SLA – Stereolithography

What is stereolithography?

Stereolithography, abbreviated SL or SLA, is the oldest 3D printing process and was developed back in the early 1980s. In this laser-based process, three-dimensional objects are created layer by layer in a construction space. The material is based on liquefied acrylic resins. In rapid prototyping, stereolithography is a frequently used process alongside the polyjet process.

How does stereolithography work?

Before printing, a technical drawing of the workpiece to be planned is created digitally in a CAD program. The required support structures are also defined here. The base material used for this process is UV light-sensitive acrylic resins.

Once the object to be printed has been digitally completed in the CAD program, the data is sent to the stereolithography printer. The liquid base material is wiped onto a movable printing plate. After this step, the liquid acrylic resin is cured using UV light. A UV laser beam passes over the panel and selectively hardens the resin along the previously defined lines and structures. Once the layer has solidified, the printing plate then moves downwards by the thickness of the applied layer. The next layer of the selected liquid acrylic resin can now be applied. The three-dimensional object is created layer by layer. After printing, the support structures are removed. This is usually done with the help of special solvents. The final step is post-processing and finishing as required.

The base material is acrylic resins in various shades of white and gray. A transparent version is also available.