2- Guide to 3D Printing: Materials, types, Applications, and Properties
2- Guide to 3D Printing: Materials, types, Applications, and Properties
SLA 3D Printing
Stereolithography is the world’s first 3D printing technology, invented in the 1980s and still one of the most popular technologies among professionals.
Of all plastic 3D printing technologies, SLA parts have the highest resolution and accuracy, the sharpest details, and the smoothest surface finish. Resin 3D printing is an excellent choice for making detailed prototypes that require tight tolerances and smooth surfaces, as well as functional parts such as molds, patterns, and end-use parts. SLA 3D printed parts can also be post-processed after printing, such as polishing, painting, coating, etc., to obtain customer-usable parts with a high-quality surface finish.
Parts printed using SLA 3D printing are isotropic - their strength is consistent regardless of orientation because chemical bonds occur between each layer. This allows parts to have predictable mechanical properties, which is critical for applications such as jigs and fixtures, end-use parts, and functional prototypes.
SLA offers the widest range of material options for plastic 3D printing.
Popular SLA 3D Printing Materials
SLA 3D printing is highly versatile, offering resin formulations with a wide range of optical, mechanical, and thermal properties to match those of standard, engineering, and industrial thermoplastics. Resin 3D printing also offers the broadest spectrum of biocompatible materials.
The specific material availability is highly dependent on the manufacturer and printer. Formlabs offers the most comprehensive resin library with 40+ SLA 3D printing materials.
FORMLABS MATERIALS | FEATURES | APPLICATIONS |
Standard Resins | High resolution | Concept models |
Clear Resin | The only truly clear material for plastic 3D printing | Parts requiring optical transparency |
Draft Resin | One of the fastest materials for 3D printing | Initial Prototypes |
Tough and Durable Resins | Strong, robust, functional, and dynamic materials | Housings and enclosures |
Rigid Resins | Highly filled, strong and stiff materials that resist bending | Jigs, fixtures, and tooling |
Polyurethane Resins | Excellent long-term durability | High performance automotive, aerospace, and machinery components |
High Temp Resin | High temperature resistance | Hot air, gas, and fluid flow |
Flexible and Elastic Resins | Flexibility of rubber, TPU, or silicone | Consumer goods prototyping |
Silicone 40A Resin | The first accessible 100% silicone 3D printing material | Functional prototypes, validation units, and small batches of silicone parts |
Medical and dental resins | A wide range of biocompatible resins for producing medical and dental appliances | Dental and medical appliances, including surgical guides, dentures, and prosthetics |
Jewelry resins | Materials for investment casting and vulcanized rubber molding | Try-on pieces |
ESD Resin | ESD-safe material to improve electronics manufacturing workflows | Tooling & fixturing for electronics manufacturing |
Flame Retardant (FR) Resin | Flame retardant, heat-resistant, stiff, and creep-resistant material for indoor and industrial environments with high temperatures or ignition sources | Interior parts in airplanes, automobiles, and railways |
Alumina 4N Resin | 99.99% pure alumina technical ceramic | Heat and electrical insulators |
