Wire and arc additive manufacturing: Opportunities and challenges to control the quality and accuracy of manufactured parts

Wire and arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) has proven that it can produce medium to large components because of its high-rate deposition potentially unlimited build size. Like all (AM) technologies, however, an optimized process planning provides uniform, defect-free is key for the production parts. Moreover, AM, particularly WAAM, no longer just a prototyping technology, most today's attention on transformation viable cost-effective production. With this transformation, number issues need be addressed, including accuracy effectiveness manufactured components. Therefore, emphasis should dimensional precision surface finish in WAAM. This paper covers heat input management concept, related resulting shrinkage, deformation, residual stresses, which critical. In addition, we focus orientation, slicing, path planning, as well definition parameter selection from single track multi-track multilayer, finally geometric features thin-wall lattice structures with several case studies. Central addressing component quality accuracy, summarize guiding designs future needs through numerous WAAM-specific issues, require complex