What is Stereolithography or SLA?

Stereolithography or SLA is an additive manufacturing technique that uses an ultraviolet laser to build a plastic 3D model or Prototype by building hundreds of layers right on top of each other to manufacture a prototype. The laser beam is focused on the surface of a tank filled with photopolymer resin and traces a single Layer right into that resin. Once the layer is traced, a new coat of resin is applied, and a new layer is traced. There is a platform underneath the resin that drops after each layer is complete. Each time the platform drops a new completed layer is build. This process is repeated until the model is finished.

So, how does the 3D printer know what to trace?

The SLA Printer Receives a file from an engineer called a Cad File or Computer Aided Design file. That file is a computer rendered 3D image that is then spliced up into thin layers allowing the stereolithography printer to create the prototype.

How long does the SLA process take?

This is the impressive part! The stereolithography process is amazingly fast. Once the printer receives the CAD file, your prototype can be created in just a few hours. This is where the term rapid prototype comes from.