Stereolithography (SLA) was the first largely accepted rapid prototyping technique, which was first introduced in the early 1980’s. A laser which generates a small intense beam of ultraviolet (UV) energy is moved by the machine’s optical scanning system across a vat of photosensitive liquid polymer, building your part layer by layer. As the UV beam comes in contact with the polymer, it solidifies to create your finished part. Each layer is intricately drawn and leveled to create a solid, seamless part.
The SLA process builds parts in thin layers and with intricate support structures for large horizontal pieces of material. After printing, all SLA parts can be finished using various methods of sanding, sandblasting, painting or dying to provide you with the high quality part you need for your project.
SLA parts can be built in any size, no part is too big! Our SLA process lends itself to larger parts and prototypes as we have the ability to build your parts in segments, and then seamlessly bond them together in post processing to give you a solid full scale model of the largest part you can imagine. Our SLA has a vat size of 20” X & Y, 23” Z.
Available Materials:
DSM Somos ProtogenTM 18420 – An ideal ABS-like general purpose epoxy resin which results in a white material that mimics ABS type engineering plastics. This material is durable, has a superior chemical resistance, and is humidity and temperature tolerant. Click here for a detailed data sheet: Data Sheet
DSM Somos Watershed© XC 11122 – An optically clear resin with ABS-like properties and good temperature resistance, water resistance, and great durability. This material is also a Class VI Approved Medical Grade material making it suitable for many medical and consumer applications. This material is ideal for many applications: automotive, medical, consumer products, lenses, packaging, water flow analysis, RTV patterns, concept models, and investment casting patterns. Click here for a detailed data sheet: Data Sheet
Other SLA Materials are available upon request, just tell us what you need, and we will find it for you!
We have multiple finish levels available for our SLA parts. Go here to learn more about our finish levels.
The Hyflo 218 Hydrofoil impeller by Sharpe Mixers, prototyped using our SLA process.
A large SLA model still on the production tray. The support materials created during the build process are often removed in the finishing process for our customers to provide a cleaner, ready to use model.