Development of an Automated Process Chain for Hybrid Additive Manufacturing using Laser Powder Bed Fusion

Additive Manufacturing (AM) offers great potential for producing complex parts. However, the economical fabrication depends among others on the part height. Hence, the combination of a conventionally manufactured base body and AM offers potential to reduce part costs. This combination is called Hybrid Additive Manufacturing (HAM) and requires additional clamping mechanisms and a positioning system in the laser powder bed fusion process. Concepts for both requirements will be investigated within this paper. In order to increase flexibility and automation a concept for an automated process chain will be developed. The requirements and properties of the process chain will be discussed.