Stereolithography (SLA)
SLA uses a UV laser to selectively cure a liquid photopolymer resin, producing parts with surface finish and dimensional accuracy that rival injection molding. A broad library of engineered resins, from tough and heat-resistant to biocompatible, ESD-safe, and castable, makes it a versatile fit for demanding applications across industries.
From CAD to production-ready parts.
- STEP / 01A UV laser traces the cross-section of each layer across the surface of a liquid photopolymer vat, curing the resin exactly where it strikes.
- STEP / 02The build platform steps down one layer thickness, fresh resin flows over the surface, and the laser cures the next layer onto the last.
- STEP / 03Once the build completes, parts are washed to remove uncured resin, UV post-cured to reach full mechanical strength, and finished, yielding a mirror-grade surface and tight feature definition.
- Wind-tunnel models
- Visual prototypes
- Master patterns
- Dental & medical R&D parts
- Formlabs Form 4High-speed engineering resins
- Formlabs Form 4BMedical, dental, and biocompatible resins
- Formlabs Form 4LLarge-format production printing
About SLA
Photopolymer printing for mirror-grade surface finish and tight tolerances.
Stereolithography delivers high-resolution parts for prototypes, models, and components requiring detailed surface quality, run on Formlabs Form 4, Form 4B, and Form 4L equipment in our shop.
Our resin library spans engineering, biocompatible, dental, casting-wax, ESD-safe, and high-temperature formulations for wind-tunnel models, master patterns, medical R&D, and presentation-grade prototypes.
This process runs at production scale for aerospace, defense, space, and industrial customers. If you have a part to quote, our engineering team will review geometry, material, and finishing requirements together, and can support you with design for additive manufacturing (DFAM).
Ready to take flight?
Let’s build hardware.
Send us your drawings, or just sketch on a napkin, and your program timeline. Our engineers will provide a rapid quote and deliver flight-ready parts built to your requirements and delivered on schedule.