SLA - StereoLithography
StereoLithography is a 3D printing process where a laser is used to cure special liquid photopolymer resins. A part is built up layer by layer with selective laser hardening. These layers are tiny, often invisible to the naked eye, and the precision of the laser allows extremely detailed parts to be “grown” from a liquid vat of resin. Because the raw material is cured instead of thermoplastically formed, some truely unique materials are available on SLA and nowhere else. Such as Biocompatible materials, Casting Wax, High temperature resistant material, and glass filled composit resin.
While the cost is often higher than most other processes, and the build volume more restrictive, the surface quality and detail reproduction are unmatched. SLA is ideally suited for final prototypes, client proofs, detailed miniatures, and special applications in which only SLA resins can meet the needs.
Cons
Small build area (max 10”x6”x6”)
High cost with larger denser objects
Requires touchpoint supports (leaves small blemishes on supported side)
Prolong UV/Sun exposure can slowly change material property over time
Parts need to be washed/cured. (but don’t worry we’ll do that)
Pros
Superb surface finish and minimum detail size
Highest resolution prints
Fully solid isotropic parts
Special use resins (wax, biomed, High temp)
Closest to injection molded part
Common uses for this process:
Engineering prototypes
End use parts
Props / Cosplay details. Especially transparent parts
Fixtures / Jigs
Surgical guides, biomedical prints
Wax Jewlery casting masters
Injection molds
Electronic enclosures
Microfluid circuits
Mold masters
Special properties only available on SLA printing
Tiny, detailed prints
Parts that don’t look 3d printed
Special cases, like Wax, injection molds, surgical guides
