SLA — Stereolithography (Resin)
SLA (Stereolithography) cures liquid photopolymer resin with a precise UV light source, producing parts with the smoothest surfaces and the finest detail of any common 3D printing process. It is the go-to for show models, master patterns, and intricate parts.
How SLA works
The build platform is submerged in a vat of liquid resin. A UV laser or LCD light source selectively cures a single layer of resin where the part should be solid, hardening it on contact. The platform lifts a fraction of a millimetre and the next layer is cured onto the last, gradually pulling the finished part out of the vat.
Printed parts are washed to remove uncured resin and then post-cured under UV light to reach full mechanical strength. Because features are defined by light rather than a nozzle, SLA captures crisp edges, thin walls, and tiny text that extrusion processes cannot.
What SLA is best for
- High-detail show and presentation models
- Master patterns for casting and moulding
- Dental and medical models and guides
- Jewelry and miniatures
- Watertight, smooth fluidic parts
Strengths & trade-offs
Strengths
- Highest detail and resolution
- Extremely smooth surface finish
- Crisp edges and fine features
- Excellent for visual prototypes
Trade-offs
- Some resins are brittle
- Requires washing and UV post-curing
- Sensitive to prolonged UV exposure
- Smaller build sizes than FDM
Materials available in SLA
A selection of the stocked materials for this process. Browse the full materials library to filter by property.
Other technologies
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