Resin (SLA/LCD/DLP) 

Accuracy in SLA and DLP technology 3D printers

The main outstanding feature of 3D printers with SLA or DLP technology is the high precision they can achieve, obtaining a resolution of up to 25 microns, which makes it possible to manufacture parts with great detail and a smooth finish.

What can a 3D SLA and DLP technology printer provide?

A 3D printer with SLA or DLP/LCD technology is very versatile at a professional level. In the beginning, this technology was limited because the existing resins were not valid for industrial applications. Currently, that has changed and there are many engineering resins that enable the manufacture of thermally resistant parts, mechanically, etc.

3D printing with resin: SLA and DLP

3D printing technology based on laser stereolithography (SLA) uses a UV light to convert the liquid resin into a solid object, tracing the shape of each layer. Two motors, known as galvanometers (one on the X axis and the other on the Y axis), are used to aim a laser beam through the printing area, solidifying the resin as it progresses. This process breaks down the design, layer by layer, into a series of points and lines that are communicated to the galvanometers as a set of coordinates.

Digital light processing (DLP) technology uses a digital projection screen to project a single image for each layer at the same time across the entire platform. Because the projector is a digital display, the image of each layer is composed of squares, which results in a layer formed by small rectangular blocks called "voxels".

How are FDM and SLA 3D printing technologies different?

In the FDM technology there is a greater variety of materials and colors available, however, the SLA technology is much more accurate and faster.

Another determining point is that in FDM materials can be combined, including soluble support materials, which makes it possible to reduce the post-processing of media removal, something that in SLA is impossible. In SLA, the parts should be washed and cured after printing, which implies a longer post-processing time with respect to FDM.

Therefore, the type of pieces to be printed will determine which technology is most suitable for each specific case.