Different characteristics of methods of additive manufacturing of metal products were considered. The prospects of technologies using metal wire as a consumable material were noted. The current state of research works in the field of additive manufacturing of layer-by-layer electric arc volumetric surfacing was shown. 20 Ref., 3 Tables, 10 Figures. K e y w o r d s : additive manufacturing, prototyping, shape formation and structure control, laser surfacing using consumable wire, freeform fabrication using electron beam, electric arc volumetric layer-by-layer surfacing