Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM): Reviewing Technology, Mechanical Properties, Applications and Challenges

Abstract

Abstract Because of the flexible nature of 3D printing and additive manufacturing technology, manufacturing sector has been revolutionized. There is a possibility to manufacture different intricate geometrics that cannot be produced through conventional processes previously. The conventional design concepts such as design for manufacture (DFM) and design for assembly (DFA) have been modified and simplified. Wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) has emerged as one of the leading additive manufacturing (AM) processes due to its high deposition rate and economic feasibility. A lot of progress has been made to understand and improve this process and the mechanical properties associated with the fabricated parts. It is specifically cheaper to print large-scale metallic components using WAAM. This paper gives a thorough review of the work that has been done on WAAM by comparing different technological variants of WAAM, which include Metal Inert Gas (MIG), Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) and Plasma Arc Welding (PAW). The study also discusses the mechanical properties of the fabricated components using different metals, the defects and challenges the process faces today and how they can be reduced. In the end the study also provides overview of WAAM applications in some of the industrial sectors such as construction, automotive, and structural etc.