SLA Technology — Stereolithography
The UV laser draws each layer in liquid resin with a precision that FDM cannot achieve: ribs as small as 0.2mm, surfaces already smooth from the printer, closed geometries, and fine details that would require jeweler's tools for milling. This is why jewelers, dentists, packaging designers, and aesthetic prototypers choose SLA when detail matters more than mechanical strength. Strato3D has 10+ SLA printers with professional-grade resins: standard, tough, transparent, castable, and biocompatible.
When to choose SLA
- When maximum dimensional precision and surface detail are needed
- For smooth surfaces, ready for painting or direct polishing
- For castable jewelry models intended for lost-wax casting
- For dental applications with biocompatible resins
- For aesthetic prototypes and premium packaging models
- For transparent parts or those with high optical quality
Materials available in SLA
Standard resins (rigid, opaque), tough resins resistant to impact, ABS-like resins, transparent glass-effect resins, castable resins for lost-wax casting, biocompatible resins for dental and medical use, water-washable resins. Printing at 25 microns vertical resolution on request for projects requiring maximum detail.
Limitations to be aware of
SLA produces parts that are more brittle than technical FDM with PA or PC. It is not suitable for mechanical parts under continuous load or repeated fatigue. Resins cost more than filaments, so it is advisable for parts where detail justifies the cost — generally anything that exceeds €50-60 in standard FDM.
Request an SLA quote
Send us your STL file, specifying if a particular finish is needed. Contact us now.