Stereolithography (SLA) – what is it?

A photosensitive liquid is hardened using an ultraviolet laser, creating a layer-by-layer 3D model. Originally developed for manufacturing processes, stereolithography, or SLA, allows you to produce high-quality, detailed prototypes of your product.It also offers smoother surface finishes and tighter tolerances, which are beneficial during the fitting phase of your product assembly process. A significant part of the development of a product relies on the efficiency and reliability of SLA technology.

Finished surfaces of high quality // SLA parts offer excellent surface finish and dimensional accuracy when testing prototype parts. An SLA part is smooth and precise since a liquid resin solidifies layer by layer.

Parts in clear // A clear resin can be used for SLA parts and then sanded to a glass-like finish after they have been printed. Clear SLA parts serve a variety of applications, including optics, lighting fixtures, and transparent prototypes.

Small Layer Size // With SLA, layers can be as thin as 0.002 inches. This results in surfaces with fine details and cosmetic appeal. Precision and intricate designs can be achieved with SLA parts.

Complex shapes can be printed // Due to its fine resolution (hundreds of microns), SLA can be used to print thin walls, sharp corners, small holes, and complex shapes.

Tolerances // SLA has the tightest dimensional tolerances of any additive manufacturing method. With SLA, intricate and detailed designs can be manufactured with tolerances below 0.1mm.

Prototypes that are larger // SLA can produce large, lightweight prototype parts using a lattice structure. A SLA prototype can have internal lattice structures, allowing lightweight designs with structural integrity. This makes SLA an ideal method for producing larger prototypes.

Post-processing-friendly // Postprocessing methods such as sanding, painting, and clear coating are ideal for SLA parts. It is easy to refine and customize SLA prints due to their high level of detail.

SLA Design Guidelines and Capabilities

Our basic guidelines for stereolithography include important design considerations to help improve part manufacturability, enhance cosmetic appearance, and reduce overall production time.

SLA has the following benefits over SLS:

The main mode

• Compared to other types of 3D printing, SLA 3D printing has a smooth surface, good dimensional stability, and fine features that make it suitable for the reproduction of prototype master molds. In 3D printing, stereolithography, or SLA, is the primary method for creating prototype master molds since it produces high-quality parts with superior surface finish and precise details.

Accuracy of dimensions

• Minimum wall thickness for SLA 3D printing is 0.02 inches (0.5 mm); tolerance is 0.006″ (0.15mm) to 0.002″ (0.05mm). The minimum wall thickness for SLS 3D printing is 0.04″ (1.0mm); the tolerance is 0.008″ (0.20mm) to 0.004″ (0.10mm). The SLA technology allows for finer laser beam diameters and high-resolution slices, resulting in finer details and more accurate final prints than SLS. In SLA 3D printing, the laser beam diameter can be reduced and the layers built in a higher resolution to ensure greater detail and accuracy.