Stereolithography Parts On Demand
Stereolithography (SLA) is a vat polymerization 3D printing process and is the original 3D printing process that is still widely used today for its accuracy and speed. SLA is often used for prototypes, large concept models, form and fit models, investment casting patterns, and master patterns.
Stereolithography can create high dimensional accuracy parts with intricate designs and smooth surfaces. It also allows us to print watertight components in clear materials making it easy to test fluid flow found in product designs.
At Stratasys Direct we can build extremely light, large-scale parts in record time utilizing our sparse fill, which is a hollow build method. Sparse fill is ideal for nonstructural appearance models. These parts build faster, weigh less and cost less than solid SLA models. They also have a better as-built surface than 10-20 pound foam.
Stereolithography (Monikers: Vat photopolymerization, photocuring, SLA, SL) relies on a precise UV laser to cure liquid resin layer by layer. Its build platform sits just below the top of the resin bath. The build platform is coated with a thin layer of liquid plastic.
A UV laser hits dynamic mirrors which direct the UV energy downwards across the build platform, curing the liquid resin in precise patterns one cross-section at a time. After each layer is cured, the build platform retracts into the bath of liquid while a recoater blade evenly distributes the resin across each new layer.
Stereolithography also requires build supports which are removed manually by hand, meaning areas that require support be accessible. Stereolithography support material is the same material as the final part.
Unlike PolyJet, Stereolithography parts do not fully cure during build. During printing, the resin within the chamber can become trapped within the part or pool in certain part features, reabsorbing into the part causing bloating and design distortion. Therefore, after a build is complete, excess resin is drained and supports are removed.
The part then enters a UV oven to complete curing. Being that Stratasys Direct has been building SLA parts almost since the industries birth means that we know how to build and post-process SLA parts backwards and forwards.
Stereolithography is perhaps best known for its ability to build mostly hollow parts with a thicker outer shell and a honeycomb interior. The most common application for hollow Stereolithography parts is investment casting patterns, where the SLA part is used to create a ceramic shell to then pour liquid material into, such as liquid metal.
Additional common applications for Stereolithography include large entertainment models, prototypes, and master patterns for cold or low-temperature molds. SLA parts can be fully painted in-house to create display pieces, as well as individual parts can be bonded together and then painted to produce large models like our five-foot (5' ft) friend pictured left.
Our finishing expertise takes your 3D-printed prototype and transforms it into a replica of your finished product. Any surface look is achievable with our expert finishers. Custom finishing, texture, color, artwork, EMI/RFI shielding, plating, and other functional coatings can bring additional value to prototyping and models.
A clear and colorless material suited for lenses and see-through covers
Learn moreProduces highly detailed parts with great clarity and water-resistance
Learn moreEvaluate your design with a physical model and get to market faster with SLA.
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Build light-weight, cosmetic versions of your product with our hollow build method.
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Our proprietary photopolymer and build style produces consistent patterns with better burnout.
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Stereolithography (SLA) produces large, highly-intricate parts with superb accuracy and finishes, making it one of the most popular and widely-used 3D printing technologies in the market today.
As one of the early pioneers of 3D printing technologies, Stratasys Direct has utilized and perfected stereolithography for more than 30 years. We’ve worked on hundreds of thousands of projects for companies in a wide range of industries, to create smooth, cosmetic prototypes, investment casting patterns, and lightweight concept models that attract attention.
Our team of expert finishers adds color, texture, EMI/RFI shielding, electroplating, and more, to create stunning, attention-grabbing components with limitless size restrictions. That’s why stereolithography is one of the main go-to technologies in 3D printing.
Stereolithography is ideal for parts with small features that require tighter dimensional tolerances and smooth finishes. SLA is ideal for small to large prototypes.
Stereolithography at its finest resolution offers a layer thickness of 0.004" inch (0.101 mm).
We recommend a minimum wall thickness of 0.060" inches (1.5mm) as smaller walls may not hold up when it comes to support removal or media blasting.
Stereolithography is not generally considered suitable for production applications because the photo-reactive resins used in the process do not remain stable under long exposure to UV light. However, SLA is often used to make precise investment casting patterns to create end-use metal parts.
