Digital Light Processing
Benefits
- Fast build times
- High surface finish and details
Disadvantages
- Large items may need lots of support
- Models may show slight surface texture due to pixels in the screen
How it works
Digital Light Processing (DLP) uses a light source (either a high-resolution UV screen or a projector) to project a 2D profile of the parts, layer by layer, through a transparent tank into a liquid photopolymer resin. Compared to SLA, DLP cures the entire profile of the build at once rather than the laser drawing out the layer making for a faster print time.
Additional Considerations
- Similarly to SLA, support removal can leave behind small artifacts.
- Materials also vary between manufacturers and range from rigid prototyping to robust engineering resins.