About Stereolithography

Stereolithography combines speed, detail fidelity, good surface finish and excellent physical properties, making it a leader among rapid manufacturing and rapid prototyping technologies.

Stereolithography is an additive fabrication process utilizing a vat of UV-sensitive photopolymer and a laser to build parts a layer at a time. Each part is traced by the laser beam on the surface of the UV-sensitive photopolymer, solidifying it. After a layer has been traced, the movable elevator submerges the part by a single layer thickness, typically 0.002" to 0.006", and sweeps a blade filled with photopolymer ("resin") across the part to deposit fresh material. On this new liquid surface the subsequent layer is traced, adhering to the previous layer. A complete 3D part is formed by this process. After building, parts are cleaned of excess resin by immersion in a chemical bath and then cured in a uv-oven.

Current photopolymer resins are available in a variety of formulations in order to closely simulate the physical characteristics of a wide range of conventional plastic materials. Once cured, SLA parts readily take to further finishing such as painting or dyeing.

For more information about specific SLA services offered by us, see SLA Build Specs and SLA Material Specs.