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Stereolithography (SLA) is the most widely used rapid prototyping technology across industry providing highly accurate models and parts with the best surface finish of any rapid prototyping process. SLA has a high print resolution and is most commonly used for creating patterns for silicone tooling. Often sanded, painted and tinted. SLA is a relatively fast process, allowing prototypes to be made in a matter of hours, and the complexity of the model is seldom a factor in construction

Applications for SLA are numerous and growing every day. They include:
• aesthetic & conceptual models
 • parts requiring fine detail and high accuracy
• master patterns for polyurethane castings
• Quickcast™ investment patterns allowing rapid production of metal castings
• design evaluation models.

Large models are produced on a SLA5000 machine using Somos 11122 Watershed™XC resin. This resin has properties that match ABS, one of the most widely used plastics throughout the manufacturing industry. Watershed™ is ideal for flow analysis models and water clear models, which including lenses and light guides. The resin is also extremely durable making it excellent for snap fit applications. Furthermore, its low water absorption means high humidity levels do not affect it.

 

“What is SLA and how does it work?”

Like SLS, SLA is an additive manufacturing method for producing components directly from 3D design data. The data is digitally sliced into layers, which are ‘printed’ by the machine.

Unlike SLS, however, the SLA process runs liquid resin material rather than powder and the resin undergoes curing to produce the part. The curing process uses a UV laser, which "draws" or prints each layer onto the liquid resin. Where the laser hits the liquid, it sets off a chemical reaction, which turns the liquid to solid and bonds it to the layer beneath. The part is then lowered one layer thickness and more resin deposited on top ready for the cycle to begin again.
The layering continues from the bottom of the part until it has finished at the very top of the part.