SLA 3D Printing

SLA (Stereolithography ) 3D printing is second only to FDM in popularity. It has similar limitations regarding overhangs needing support material, but is produced using a different process. The build platform is suspended above a vat of resin that has a transparent bottom, and each layer is produced by a laser tracing out the cross-section from below, which hardens the resin into a solid plastic. The vat then dips down to ‘pop’ the now solid layer off of the vat bottom and allow fresh resin in, the build platform moves up a tiny bit, and the laser traces out the next layer. SLA prints require more manual cleanup than FDM prints, but the model resolution is much higher.