Guide to Stereolithography (SLA) 3D Printing (2024)

Guide to Stereolithography (SLA) 3D Printing (1)

Stereolithography (SLA) 3D printing is the most common resin 3D printing process and has become vastly popular for its ability to produce high-accuracy, isotropic, and watertight prototypes and end-use parts. SLA 3D printers produce parts with a range ofadvanced material properties, superior surface finishes, and fine features.

In this comprehensive guide, learn how SLAresin 3D printers work, why thousands of professionals use this process today, and how SLA printers can benefit your work.

What Is Stereolithography (SLA) 3D Printing?

Stereolithography, also known as vat photopolymerization or resin 3D printing, is an additive manufacturing process where a light source cures liquid resin into hardened plastic.

SLA 3D printing offers the fastest speed, highest resolution and accuracy, sharpest details, and smoothest surface finishes of all 3D printing technologies. Another key benefit of resin 3D printing is the versatile range of materials available. Material manufacturers have created innovative SLA resin formulations with a wide range of optical, mechanical, and thermal properties to match those of standard, engineering, and industrial thermoplastics.

Advances in 3D printing hardware, software, and materials science have made SLA technology more affordable and accessible, enabling businesses to change the way they approach prototyping, testing, and production.

SLA 3D printed parts are being deployed in every industry as end-use products, industrial replacement parts, manufacturing aids, tooling, and more. Their smooth surface finish and tight tolerances make them ideal for use in multi-part assemblies, consumer grade products, or final design review parts.

The introduction of affordable and accessible workflows made it possible for businesses of every size to bring high-quality 3D printing in-house. The utilization of this technology has helped hundreds of thousands of professionals reduce operating costs, improve efficiency, and unlock entirely new business models.

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How Does SLA 3D Printing Work?

SLA 3D printing uses a light source to cure liquid resin into three-dimensional objects by exposing a vat or tank of resin to a light source, which hardens it. Traditional, top-down SLA 3D printers had that light source positioned above the vat of liquid resin. Inverted stereolithography, first introduced in 2011 by Formlabs co-founders Max Lobovsky, David Cranor, and Natan Linder, positions the light source below the vat of resin; the cross-section is traced on the bottom-most layer of resin, which is backfilled as the build platform lifts up and allows liquid resin to flow underneath the previously cured layer.

There were several important innovations that led to the invention of inverted stereolithography, including the transparent (and eventually flexible) bottomed resin tank. This new tank design enabled the creation of larger inverted SLA 3D printers because peel forces were mitigated by the flexible surface.

SLA 3D printers use light to cure light-reactive thermoset materials called “resin.” When SLA resins are exposed to certain wavelengths of light, short molecular chains join together, polymerizing monomers and oligomers into solidified rigid or flexible geometries.

In the last decade, several new types of resin 3D printing processeshave been developed,primarily differentiated by the type of light source they use. These include: laser-poweredstereolithography (SLA), digital light processing (DLP), or masked stereolithography (MSLA, also often used interchangeably with LCD 3D printing).

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A graphic representation of Formlabs’ Low Force Display™ (LFD) print engine, an advanced form of MSLA 3D printing.

Regardless of the direction from which the light source shines or the type of light source, the SLA 3D printing workflow is straightforward. When the part has finished printing, there is a necessary alcohol or ether wash step to remove excess liquid resin from the surface of the part. Then, depending on the material, a post-cure step may be necessary to complete the polymerization of the part, helping it reach its optimal material properties. Further post-processing methods like coloring, coating, or plating may be used for specific applications or aesthetics.

A Brief History of Stereolithography

The SLA 3D printing process first appeared in the early 1980s, when Japanese researcher Dr. Hideo Kodama invented the modern layered approach to stereolithography, using ultraviolet light to cure photosensitive polymers. The term stereolithography was coined by Charles (Chuck) W. Hull, who patented the technology in 1986 and founded 3D Systems to commercialize it. Hull described the method as creating 3D objects by successively “printing” thin layers of material curable by ultraviolet light. These first SLA 3D printers were large, industrial systems, often priced above $100,000, that required complex infrastructure and maintenance.

SLA 3D printing, however, was not the first 3D printing technology to gain widespread popularity. As patents for different types of 3D printing technologiesbegan to expire at the end of the 2000s, the introduction of small-format fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printers widened access to additive manufacturing. While this affordable extrusion-based technology sparked the first wave of wide adoption and awareness of 3D printing, FDM 3D printers did not satisfy the spectrum of professional needs.

Desktop SLA 3D Printers Disrupt the Market

Small-format desktop SLA printers brought the promise of high-resolution 3D printing — previously limited to monolithic industrial systems — to those looking for a much smaller and more affordable setup. The Form 1, the first inverted stereolithography solution available, made it possible for customers of all backgrounds and budgetsto use this advanced technology.

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Prototypes of the Form 1, the first desktop SLA 3D printer.

Formlabs released Form 2 in 2015 and, with the subsequent release of a wider range of materials, SLA 3D printing became much more accessible for professionals in a range of different environments.

These capabilities expanded access to 3D printing for a variety of custom and high-precision applications across disciplines including engineering, product design, and manufacturing, as well as dental, jewelry, and other industries.

As applications grew, the technology became more popular and widely accepted. Today, stereolithography is one of the three most established plastic 3D printing processes, alongside fused deposition modeling (FDM) and selective laser sintering (SLS).

In 2019, Formlabs introduced Low Force Stereolithography™(LFS) withForm 3 and Form 3L SLA 3D printers, which use flexible-bottomed resin tanks. This drastically reduces the forces exerted on parts when peeling the cured part away from the bottom of the tank during the print process. LFS is an advanced form of stereolithography that delivers vastly improved surface quality and print accuracy. Lower print forces also allow for light-touch support structures that tear away with ease, streamlining post-processing. The introduction of LFS opened up possibilities for advanced, production-ready materials, including soft, stretchy resins such as Silicone 40A Resin and highly glass-filled resins like Rigid 10K Resin.

Successive iterations have made the Form Series the world’s leading professional 3D printers, with 140,000 units sold and over 400 million parts printed as of 2024.

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The Form 3L large-format SLA 3D printer and theForm Wash L and Form Cure Lautomated large-format post-processing machinesoffer acomplete ecosystem for large-format 3D printing.

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The Next Chapter: LFD Print Engine

In 2024, Formlabs took powerful, accessible resin 3D printing a step further, releasing Form 4 and Form 4B, powered by a next-generation MSLA print engine, called Low Force Display™(LFD).

The accessibility and affordability of high-powered desktop and benchtop units have made new modes of production possible. Companies can scale 3D printing output incrementally, bring their supply chain in-house, and increase flexibility and adaptability in the face of uncertain market conditions. By adding new materials, companies can unlock new applications.

At the core of the LFD Print Engine is the Backlight Unit. The ultra-high power light source uses 60 LEDs and collimating lenses to emit a uniform area projection of light. The light passes through the lens array, making it more collimated, or parallel, and more uniform, eliminating dark or bright spots.

From here, the light passes through the Light Processing Unit (LPU) 4, where filters and masks form the light into the shape of the printed layer. Once the light reaches the liquid resin inside the tank, the full area turns into a solid layer. The build platform then rises out of the resin and a precision Z-axis peels away the layer from the bottom of the resin tank.

In the past, peel forces have been a major hurdle for SLA printing, forcing users to sacrifice either reliability, part quality, or printing speed when selecting a printer. With Form 4, peel forces are minimized, allowing the printer to optimize for quality, reliability and speed. The top of the LPU 4 features a Release Texture, a proprietary microtextured optical film that introduces airflow to prevent the resin tank from suctioning to the LPU 4.

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SLA 3D Printing Workflow

1. Design

Use any CAD software or 3D scan data to design your model, and export it in a 3D printable file format (STL or OBJ).Then, import the digital design into print preparation software to specify printing settings and slice the digital model into layers for printing. Formlabs’ print preparation software, PreForm, is free to download and can create automated supports and print orientations.

More advanced users may consider specifically designing for SLA, or taking steps like hollowing parts to conserve material.

2. Print

The print preparation software will send the part to the printer, typically over a wireless internet connection, USB, or ethernet.

Inverted SLA printers use removable tanks and build platforms that make it easy to change materials and start a new print. More advanced SLA printers like Formlabs’ Form Series printers also use a cartridge system that automatically refills the material during printing. This means that after a quick confirmation of the correct setup, the printing process begins and the machine can run unattended until the print is complete.

For Formlabs SLA 3D printers, an online Dashboardalsoallows you to remotely manage printers, materials, and teams.

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3. Post-Process

To remove parts from the build platform, different SLA 3D printers have various methods; most are manual and require scraping parts off. Formlabs’ Build Platform Flex enables the quick and easy removal of parts from the build platform while cutting down on hands-on labor and improving the quality of your parts by avoiding any chips or scratches.

After removing parts from the build platform, parts require rinsing in isopropyl alcohol (IPA) or ether wash to remove any uncured resin from their surface. Formlabs’ Form Wash and large-format Form Wash L have been engineered to streamline the wash process, easily removing excess resinand shortening overall post-processing time.

After rinsed parts are dry, some materials require post-curing, a process that helps improveparts' strength and performance, andreach their optimal material properties. Formlabs’ Form Cure and large-format Form Cure Lprecisely controltemperature and lightto provide a consistent, high-intensity cure.

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Formlabs' second-generation Form Wash has improved agitation and a larger volume to make cleaning parts easier than ever.

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Form Cureisdesigned to post-cure resin 3D printed parts printed with speed and consistency.

Finally, remove supports from the parts and sand the remaining support marks for a clean finish. SLA parts can be easily machined, primed, painted, and assembled for specific applications or finishes.

Some parts could also benefit from further steps like sanding, coating, plating, or media blasting. These advanced resin 3D print post-processing methods can achieve a wide range of results, such as making parts better suited for outdoor applications through UV protection, or increasing the mechanical strength of a part by electroplating it in metal or a ceramic coating solution like Cerakote.

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Coatings like Cerakote can reinforce SLA 3D printed parts and make them stronger, more durable, and more aesthetically pleasing.

Why Choose SLA 3D Printing?

Professionals choose SLA 3D printing for its ability to quickly produce parts withfine features, smooth surface finishes, excellentprecision, high accuracy, superior mechanical attributes, isotropy, watertightness, and material versatility.

Speed and Throughput

As more businesses turn to 3D printing for production as well as rapid iteration, 3D printing speed becomes a greater consideration when choosing a technology.Though advances have been made in 3D printing speed across all technologies, SLA 3D printing has established itself as the clear frontrunner for the fastest 3D printing process available.

Some resin 3D printing processes are faster than others; laser-powered SLA generally cures each layer more slowly than DLP or MSLA (LCD) technologies that can cure an entire cross-section with one quick exposure of the light source.

Formlabs has made industry-leading print speeds a priority; Form 4 has been engineered to build parts as fast as 100 mm per hour using specifically designed materials like Fast Model Resin, but most Form 4 builds finish in under two hours using any material. Tall parts the full height of the printer can print in five hours using most materials, still allowing for design teams to produce multiple iterations a day.

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Form 4 can finish a fully packed build in 2-5 hours, depending on the material. The throughput possible with a fleet of affordable, fast, and easy-to-use 3D printers like Form 4 can match the output of traditional processes like injection molding.

When that speed is compounded day by day and week by week, the throughput benefits are extraordinary.Form 4 can nowmatchthe speed of high-throughput technologies such as injection molding. Printing full build chambers over the course of a few hours, multiple times a day, can rival the output of a medium-volume injection molding machine, without the long lead times and high upfront cost of tooling.

Material Versatility

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SLA offers the widest range of material options for plastic 3D printing.

SLA resins are incredibly versatile, and there are hundreds of different formulations available. They can becan be soft or hard, heavily filled with secondary materials like glass and ceramic, or imbued with mechanical properties like high heat deflection temperature or impact resistance. Materials range from industry-specific, like dentures, to those that closely match final materials for prototyping, formulated to withstand extensive testing and perform under stress.

Many manufacturers of SLA printers also formulate and manufacture their own resins for use in a closed system, though some offer an open platform for any resin to be used, and others white-label other companies’ resins.

Because these resins are formulated specifically for SLA 3D printers, they are not completely analogous to the familiar thermoplastics like nylon or ABS used in traditional plastic manufacturing methods like injection molding. Though learning which resin is best for a specific application may take testing and consideration of data sheets and application guides, there is an SLA resin for almost every application possible — the enormous variety of mechanical and aesthetic properties available make it easy to create an optimized and efficient workflow.

Accuracy and Precision

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3D printed molds for stretch blow molding (SBM) produced in Rigid 10K Resin have such smooth surfaces and high dimensional accuracy that they can create bottles that are nearly indistinguishable from those made by traditional steel molds.

Accuracy and precision are paramount for all industries from manufacturing to dentistry, andSLA printing is one ofmost accurate 3D printing solutions on the market currently.

Accuracy refers to how closely you match the dimensions of the CAD model, and precision is defined as how repeatedly you can produce the same dimension. Compared to machined accuracy, professional SLA 3D printers are somewhere between standard machining and fine machining. However, accuracy does vary between resin 3D printer manufacturers and can be dependent on the type of light source used to cure the resin, the quality of the components, and the engineering and calibration that go into making those components function together. Accuracy is also dependent on the material — rigid materials are more accurate and easier to print with than flexible materials.

For example, when 3D printinglarger models (81-150 mm features) on Form 4/B, the typical dimensional tolerances are±0.3% (lower limit: ±0.15 mm) when using Grey Resin. For smaller parts and specific applications, the surface accuracy can even be optimized even further—when restorative models are 3D printed in Precision Model Resin, >95% of the printed surface area is within 50 μm of the digital model.

The heated and enclosed build environment of Formlabs SLA 3D printers provides almost identical conditions for each print. Better accuracy is also a function of lower printing temperature compared to thermoplastic-based technologies that melt the raw material. Because stereolithography uses light instead of heat, the printing process takes place at close to room temperature, and printed parts don't suffer from thermal expansion and contraction artifacts.

Form 4’s LFD Print Engine, especially the high-resolution liquid crystal display and collimating lenses included in the LPU 4, creates hyper-accurate cross-sections of each part. The low peel forces made possible by the Release Texture and Flexible Film Resin Tank makes accuracy repeatable, leading to highly precise parts.

Fine Features and Smooth Surface Finish

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Resin 3D printers create parts with a smooth surface finish, which translates to barely any visible layer lines even on complex features, like curved edges.

SLA 3D printers are considered the gold standard for creating parts with smooth surface finishes and fine features. Resin 3D printed parts can easily have appearances comparable to traditional manufacturing methods like injection molding with barely any post-processing. Conversely, FDM 3D printed parts often have visible layer lines, and SLS 3D printed parts often exhibit a grainy, slightly rough texture on the surface.

The surface quality of SLA 3D printed parts lends itself to the creation of end-use products that look and feel like mass-produced consumer goods. It also makes secondary processes like rapid tooling possible.

SLA 3D printers also can achieve finer features and smaller minimum feature sizes than FDM 3D printers, comparable to SLS 3D printers. The light in resin 3D printers can be controlled in much more precise shapes than a filament extruder and therefore create smaller features or thinner walls. And, because SLA light sources can be lower power than the lasers required to melt powder in SLS 3D printers, they can cure with greater precision, leading to smaller features.

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While FDM 3D printed parts tend to have visible layer lines and might show inaccuracies around complex features, parts printed on SLA machines have sharp edges, a smooth surface finish, and minimal visible layer lines.

Isotropy

Because 3D printing creates parts one layer at a time, completed prints may have variations in strength based on the orientation of the part relative to the printing process, with different properties in X, Y, and Z axes.

Extrusion-based 3D printing processes like fused deposition modeling (FDM) are known for being anisotropic due to layer-to-layer differences created by the print process. This anisotropy limits the usefulness of FDM for certain applications or requires more adjustments on the part geometry side to compensate for it.

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In contrast, SLA resin 3D printers create highly isotropic parts. Achieving part isotropy is based on a number of factors that can be tightly controlled by integrating material chemistry with the print process. During printing, resin components form covalent bonds, but layer to layer, the part remains in a semi-reacted “green state.”

While in the green state, the resin retains polymerizable groups that can form bonds across layers, imparting isotropy and watertightness to the part upon final cure. On the molecular level, there is no difference between X, Y, or Z planes. This results in parts with predictable mechanical performance critical for applications like jigs and fixtures, end-use parts, and functional prototyping.

Compare Isotropy Between Technologies

Watertightness

SLA printed objects are continuous, whether producing geometries with solid features or internal channels. This watertightness is important for engineering and manufacturing applications where air or fluid flow must be controlled and predictable. Engineers and designers use the watertightness of SLA printers to solve air and fluid flow challenges for automotive uses, biomedical research, and to validate part designs for consumer products like kitchen appliances.

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OXO relies on the watertightness of SLA 3D printing tocreate robust functional prototypesfor products with air or fluid flow, like this coffee maker.

Custom or low-volume watertight and gas-tight parts are also sought after across several industries, such as marine research, underwater robotics, sustainable technologies engineering, oil and gas industries, and defense. Though some 3D printing technologies present an ideal solution for these parts, the common perception of additively manufactured parts is that they are porous and cannot be deployed in pressurized environments.

In recent years, however, this assumption has been thoroughly disproven. SLA printers can create watertight enclosures and completely waterproof parts. Institutions like National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the University of Rhode Island have made incredible strides in marine research by implementing low-cost, high-quality SLA 3D printed testing and research equipment.

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3D printing makes it possible to try out new and complex shapes for testing and sample-gathering equipment, like this tool with components printed in Clear Resin.

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The agile nature of on-demand 3D printing makes custom jigs and fixtures for research at sea possible and cost-effective.

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White Paper

3D Printing Watertight Enclosures and Pressure Testing Results

In this white paper, we will provide the testing results and clear guidelines on how to affordably 3D print customized watertight enclosures.

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SLA 3D Printing Applications

Resin 3D printed parts accelerateinnovation and supports businesses in a wide range ofindustriesand applications. Advanced materials, incredible dimensional accuracy, and accessible workflows make parts at every stage, from prototyping to production, possible. As costs have come down at the same time that the technology has become more affordable and scalable, end-use applications and mass-customization are becoming the norm, not the exception.

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Engineering and Product Design

Rapid prototypingwith 3D printing empowers engineers and product designers to turn ideas into realistic proofs of concept, advance these concepts to high-fidelity prototypes that look and work like final products, and guide products through a series of validation stages toward mass production.

Applications:

  • Concept models
  • Functional prototyping
  • Validation testing

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Manufacturing

Manufacturers automate production processes and streamline workflows by prototyping tooling and directly 3D printing custom tools, molds, and manufacturing aids at far lower costs and lead times than with traditional manufacturing. This reduces manufacturing costs and defects, increases quality, speeds up assembly, and maximizes labor effectiveness.

Applications:

  • Manufacturing aids (jigs and fixtures)
  • Rapid tooling(injection molding, thermoforming, silicone molding, blow molding, metal casting)
  • Low volume manufacturing
  • Mass customization

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Automotive

Automotive designers, manufacturers, and engineers use SLA 3D printing for a variety of parts throughout their process. From concept models to aftermarket parts, SLA 3D printing is everywhere, and touches the development or production of every car on the road.

  • Rapid prototyping (concept models, functional prototyping, validation testing)
  • Rapid tooling
  • Manufacturing aids
  • End-use, aftermarket, and custom parts

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Aerospace

SLA 3D printed parts have been sent to space for testing on the International Space Station, used in manufacturing for commercial airlines, and are used across the world for testing, prototyping, and manufacturing in both the private and federal aerospace industry. From fixtures that help build space mission lasers to ceramics that are used in testing for jet-fuel applications, SLA parts are helping us reach the final frontier.

  • Rapid prototyping (wind tunnel testing)
  • Rapid tooling
  • Manufacturing aids
  • End-use, replacement, and custom parts

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Dental

Digital dentistry reduces the risks and uncertainties introduced by human factors, providing higher consistency, accuracy, and precision at every stage of the workflow to improve patient care. 3D printers can produce a range of high-quality custom products and appliances at low unit costs with superior fit and repeatable results.

Applications:

  • Crown and bridge models
  • Clear aligner and Hawley retainer models
  • Surgical guides
  • Splints and occlusal guards
  • Patterns for casting and pressing
  • Dentures

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Medical

Affordable, professional-grade desktop 3D printing helps doctors deliver treatments and devices with a high level of customization to better serve each unique individual, opening the door to high-impact medical applications while saving organizations significant time and costs.

Applications:

  • Anatomical models for surgical planning
  • Medical devices and surgical instruments
  • Orthoticsand prosthetics

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Education

Resin 3D printers are multifunctional tools for immersive learning and advanced research. They can encourage creativity and expose students to professional-level technology while supporting STEAM curricula across science, engineering, art, and design.

Applications:

  • Research and development
  • Fab labs and makerspaces
  • Teaching tools across disciplines

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Entertainment

High-definition physical models are widely used in sculpting, character modeling, and prop making. 3D printed parts have starred in stop-motion films, video games, bespoke costumes, and even special effects for blockbuster movies.

Applications:

  • Hyper-realistic sculptures
  • Character models
  • Prop making

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Jewelry

Jewelry professionals use CAD and 3D printing to rapidly prototype designs, fit clients, and produce large batches of ready-to-cast pieces. Digital tools allow for the creation of consistent, sharply detailed pieces without the tediousness and variability of wax carving.

Applications:

  • Lost-wax casting (investment casting)
  • Customized high-fidelity prototypes
  • Master patterns for rubber molding

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Audiology

Hearing specialists and ear mold labs use digital workflows and 3D printing to manufacture higher quality custom ear products more consistently, and at higher volumes, for applications like behind-the-ear hearing aids, hearing protection, and custom earplugs and earbuds.

  • Hearing aids
  • Noise protection
  • Consumer audio

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SLA 3D Printing Materials

SLA 3D printing materials are highly versatile, offering resin formulations with a wide range of optical, mechanical, and thermal properties to match those of standard, engineering, and industrial thermoplastics. There are resins formulated specifically for manufacturing concerns like electrostatic discharge or flame retardancy, and resins formulated to mimic the mechanical properties of industry-familiar plastics. Depending on the formulation and chemistry, some resins can also be leveragedto produce puresilicone, polyurethane, orceramic parts.Resin 3D printing also offers thebroadest spectrumof biocompatible materials, opening up doors in end-use products, medical equipment, 3D printing at the point of care, and medical procedure innovation.

The specific material availability is highly dependent on the manufacturer and printer. Formlabsoffers the most comprehensive resin library with 40+ uniquely formulated resins.

3D printing’s ability to create cost-effective parts with complex geometries makes innovation possible, and, with the right material, those innovative ideas can be tested, validated, and put into practice. Formlabs’ materials enable applications like mass-customized consumer goods, surgical tools, dental implants and appliances, manufacturing aids, rapid tooling, and more. Formlabs’ resin 3D printers make accessing these powerful workflows possible.

General Purpose Resins

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Clear Resin creates highly transparent and colorless parts that can be polished to near optical transparency.For two-part molds, this transparency makes it easy to observe and troubleshoot the molding process as it happens within the part.

Formlabs’ General Purpose Resins are formulated for speed and consistency to create parts in a range of applications and industries. From matte greyscale parts for design review prototypes to transparent parts printed inClear Resinforsee-through models and molds, General Purpose Resins are the workhorses of SLA3D printing. Formlabs latestGeneral Purpose Resins developed for Form 4 allow new heights to be reached in speed, mechanical properties, and resolution — Fast Model Resin can print at speeds of 100 mm per hourand Grey Resinhas 30% higher impact strength.

MaterialDescriptionApplications
Fast Model ResinPrint speeds of up to 100 mm/hourConcept models
Rapid prototyping
Clear ResinPolishes to near optical transparencyParts requiring optical transparency
Rapid prototyping
Transparent molds
Millifluidics
Greyscale Resins (Grey, Black, White)Smooth, matte finish
High resolution
Concept models
Rapid prototyping
Jigs and fixtures
Masking tools
Color ResinIntegrated color mixing solution
Custom colors
Bright, colorful parts
Anatomical models
Consumer products prototyping

Explore General Purpose Resins

Engineering and Manufacturing Resins

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Rigid 10K Resin is ahighly glass-filled materialforindustrial parts that need to withstand significant load without bending, including applications like injection molding.

Formlabs Engineering Resins have been formulated to answer specific needs inengineering and manufacturing workflows, and enable new applications, streamline operations, and simplifyfield testing. These materials are designed to match or exceed the capabilities of industry-familiar materials like ABS, silicone, or PEEK.From extremely stiff,rigid materials, to robustmaterials that can handle impacts, to soft and flexible materialsthat can handle bending and flexing through repeated cycles. Unique specialty materialsinclude ESD-safe orflame-retardantresins, as well astechnical materials that haven’t been accessible in desktop3D printing before, such as true ceramic and silicone 3D printing.

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Formlabs' Flame Retardant Resin is a specialty UL 94 Blue Card certified material for creating self-extinguishing and halogen-free parts.

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Silicone 40A Resin is a true silicone, withmechanical properties that are familiar to engineers and product designers.

MaterialDescriptionApplications
Tough and Durable ResinsStrong, robust, functional, and dynamic materials
Can handle compression, stretching, bending, and impacts without breaking
Various materials with properties similar to ABS, PP, or PE
Housings and enclosures
Jigs and fixtures
Connectors
Wear-and-tear prototypes
Rigid ResinsHighly filled, strong and stiff materials that resist bending
Thermally and chemically resistant
Dimensionally stable under load
Simulates stiffness of PEEK or glass and fiber-filled thermoplastics
Jigs, fixtures, and tooling
Turbines and fan blades
Fluid and airflow components
Electrical casings and automotive housings
Flexible and Elastic ResinsFlexibility of rubber, TPU, or silicone
Can withstand bending, flexing, and compression
Holds up to repeated cycles without tearing
Consumer goods prototyping
Compliant features for robotics
Medical devices and anatomical models
Special effects props and models
Silicone 40A ResinThe first accessible 100% silicone 3D printing material
Superior material properties of cast silicone
Functional prototypes, validation units, and small batches of silicone parts
Customized medical devices
Flexible fixtures, masking tools, and soft molds for casting urethane or resin
High Temp ResinHigh temperature resistance
High precision
Hot air, gas, and fluid flow
Heat resistant mounts, housings, and fixtures
Molds and inserts
Flame Retardant (FR) ResinFlame retardant, heat-resistant, stiff, and creep-resistant material for indoor and industrial environments with high temperatures or ignition sourcesInterior aerospace and automotive parts
Protective and internal consumer products or medical electronics components
Custom jigs, fixtures, and replacement parts
ESD ResinESD-safe material to improve electronics manufacturing workflowsTooling & fixturing for electronics manufacturing
Anti-static prototype and end-use components
Custom trays for component handling and storage
Polyurethane ResinsExcellent long-term durability
UV, temperature, and humidity stable
Flame retardancy, sterilizability, and chemical and abrasion resistance
High performance automotive, aerospace, and machinery components
Robust and rugged end-use parts
Tough, longer-lasting functional prototypes
Alumina 4N Resin99.99% pure alumina technical ceramic
Exceptional thermal, mechanical, and conductive properties
Heat and electrical insulators
Heavy-duty tools
Chemically resistant and wear-resistant components

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Dental Resins

Guide to Stereolithography (SLA) 3D Printing (37)

Formlabs Dental Resins empower dental labs and practices to rapidly manufacture clear aligners, biocompatible appliances like surgical guides or splints, and even advanced intraoral applications such asfull dentures or permanent restorations.

For dental professionals, the Formlabs ecosystems offers a simplified, all-in-one workflow that promises accurate parts, every time — no adjustment or calibration necessary.Fromlarge labs and practices with multiple types of appliances to smaller operations that specialize in certain indications, the Form 4B and library of Dental Resins provide solutions for everyone.

MaterialDescriptionApplications
Precision Model ResinHigh-accuracy material for creating restorative models with >99% of printed surface area within 100 μm of the digital modelRemovable die models
Crown and bridge models
Implant analog models
Diagnostic models
Fast Model ResinFormlabs' fastest dental material capable of printing a dental model every 49 secondsThermoforming models
Orthodontic appliance models
Grey ResinOffers a balance of speed and accuracy along with excellent aestheticsDiagnostic models
Fit test models
Surgical Guide ResinNext-generation 3D printing material that is autoclavable and biocompatible for implant placement surgical guidesSurgical guides
Pilot drill guides
Drilling templates
Device sizing templates
Dental LT Clear ResinLong-term biocompatible material for hard occlusal splints and night guardsHard occlusal splints
Hard night guards
Dental LT Comfort ResinLong-term biocompatible material easily polished to high optical transparencyFlexible occlusal splints
Flexible night guards
Digital DenturesAccessible, affordable digital denture material for Class II long-term biocompatible denturesFinal dentures
Try-in dentures
Premium Teeth ResinNano-ceramic Class II biocompatible material with enhanced aesthetics and superior intraoral mechanical propertiesDenture teeth
Try-in dentures
Full-arch implant-supported restorations
Custom Tray ResinFast printing, biocompatible resin for custom impression traysCustom impression trays
Temporary CB ResinTooth-colored resin available in five shades with excellent marginal adaptation, strength, and aestheticsCrowns
Bridges
Inlays
Veneers
Onlays
Permanent Crown ResinTooth-colored, ceramic-filled resin for high strength, long term restorations available in four VITA Classical shadesSingle crowns
Inlays
Onlays
Veneers
IBT Flex ResinFlexible and biocompatible material for highly accurate indirect bonding trays and direct composite restoration guidesIndirect bonding trays
Direct composite restoration guides
Soft Tissue Starter PackFlexible material for removable soft tissue componentsSoft tissue for implant models
Gingiva masks

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Medical Resins

Guide to Stereolithography (SLA) 3D Printing (38)

Formlabs BioMedResinsenable healthcare professionals to create accurate, biocompatible, and personalized anatomical models, surgical instrumentation, and medical devicesthat improve patient care.

For healthcare professionals,Formlabs BioMed Resinsare medical-grade materials for a wide range of applications where performance and biocompatibility are critical. Materials in the BioMed Resin family are developed and manufactured in an ISO 13485 certified facility and are compatible with common disinfection and sterilization methods.

MaterialDescriptionApplications
BioMed White ResinRigid and opaque white. Approved for long-term skin (>30 days) or short-term bone, tissue, dentin, and mucosal membrane contact (<24 hours).End-use medical devices and device components; patient-specific implant sizing models and molds; cutting and drilling guides; surgical tools and templates; biocompatible molds, jigs, and fixtures; anatomical models that can be used in the OR.
BioMed Black ResinRigid and matte black. Approved for long-term skin (>30 days) and short-term mucosal membrane contact (<24 hours).Medical devices and device components; biocompatible molds, jigs, and fixtures; end-use parts requiring patient contact; consumer goods.
BioMed Amber ResinRigid and semi-transparent. Approved for long-term skin (>30 days) or short-term bone, tissue, dentin, and mucosal membrane contact (<24 hours).End-use medical devices; implant sizing models; cutting and drilling guides.
BioMed Clear ResinRigid and transparent. Approved for long-term skin (>30 days), breathing gas pathways, and mucosal membrane contact (>30 hours) or short-term bone, tissue, and dentin (<24 hours).End-use devices, including gas pathway devices; biocompatible prototypes, molds, jigs and fixtures; models for visualization and implant sizing; cell culture and bioprocess devices.
BioMed Durable ResinImpact, shatter, and abrasion resistant. Transparent. Approved for long-term skin (>30 days) and mucosal membrane (>30 hours) or short-term tissue, bone, and dentin contact (<24 hours).Patient-specific instruments; single-use instruments; end-use devices and components requiring biocompatibility and impact resistance.
BioMed Elastic 50A ResinSoft and silicone-like. Translucent. Approved forlong-term skin (>30 days) or short-term mucosal membrane contact (<24 hours).Comfortable medical devices requiring long-term skin contact; biocompatible soft tissue models surgeons can reference in the operating room.
BioMed Flex 80A Resin Hard rubber-like. Translucent. Approved for long-term skin (>30 days) or short-term mucosal membrane contact (<24 hours).Flexible biocompatible medical devices and components; medical devices requiring short-term mucosal membrane contact; firm tissue models to assist in surgeries.

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Jewelry Resins

Guide to Stereolithography (SLA) 3D Printing (39)

Jewelry Resins enable the prototyping and production of custom jewelry.

Formlabs Jewelry Resins are designed to reliably reproduce crisp settings, sharp prongs, smooth shanks, and fine surface details. They enable anyone from retailers and designers producing custom jewelry to large casting houses manufacturing at scale to producetry-on pieces for customers, ready-to-cast custom jewelry, or masters for reusable jewelry molds.

MaterialDescriptionApplications
Castable ResinsMaterials for investment casting
Easy to cast, with intricate details and strong shape retention
Custom jewelry
High Temp ResinStrong and temperature resistant material for vulcanized rubber moldingMasters for reusable molds
Grey ResinGeneral purpose material for high detail prototyping and custom fittingsJewelry prototyping
Try-on pieces

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Bringing SLA 3D Printing In-House

Several factors have influenced the surge in the number of businesses that are bringing SLA 3D printing in-house. High-quality SLA 3D printing has become more affordable, printers themselves have becomereliable and easyto use, and as materials have become more advanced, new applications are opening up. Engineers, manufacturers, healthcare professionals, and businesses of all types can see the benefit of having resin 3D printing capacity in-house.

Though the benefits of this technology at your fingertips can stretch to every facet of an organization, the main advantages are that in-house SLA 3D printing reduces costs and shortens internal and customer lead times, helps control and insulate businesses' supply chains, and is a scalable technology that can grow with you.

Reduce Costs and Shorten Lead Times

SLA 3D printing can help businesses eliminatethe high costs and long lead times associated with outsourcing or more complicated alternativemethods like machining. With 3D printing, there’s no need for costly tooling and setup; the same equipment can be used to rapidly produce different geometries.

Guide to Stereolithography (SLA) 3D Printing (40)

A three-piece gaming controller prototype assembly, 3D printed in two different materials for contrasting colors.

Rapid Prototyping: Battle Beaver Customs Gaming Controller

The rapid print speed of Form 4 enables same-day prototyping atBattle Beaver Customs, helping the companybring new products to the market faster andstay ahead of its competitors.

Prototype assemblyOutsourcing3D printing in house
Equipment-Form 4
White and Black Resins
Lead time7 days5 hours
Cost$250$15

Guide to Stereolithography (SLA) 3D Printing (41)

Mold 3D printed with Rigid 10K Resin for Unilever Slice 750 mL bottle installed onto the shell holder on the machine. The team can use the same process window as with a standard pilot mold, which allows them to reliably test the final process.

Rapid Tooling: Unilever Blow Molded Bottles

Unilever and Serioplast, usethe Form 3L benchtop resin 3D printer and Rigid 10K Resinto quickly and efficiently produce molds for stretch blow molding (SBM)that can handle the pressure of traditional, industrial SBM machines.

Production Run of 200 unitsMachined metal mold3D printed mold
EquipmentIn-house CNC machine or outsourcingForm 3L
Rigid 10K Resin
Pilot testing lead time6-8 weeks2 weeks
Tooling cost$2,500-$10,000$500-$1,000

Guide to Stereolithography (SLA) 3D Printing (42)

Interactive

Calculate Your Time and Cost Savings

Try our interactive ROI tool to see how much time and cost you can save when 3D printing on Formlabs 3D printers.

Calculate Your Savings

Control Your Supply Chain

3D printing in-house can look different for different types of professionals. Many large businesses, such as Microsoft or Rivian, choose to operate internal service bureaus, where engineers, designers, and manufacturing teams request parts from a centralized lab. Other businesses, especially those that are design and iteration-focused with high degrees of CAD expertise in their workforce, prefer a decentralized approach with a printer on every designer’s desk. Accessible, affordable, desktop-sized machines like Form 4 make these types of workflows possible and can present agile solutions for a changing workforce and office environment.

Whether centralized or decentralized, 3D printing in-house gives employees greater control over their workflows, and reduces costs and uncertainties for the business as a whole.

Scale as Production Needs Increase

Guide to Stereolithography (SLA) 3D Printing (43)

Desktop 3D printers like Form 4 are“plug and play”, so anyone can learn to use it in 15 minutes.

Depending on the number of parts and printing volume, investment into a small format 3D printer can break even within months. With small format machines, it’s possible to pay for just as much capacity as a business needs and scale production by adding extra units as demand grows. Using multiple 3D printers also creates the flexibility to print parts in different materials simultaneously.

To make managing multiple resin 3D printers easier, Formlabs customers have access to two software platforms. Dashboard is a free software platform that helps them monitor their printers and streamline management. For added capabilities and advanced management tools, Fleet Control leverages automation to automatically assign prints andmake multi-printer management more efficient.

Guide to Stereolithography (SLA) 3D Printing (44)

White Paper

Managing 3D Printer Fleets

Managing multiple SLA and SLS printers doesn’t have to be complicated — any business can get a fleet of SLA and SLS printers up and running in just a day or two.By reviewing four different successful multi-printer scenarios, this guide will help you set up an efficient workflow for any volume or part type.

Download the White Paper

Get Started With In-House SLA 3D Printing

Guide to Stereolithography (SLA) 3D Printing (45)

Formlabs offers desktop and benchtop SLA 3D printers that are fast and affordable and deliver high-quality parts with a wide range of material properties. The Formlabs resin 3D printing ecosystem is designed for ease of use and as few touchpoints as possible.

To continue exploring SLA 3D printing, start with feeling the quality of SLA for yourself: request a free sample 3D printed part in your choice of material to be mailed straight to your door.

Explore Formlabs Resin 3D PrintersRequest a Free Sample Part

Guide to Stereolithography (SLA) 3D Printing (2024)

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