SLA or Sterolithography for Quick Prototype Parts

Quicker parts, smoother finishes

SLA, short for stereolithography, was among the first specialized rapid prototyping methods that allowed engineers to turn virtual computer-aided design models into plastic parts. It employs ultraviolet lasers to cure thin layers of liquid plastic into a solid.

Quick prototype parts produced by this method are extremely accurate, and—unlike those produced using fused deposition modeling, or FDM--tend to have polished surface finishes. In the SLA process, various materials are used for different purposes, including waxes, plastics, and flexible elastomers.