standardized tooling points, the system contributes to increased flexibility and scalability in additive manufacturing environments. The presented concept therefore represents a promising step toward fully automated post-processing chains for additively manufactured components.