Ultra-Fine SLA Resin Printing

What is SLA Resin Printing?

Stereolithography, commonly shortened to SLA, is one of the oldest and most precise forms of 3D printing. A vat of liquid photopolymer resin is selectively cured by a focused ultraviolet laser, building your part one thin layer at a time. Because the laser can trace extremely fine paths, SLA reproduces sharp edges, smooth curves and tiny details that filament based printing simply cannot match. The result is a part with an almost injection moulded surface finish and very high dimensional accuracy. This makes SLA the natural choice for detailed prototypes, master patterns for moulds, jewellery, dental and medical models, and tabletop miniatures. With our range of specialty resins, parts can be rigid and detailed, tough and impact resistant, rubber-like and flexible, cleanly castable, or biocompatible for dental and surgical applications. There are practical considerations to keep in mind. SLA parts require washing and ultraviolet post-curing after printing, and standard resins can be more brittle than engineering filaments and may degrade under prolonged ultraviolet exposure. For very large, high load or heat resistant components we will often recommend FDM, SLS or CNC machining instead. We are always happy to advise on the best process for your specific application.