Stereolithography

Benefits

Very fine resolution
Parts can be solid or hollow
Tight tolerances

Disadvantages

Slow build times
Can be expensive for complex models

How it works

Stereolithography (SLA) was the first additive manufacturing technology, being invented in the 1980s. SLA printing uses a laser to trace out slices of a 3D liquid photopolymer resin curing the light activated resin in specific areas first to a build plate then to subsequent layers. Once a build is complete, the excess resin is washed off using a light solvent and then is post-cured with heat or UV light, or both.

Additional Considerations

Because SLA only uses one material, support removal often leaves behind small dimples and pimples.
Because the point of the laser is very fine, SLA printers produce parts with a very smooth surface finish with fine details.
The photopolymer resins vary between manufacturers with a range between prototyping, engineering, and TPU materials.

3DPS SLA Prints Exclusively with Formlabs

The 3D Printing Store uses the latest technologies by Formlabs to meet tight tolerances and dimensional accuracy required by customers. 3DPS has a variety of Formlabs resins in-stock and ready to print! Typical turnaround for a print is 1 – 2 business days.