PP-like
A resin that mimics the properties of polypropylene, offering excellent impact resistance, flexibility, and fatigue resistance. This material is ideal for producing snap-fit parts, enclosures, and lightweight functional prototypes.
SLA 3D Printing service
- ABS-like, Clear, High Temp, ESD-Safe, and more
- ISO 9001:2015
Stereolithography (SLA) is an advanced Additive Manufacturing technology
It uses a UV laser to cure liquid resin into a solid structure layer by layer. It is known for producing high-resolution, smooth-surface parts, making it ideal for prototyping, medical models, and intricate functional components. SLA is widely used in industries such as automotive, healthcare, jewellery, and consumer goods.
SLA 3D printing use cases
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High-definition aesthetic prototypes
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Functional and assembly prototypes
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Models for form and ergonomics testing
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Masters for silicone moulds
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Models for casting and investment casting
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Transparent and fluidic components
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Housings, covers, and design parts
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Precision jigs and tooling
Materials for SLA 3D printing
Resins
ABS-like
A high-strength resin designed to replicate the mechanical properties of traditional ABS plastic. It provides good impact resistance, durability, and dimensional stability, making it an excellent choice for functional prototypes, casings, and engineering components. Its toughness allows for post-processing such as sanding, drilling, and painting, making it ideal for end-use applications requiring structural integrity.
Clear
A high-clarity resin engineered for applications that require transparency, such as optical prototypes, fluid flow analysis models, and aesthetic parts. The material features excellent surface quality and can be post-processed to enhance transparency, reducing the natural haze typical of SLA-printed parts. It is frequently used in lighting components, lenses, and medical models.
TPU-like
A flexible resin that replicates the elasticity and softness of thermoplastic polyurethane. It provides high elongation at break, excellent tear resistance, and good durability, making it suitable for gaskets, seals, flexible hinges, and ergonomic components. Its ability to withstand repeated compression and stretching makes it an excellent choice for parts requiring resilience and flexibility over time.
High Temp
A thermally resistant resin designed to maintain structural integrity at elevated temperatures. With excellent heat deflection properties, this material is ideal for tooling, moulds, and industrial applications requiring resistance to thermal deformation. It is often used in functional prototypes for automotive, aerospace, and electronics industries where exposure to high heat is a concern.
Rubber-like
A soft, flexible resin that replicates the properties of rubber, offering superior elasticity, shock absorption, and excellent surface grip. This material is ideal for applications such as overmoulded components, vibration-damping parts, gaskets, and wearable prototypes. It allows for high-precision detailing while maintaining flexibility and resilience under mechanical stress.
Ceramic
A high-rigidity resin with ceramic-like hardness, thermal resistance, and a smooth surface finish. This material provides excellent wear resistance, low thermal expansion, and dimensional stability under high temperatures. It is commonly used in tooling, medical applications, and specialised industrial components where heat resistance and hardness are critical.
ESD-safe resin
An electrostatic discharge-resistant material designed for applications requiring static protection. It prevents the buildup of electrostatic charges, making it ideal for electronic housings, circuit board fixtures, and components used in sensitive environments. This material maintains good mechanical strength while ensuring safe handling of electronic devices in manufacturing and testing setups.
Our team of experts is at your disposal
Our engineers support you in material selection, optimising the part for metal 3D printing, and defining the required post-processes and inspections.
Finishing options for SLA
Painting
Aesthetic finish and part protection with custom painting on request.
Final result:
- Uniform aesthetic finish
- Customisable colour
- Greater surface protection
Comparison with other technologies
| Technology | Max. size | Min. detail size | Min. wall thickness | Tolerance | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMLS | 500×280×340 mm | 0.6-0.8 mm | 0.22 mm | ±0.25 (≤15mm); ±0.5 (>15mm) | Similar to Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), but uses metal powders to produce high-strength, intricate metal parts, suitable for functional prototypes and end-use components in aerospace, medical and automotive. |
| SLS Plastic | 680×380×540 mm | 0.8 mm | 0.7-1.3 mm | ±0.3% (±0.3mm) | Uses a laser to fuse powdered materials layer by layer, ideal for durable, complex parts without support structures. Widely used in aerospace, automotive and medical. |
| SLA Plastic | 1350×750×500 mm | 0.2-0.5 mm | 1-3 mm | ±0.2% (min. 0.2 mm) | Uses a UV laser to cure liquid resin into solid layers, ideal for highly detailed, smooth, intricate parts. Widely used for detailed prototypes and complex designs in jewellery and dentistry. |
| MJF Plastic | 380×284×380 mm | 0.5 mm | 0.3-0.5 mm | ±0.3% (±0.2 mm) | Uses multiple jets to apply fusing agents onto powder, which is then fused by heating elements. Delivers high-resolution functional parts with short lead times, often used in aerospace, automotive and consumer goods. |
| Polyjet Plastic | 490×380×200 mm | 1.2-2 mm | 1 mm | ±0.1% | Jets liquid photopolymer resin and cures it layer by layer with UV light, enabling highly detailed, multi-material parts with different properties. Popular for prototyping and colour-rich complex models in medical modelling, consumer goods and electronics. |
| FDM Plastic | 914×690×914 mm | 1.2-1.5 mm | 1.5 mm | ±0.5% (±0.5 mm) | Uses a heated nozzle to extrude thermoplastic filament layer by layer, ideal for durable functional prototypes. Commonly used in manufacturing, automotive and consumer products. |
| DLP Plastic | 510×280×350 mm | 0.5 mm | 1 mm | ±0.30 mm < 100mm; ±0.3% > 100 mm | Uses a digital light projector to cure liquid resin layer by layer, providing fast, precise, high-resolution prints. Commonly used in dentistry, jewellery and high-definition prototypes. |
| Large Scale Plastic | 2500×2500×4000 mm | 3 mm | — | ±5 mm/m | Refers to 3D printing technologies designed to create large objects or structures, such as industrial machine parts or architectural models, with an emphasis on size and structural integrity. |
| DED | 1200×800×600 mm | — | — | — | Uses an energy beam to melt and deposit metal powders or wires, ideal for repairing or adding features to metal parts in aerospace and manufacturing. |
| Binder Jet | 430×310×150 mm | — | — | ±3% | Deposits a binding agent onto a powder bed to form parts, which are then sintered. Useful for producing complex, cost-effective parts, often used in automotive, aerospace, consumer goods and jewellery. |
Technology
DMLS
- Max. size
- 500×280×340 mm
- Min. detail size
- 0.6-0.8 mm
- Min. wall thickness
- 0.22 mm
- Tolerance
- ±0.25 (≤15mm); ±0.5 (>15mm)
Description
Similar to Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), but uses metal powders to produce high-strength, intricate metal parts, suitable for functional prototypes and end-use components in aerospace, medical and automotive.
Technology
SLS
Plastic- Max. size
- 680×380×540 mm
- Min. detail size
- 0.8 mm
- Min. wall thickness
- 0.7-1.3 mm
- Tolerance
- ±0.3% (±0.3mm)
Description
Uses a laser to fuse powdered materials layer by layer, ideal for durable, complex parts without support structures. Widely used in aerospace, automotive and medical.
Technology
SLA
Plastic- Max. size
- 1350×750×500 mm
- Min. detail size
- 0.2-0.5 mm
- Min. wall thickness
- 1-3 mm
- Tolerance
- ±0.2% (min. 0.2 mm)
Description
Uses a UV laser to cure liquid resin into solid layers, ideal for highly detailed, smooth, intricate parts. Widely used for detailed prototypes and complex designs in jewellery and dentistry.
Technology
MJF
Plastic- Max. size
- 380×284×380 mm
- Min. detail size
- 0.5 mm
- Min. wall thickness
- 0.3-0.5 mm
- Tolerance
- ±0.3% (±0.2 mm)
Description
Uses multiple jets to apply fusing agents onto powder, which is then fused by heating elements. Delivers high-resolution functional parts with short lead times, often used in aerospace, automotive and consumer goods.
Technology
Polyjet
Plastic- Max. size
- 490×380×200 mm
- Min. detail size
- 1.2-2 mm
- Min. wall thickness
- 1 mm
- Tolerance
- ±0.1%
Description
Jets liquid photopolymer resin and cures it layer by layer with UV light, enabling highly detailed, multi-material parts with different properties. Popular for prototyping and colour-rich complex models in medical modelling, consumer goods and electronics.
Technology
FDM
Plastic- Max. size
- 914×690×914 mm
- Min. detail size
- 1.2-1.5 mm
- Min. wall thickness
- 1.5 mm
- Tolerance
- ±0.5% (±0.5 mm)
Description
Uses a heated nozzle to extrude thermoplastic filament layer by layer, ideal for durable functional prototypes. Commonly used in manufacturing, automotive and consumer products.
Technology
DLP
Plastic- Max. size
- 510×280×350 mm
- Min. detail size
- 0.5 mm
- Min. wall thickness
- 1 mm
- Tolerance
- ±0.30 mm < 100mm; ±0.3% > 100 mm
Description
Uses a digital light projector to cure liquid resin layer by layer, providing fast, precise, high-resolution prints. Commonly used in dentistry, jewellery and high-definition prototypes.
Technology
Large Scale
Plastic- Max. size
- 2500×2500×4000 mm
- Min. detail size
- 3 mm
- Min. wall thickness
- —
- Tolerance
- ±5 mm/m
Description
Refers to 3D printing technologies designed to create large objects or structures, such as industrial machine parts or architectural models, with an emphasis on size and structural integrity.
Technology
DED
- Max. size
- 1200×800×600 mm
- Min. detail size
- —
- Min. wall thickness
- —
- Tolerance
- —
Description
Uses an energy beam to melt and deposit metal powders or wires, ideal for repairing or adding features to metal parts in aerospace and manufacturing.
Technology
Binder Jet
- Max. size
- 430×310×150 mm
- Min. detail size
- —
- Min. wall thickness
- —
- Tolerance
- ±3%
Description
Deposits a binding agent onto a powder bed to form parts, which are then sintered. Useful for producing complex, cost-effective parts, often used in automotive, aerospace, consumer goods and jewellery.
SLA technology pros and cons
Advantages
- Extremely high-resolution and accuracy.
- Smooth surface finish (comparable to injection moulded parts).
- Ability to print transparent components.
- Ideal for complex geometries and intricate designs.
Points to consider
- Post-processing required (support removal, washing, curing).
- Generally lower structural strength compared to SLS, MJF, or FDM.
- Durability: photopolymers degrade over time.
- Limited UV resistance.
- Low production volume.
- Non-recyclable (thermosetting polymers).
SLA 3D printing FAQ
What is the difference between SLA and DLP 3D printing?
SLA and DLP are both vat photopolymerisation 3D printing technologies that use photosensitive liquid resins, but they differ in the way each layer is cured. SLA (Stereolithography) uses a laser that follows the geometry of the component, while DLP (Digital Light Processing) projects the image of the entire layer over a defined area. The choice depends on component size, level of detail, productivity, material, and required surface quality. MadeInAdd evaluates both technologies according to the project, using SLA for larger components and DLP for highly detailed parts and builds containing multiple small components.
How accurate is SLA 3D printing?
SLA is particularly suitable for producing fine details and smooth surfaces. In MadeInAdd configurations, the indicative minimum feature size is approximately 0.2–0.5 mm, with wall thicknesses of around 1–3 mm. The reference tolerance is ±0.2%, with an indicative minimum of ±0.2 mm, while the maximum build volume is 1,350 × 750 × 500 mm. Actual accuracy depends on geometry, orientation, material, and post-curing. For critical functional dimensions, tolerances and manufacturability should therefore be assessed for the specific application.
What types of components is SLA suitable for?
SLA 3D printing is suitable for components requiring high detail, smooth surfaces, and high aesthetic quality. It is used for evaluation models, masters, design parts, medical applications, and components where geometry and finish are particularly important. MadeInAdd offers several families of resins, including general-purpose formulations, EPU, high-HDT materials, and ceramic-based resins. Material selection depends on the required properties, such as visual quality, thermal response, elasticity, and rigidity.
How does it compare to other technologies?
SLA offers superior finish and detail, but lower mechanical strength. Ideal for realistic prototypes and visual models.
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