Stereolithography (SLA)

SLA – Laser Based Additive 3D Printing

Widely regarded as one of the more accurate additive technologies, SLA is commonly used amongst designers and engineers looking for fine detailed, small featured parts.

The process builds parts with a precise UV laser to cure and solidify thin layers of a photo-reactive resin. Once completed, support structures are removed and parts are hand finished creating a smooth surface finish with almost nonvisible 3D Print layer lines.

Our range of finishing services allows us to add paint and texture to SLA parts to create highly-cosmetic show models.

Materials Available.


Accura® 25

Easy and fast-to-process plastic to simulate the properties and aesthetics of polypropylene with high flexibility, durability and accuracy.

3D Systems Accura 25 for SLA is a versatile material producing prototypes, master patterns and short runs of end-use parts with the look and feel of polypropylene, replacing CNC machined or injection moulded parts, faster and for a fraction of the cost. Its low viscosity formulation enables fast build speeds and quick and easy part cleaning.

With an excellent combination of mechanical properties and aesthetics, Accura 25 material delivers reliable robust parts with outstanding flexibility, excellent shape memory, remarkable feature definition and accuracy.

Not suitable for production or structural fallibility.

Applications

  • Functional assemblies and prototypes
    • Automotive styling parts
    • Consumer goods and electronic components
    • Snap fit assemblies
    • Product design
  • Master patterns for RTV/silicone moulding
  • Concept and marketing models

Benefits

  • Excellent mechanical properties and dimensional stability
  • Reliable and robust functional prototypes
  • Suitable for master patterns

Features

  • High flexibility with excellent shape retention
  • Outstanding feature resolution and accuracy

Technical Specs

Tensile Strength: 38 MPa
Elongation at Break: 16%
Flexural Strength: 57 MPa
Impact Strength: 22 J/m
Colour: White
Build Size: 380x380x250 mm
Layer Thickness: 0.1 mm

For more technical data download the material data sheet.

Download: Accura® 25 Datasheet

Accura® ClearVue

Easy-to-process plastic with best-in-class clarity, high durability and water resistance for a multitude of applications.

Utilised in a variety of demanding applications, 3D Systems Accura ClearVue™ for SLA is the clearest and colourless 3D printing material on the market. Formulated for ease-of-processing, exceptional detail and smooth surface finish, strength, durability and moisture resistance, it simulates the properties and appearance of Polycarbonate and ABS.

This unique combination of clarity, material properties and processing speed makes Accura ClearVue™ a high-performing and cost-effective choice for aesthetic and functional prototypes used to improve product development efficiency of consumer goods, automotive, aerospace and medical components.

Not suitable for production or structural fallibility.

Applications

  • Models and prototypes requiring high clarity
    • Lighting and lenses
    • Fluid flow visualization models
    • Transparent assemblies
    • Packaging/bottles
  • General purpose prototyping
  • Medical models and devices (USP Class VI capable)
  • Master patterns for RTV moulding
  • QuickCast™ patterns for investment casting

Benefits

  • Best-in-class optical clarity
  • Part stability and water tightness
  • Transparent parts

Features

  • Highest clarity and transparency
  • USP class VI capable
  • Excellent humidity/moisture resistance
  • Durable and strong

Technical Specs

Tensile Strength: 52 MPa
Elongation at Break: 6%
Flexural Strength: 83 MPa
Impact Strength: 46 J/m
Colour: Clear
Build Size: 650x750x550 mm
Layer Thickness: 0.1 mm

For more technical data download the material data sheet.

Download: Accura® ClearVue™ Datasheet

Accura® Xtreme™

Ultra-tough grey plastic with outstanding durability, accuracy and aesthetics to replace CNC-machined polypropylene and ABS articles.

Fast and easy to process, the Accura Xtreme material offers physical properties that are close enough to durable end-use plastics like ABS and Polypropylene to make it ideal for functioning prototypes in demanding applications, as well as for short-run production projects.

Accura Xtreme is a grey plastic with the appearance of a final production part with outstanding durability, impact resistance, accuracy and a thermal resistance over 60°C.

Not suitable for production or structural fallibility.

Applications

  • Form, fit and function prototypes
  • Durable and challenging assemblies
    • Snap fit assemblies
    • Tough enclosures
    • Consumer electronic components
  • General purpose prototyping
  • Master patterns for RTV/silicone moulding

Benefits

  • Robust parts resisting breakage
  • Handles challenging functional assemblies
  • Aesthetics of moulded parts

Features

  • Outstanding durability and impact resistance
  • Look and feel of a durable moulded plastic
  • Excellent accuracy
  • Good moisture and thermal resistance

Technical Specs

Tensile Strength: 41 MPa
Elongation at Break: 18%
Flexural Strength: 62 MPa
Impact Strength: 44 J/m
Colour: Grey
Build Size: 650x750x550 mm
Layer Thickness: 0.1 mm

For more technical data download the material data sheet.

Download: Accura® Xtreme™ Datasheet

QuickCast™

High detailed, sacrificial patterns for prototyping and production of metal components with fast turnaround.

QuickCast™ or otherwise known as Investment Casting is an SLA build style designed to meet the needs of the Investment Casting industry. As an alternative to traditional wax patterns, the QuickCast build style consists of a hollow SLA pattern with an internal hexagonal support structure that reduces the amount of material to burn out. Ideal for large assemblies, this process provides invaluable shrink and gating information prior to hard tooling.

Investment casting is a manufacturing procedure that has been around for thousands of years. While there has been some developments in the process, the need for the pattern around which to make the cast shape remains a constant. Traditional tooling to create the patterns can take weeks or months, costing tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars.

3D printed casting patterns offer a tool-free, fast, reliable and accurate alternative to the traditional methods, reducing the costs of creating pattern by as much as 90%, and produced in one-tenth of the time.

Applications

  • Aerospace
  • Medical
  • Defence
  • Electronics

Benefits

  • Rapid production compared to traditional tooling
  • Cost effective solution
  • Tool-free solution
  • Quick turnaround times

Features

  • Hollow build style reduces the amount of material to burn out
  • Provides invaluable shrink and gating information prior to hard tooling
  • Low moisture absorption and expansion of pattern
  • High dimensional stability

Technical Specs

Build Size: 650x750x550 mm
Layer Thickness: 0.1 mm

For more technical data download the material data sheet.

Download: A Guide to Processing QuickCast Patterns

Case Study: Aerospace QuickCast pattern

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)


Stereolithography finds extensive usage in rapid prototyping due to its swift and precise nature, as well as its diverse range of available materials. However, when considering functional applications and the subsequent post-processing demands associated with SLA, alternatives like SLS or MJF tend to be better suited for production-oriented purposes.

Stereolithography presents rapid prototyping capabilities accompanied by exceptional precision and intricate detailing. This technology enables designers to swiftly conceptualise and assess their ideas, ultimately leading to reduced lead times and seamless design iterations.

Stereolithography can attain notable accuracy, frequently reaching precision levels of around 0.1 mm. It’s important to note that accuracy can be impacted by variables like part geometry and the potential shrinkage of the resin used.

Stereolithography serves a broad spectrum of industries, encompassing automotive, consumer goods, electronic components, master patterns for silicone moulding, concept and marketing models, transparent assemblies, packaging, medical devices, and beyond. Its versatility makes it well-suited for producing concept models, functional prototypes, and intricately detailed components.

The choice of material holds significant importance, as diverse resins provide distinct characteristics like strength, flexibility, visual aesthetics, and heat resistance. Formero is equipped to guide you in selecting a material that harmonises with the intended purpose and operating conditions of your part.

The duration of stereolithography projects varies based on considerations such as the chosen material, quantity required, post-processing demands, and ongoing workload. Typically, straightforward parts can be manufactured within around two days. However, more intricate assemblies necessitating various post-processing treatments might extend the timeframe to several days.

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