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Stereolithography (SLA)

maker

Stereolithography (SLA) is an additive manufacturing process that uses a laser to cure liquid resin into solid 3D objects.

expanded

In stereolithography, a UV laser selectively cures and solidifies photosensitive resin layer by layer to create complex and detailed 3D models. This process is utilized in industries such as dental, jewelry, and prototyping due to its ability to produce high-resolution structures with fine surface finishes and intricate geometries.

examples

Fabrication of dental molds with a feature resolution as fine as 25 µm (0.001 in).

This application is common in the dental industry where precise and custom-fit molds are required for dental appliances.

Creating functional prototypes with accuracy up to ±0.05 mm per 25.4 mm (0.002 in per inch) of part dimension.

Used extensively in engineering and product development settings to evaluate form, fit, and function before mass production.

related terms

3D printing
The process of creating three-dimensional objects from a digital file by layering material.
Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM)
Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) is an additive manufacturing process that builds objects layer by layer using a continuous filament of thermoplastic material.
Slicing (3D Printing)
The process of converting a 3D model into instructions for a 3D printer.
Laser cutting
Laser cutting is a technology that uses a laser to cut materials with precision and speed.
Acrylic
Acrylic refers to a group of thermoplastics derived from acrylic acid and its derivatives.