Stereolithography (SLA) is the first commercialized 3D printing technology, invented by 3D Systems' Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer Chuck Hull in the 1980s. It uses an ultraviolet laser to precisely cure photopolymer cross-sections, transforming them from liquid to solid. Parts are built directly from CAD data, layer-by-layer into prototypes, investment casting patterns, tools, and end-use parts. Once the SLA printing process is complete, SLA parts are cleaned in a solvent solution to remove any residual uncured resin from the part surface.

SLA 3D printers are able to deliver highly detailed, tiny parts just a few mm in size, all the way up to 1.5 m long parts—all at the same exceptional resolution and accuracy. Even large parts remain highly accurate from end-to-end, with virtually no part shrinkage or warping.

Delivering the smoothest surface finish of any additive manufacturing process, the quality of SLA parts makes this versatile technology great for:

The Direct Metal Printing (DMP) technology provides unlimited design flexibility and overcomes the limitations related to geometry and surface retention found in conventional manufacturing techniques. This makes Direct Metal Printing ideal for producing compact components with highly complex anatomical shapes, internal channels, complex surface texture and high levels of detail as well as parts of over 400 millimeter high.

• Master patterns for vacuum casting
• Sacrificial patterns for metal casting
• Tools, molds and dies
• Functional prototypes and models
• High clarity, transparent products and components
• Complex assemblies
• Wind tunnel models
• Under the hood components
• Rapid production of flow test rigs
• Mass customization
• Custom assembly jigs and fixtures