Stereolithography

Stereolithography (SLA) utilizes a vat of liquid photopolymer resin cured by an Ultra Violet (UV) laser to solidify the pattern layer by layer to create a solid 3D model from customer supplied 3D data. The SLA process addresses the widest range of rapid manufacturing applications.

• Highest accuracy and smoothest surface finish of all 3D printed parts
• Large material selection – rigid, durable, clear and high-temp
• Wide variety of post processing options
• Prototypes for form and fit testing
• Presentation models for displays and tradeshow models 
• Short lead times
• High resolution settings
• Large build platforms available

Tolerances for standard resolution:

• X/Y planes: +/- .005” for the first inch, plus +/- .002” for every inch thereafter
• Z plane: +/- .010” for the first inch, plus +/- .002” for every inch thereafter
• Minimum linear feature size: under .030” are at risk and under .020” will not build
• Minimum radial feature size: .035"

Tolerances for high resolution:

• X/Y planes: +/- .005” for the first inch, plus +/- .002” for every inch thereafter
• Z plane: +/- .010” for the first inch, plus +/- .002” for every inch thereafter
• Minimum linear feature size: under .020” are at risk and under .010” will not build
• Minimum radial feature size: .030"

3D Systems’ SLA printers are able to print highly detailed parts ranging from just a few millimeters in size, all the way up to 1.5 meters (5 ft), with exceptional resolution and accuracy and virtually no part shrinkage or warping.