When industrial manufacturers need aesthetic prototypes or non-functional end-use parts, they often hire a 3D printing service to build them using stereo lithography, or SLA. Get to know more about SLA 3D printing, how it works, its advantages and disadvantages, and the wide range of materials and finishes it offers in this article.
What is 3D printing with SLA? Stereolithography (SLA) is the most common type of 3D printing services in use today. And with good reason: the builds that come out of it are very detailed and look great, and the process is cheap for low-volume orders. One of the reasons SLA has become so popular as a manufacturing method is because it’s versatile. It can print highly detailed and geometrically complex designs in a wide range of colors.
SLA is a method of 3D printing that is often used by industries such as automotive, consumer goods, medical, and jewelry to produce prototypes or non-functional end-use parts.
How does SLA 3D printing work?
A UV laser is used in SLA printers to cure layer after layer of resin into an object’s shape. The object is built according to a design that has been pre-programmed into a computer.
The object is reinforced with support structures during SLA 3D printing with certain materials, like transparent resin, to help it achieve and maintain a particular shape. In post processing, when the part has cooled, the support structures are removed.
Large-format 3D printing is traditionally the remit of fused filament fabrication (FFF) 3D printers, which extrude plastic in layers with a mechanical print head. However, stereo lithography (SLA) advancements now let you accurately create big models and put small series runs into production with liquid resin.
Large format SLA is a different type of solution to FFF, highly suited to small series production runs and manufacturing detailed, intricate models. SLA offers the best resolution and accuracy with a more refined surface finish.
The best 3D printer for the job is the Form 3L, which uses a proprietary technology called Low Force Stereo lithography (LFS). LFS reduces peel forces and has a smaller laser dot size, enabling a support structure that is easier to remove.
This article reveals the top 10 benefits of large format SLA 3D printing, using the Form 3L as the benchmark for quality and ROI.
The only maintenance required during an SLA 3D printer operation is the manual swap out of resin cartridges. With the Form 3L, this takes less than two minutes – the resin cartridges clip in and out from the side.
The replacement of resin cartridges has no effect on the printing process and only causes a brief pause in a print. Continuous 3D printing
Additionally, SLA 3D printers have no mechanical arms that can be affected by external movement, instead utilizing a laser that bounces off mirrors. This is ideal for 24/7 printing in uncontrolled environments. The Form 3L is built for 24/7, continuous 3D printing, with automated software, cloud monitoring and controls, and the ability to swap out replacement parts in-house. You do not need any specialized technicians to run the show.
6. Produce highly complex models
SLA outperforms FFF in a number of ways, including speed, adaptability, and precision. However, the most significant advantage is that no mechanical print head restricts potential geometries – this unlocks new geometry and overhang opportunities.
Produce transparent parts
SLA has the unique ability to create transparent objects with few visible layer lines, which you can polish to produce optically clear models. With a flexible resin that significantly reduces peel forces for a more refined surface finish, the Form 3L takes clear 3D printing to the next level. For example, the camera lens below was printed with LFS technology:
To create 100% clear prints, you need to use Clear Resin, which is engineered for optics and lighting applications. Printed parts also need sanding, polishing, and finally sealing with a spray clear coat (general purpose or automotive).
8. Achieve a smooth surface finish
If the rough surface finish and clear layer lines of FFF are not ideal, large format SLA 3D printers produce visibly smooth parts right out of the printer. SLA parts have sharp edges, a smooth surface finish, and minimal visible layer lines – providing the correct print settings are chosen.
In some cases, unprocessed parts have a perfectly smooth finish with no requirement for post-processing. This surface quality is ideal for parts that require a flawless finish and parts that will be painted and polished.
9. Automate post-processing activities
While FFF parts need sanding, SLA and LFS printed parts require washing and curing with UV light to transform them into strong, stable, and long-lasting parts.
If you choose the Formlabs ecosystem, you can purchase the Form Wash L and Form Cure L, two post-processing units that take care of washing and curing to automate post-processing activities and free up your time.
