Stereolithography Apparatus {SLA}

Stereolithography Apparatus is a form of 3D printing which involves a UV-sensitive resin that cures into 3D objects when a UV laser scans over it, drawing a pattern layer-by-layer. It is one of the older forms of 3D printing that has only recently gained traction in the consumer market primarily due to more cost-effective scanning lasers and the popular Formlabs printers.

In general, SLA printing offers high-fidelity parts for cheaper than more commercial processes like PolyJet printing. SLA offers a decent option for purely aesthetic parts and even functional parts that require precision or isotropy (as opposed to anisotropy found in processes like FFF).

• High-fidelity (~ .01mm accuracy in X and Y directions for most cases)
• Smooth surfaces (up to .025mm layer height)
• Lower cost than industrial processes like PolyJet
• Relatively quick (we offer 3 day turnaround time under normal circumstances)
• Large variety of material selection (see what we offer at ter.ps/papercut)
• Isotropic material properties once cured
• Each layer, regardless of material cured takes nearly the same time

• Higher cost than desktop FFF/FDM
• Additional cure time required for many resins
• ‘Messier’ than FFF/FDM due to toxic resin and IPA cleaning solution
• Part must be ‘solid’ (can be hollowed out, but there are additional considerations for that)
• No commercial options for multi-material in a single print
• Must use tree-supports which can leave ‘nubs’ (must be removed in post-processing)
• Usually smaller build volume than most other processes