"SL-MAY" Why Choose SLA?

Showcasing the strengths and versatility of resin printing

Tempus's Formlabs 3BL SLA printer

3D printing is a broad industry with many different methods and materials to choose from to meet your specified needs. For the month of May, we at Tempus 3D have decided it's time for SLA's (Stereolithography)turn in the spotlight. Strength, ductility, flexibility and high detail are just a few of the traits showcased across the variety of resins we employ.

Where is it relevant

SLA printing offers several general advantages over other common methods, namely high precision, water-tight capabilities and a smooth surface finish without post processing. These strengths can be further exemplified or added to through the wide variety of resins available on the market, with properties ranging from high-temperature resistance to rubber-like flexibility or even biocompatibility.

Comparison of SLA prototype to final product (Source: Formlabs)

Example of geometry difficult for FDM (Source: Formlabs)

As the adoption of SLA becomes more widespread, its utility across a wide range of industries becomes clearer. SLA's ability to create parts with near-nominal dimensional accuracy is often cited as a useful aid in accelerating and informing the design process, allowing designers to get a better idea of weight and scale in end-stage prototypes. Some industries are using SLA for more than just prototyping. The ability to create complex geometry makes it one of only a few options currently available for manufacturers creating increasingly complex parts.

Tips on designing for SLA

SLA printing offers several advantages that allow designers to rethink how they design their products, but these advantages also come with requirements that must be considered to ensure your parts are printed as desired. A major factor to consider when printing hollow parts and cavities in resin is cupping.

Blowout caused by cupping (Source: Formlabs)

Cupping occurs when a hollow or convex

portion of a part acts as a suction cup, trapping air during printing. If the walls of the part are too thin to resist the difference in air pressure, the part will buckle inward, in what is commonly referred to as "blowout". Cupping can usually be avoided with mindful part orientation, but it is necessary to place drainage holes in bodies with fully enclosed cavities. Some other print considerations include maintaining a minimum distance of 0.5 mm between parts, avoiding printing overhangs at angles below 10° and with overhang lengths above 5 mm. For a more detailed list of considerations, check out our SLA design guide.

SLAs use in the biomedical field

The biomedical industry has felt the impact of SLA printing more than most, from prosthetics and implants to accurate training models. SLA is changing the way we approach a plethora of medical challenges. With the rise of biocompatible resins, healthcare providers can rapidly create custom implants for temporary use in patients. High-accuracy resins enable health professionals to train on life-like models rather than cadavers, increasing the availability of training and the variety of trainable situations.

A medical model from 3D Systems' anatomic model service (Source: all3dp.com)

If you would like to know more general information about SLA or our Formlabs 3BL check out this blog

Tempus3D is an HP certified 3D printing service bureau based in British Columbia, Canada, offering advanced additive manufacturing solutions tailored to your production needs. We specialize in

HP MJF, Sinterit SLS, and Formlabs SLA technologies.

Have a project in mind? Contact us at info@tempus3d.com to learn how we can support your next build.

Let’s make it possible!