**3.4 Welding process variables**

Several welding process variables are available for different welding processes. These welding process variables are deciding the final quality of components fabricated by WAAM. Therefore, a key care to be taken for the selection of appropriate welding process as well as welding parameters. Sometimes these variables may show the combined effect when selected together. Familiar process parameters of welding processes to consider include welding current, voltage, open-circuit voltage, wire feed rate, welding travel speed, welding electrode, diameter, electrode angle, substrate material, electrode dip to substrate distance, and more. The operator has to take much care while selecting the combination of welding process variables to yield the best quality in the fabricated components [12]. Also, the care must also be given over the range over which each selected parameters are to be operated to achieve defect-free components.
