In principle, every welding process can be used with WAAM.
In practice, these three welding processes are used mostly:
- MIG (GMAW): offers the largest deposition rates, typically used to manufacture large parts built in an open atmosphere, easy to implement and low cost of equipment.
- CMT: a variation of MIG with lower desposition rate offers closer process control and a smaller probability of thermal defects.
- TIG (GTAW): offers higher welding quality than MIG at lower welding speed due to the need to rotate the wire feeding mechanism during processing.