SLA 3D Printing: Desktop vs. Industrial

What does SLA stand for in 3d printing?Stereolithography (SLA) belongs to the category of VAT polymerization of 3D printing. This technology uses light-curing thermosetting resins to create parts. It is a powerful additive manufacturing technology that provides the production of complex parts with amazing precision. The key advantage of the SLA method is that it allows the printing of smooth parts with high surface quality. At the same time, the material is consumed very sparingly. Now you know what an SLA printer is, and it’s time to learn the differences between desktop and industrial SLA printing. 

Desktop 3D printing

Desktop 3D printing or consumer SLA printing is used for one-off or small-batch production. With its help, you can print projects with great detail at an affordable cost. The features of consumer SLA printing are as follows:

• Value for money. The price of the best SLA printers of this type starts from €300. It is more expensive than FDM and MJF, but the print quality and detailing are much higher in this case.
• Assembly volume and dimensions. Desktop SLA printing is designed for one-time or low-volume production. Because of this, such printers are considered mini versions of industrial 3D printers. The print size is 145 x 145 x 175 mm.
• Materials and application. Consumer SLA printing uses special resins such as PC, ABS, and EPU. These materials are well suited for the production of high-strength parts or for flexible elements, depending on the type of resin.
• Layers. In the case of desktop 3D printing, the layer thickness reaches 25-200 microns.
• Weight. Equipment for consumer SLA printing has a minimum weight – no more than 10 kg.

It is not possible to use such devices for production on a large scale. Consumer SLA printers simply don't have the power to do this. However, if one-time or small-scale printing is planned, they will be a good solution. For example, desktop SLA printing is an excellent choice for a dental clinic that needs to make dental implants. The resolution of the desktop SLA is lower than that of the industrial one. Therefore, after printing is completed, refinement of the details is necessary. If you need to print a complex design, then such work may take several hours. Thus, an SLA-type 3D printer is well suited for home use or for a small company that manufactures parts in small batches.

SLA printing has some limitations that are important to be aware of. These include:

• Size restrictions. As a rule, the assembly size of parts for this type of 3D printer does not exceed 150 x 150 x 150 mm.
• Weak reproducibility. Desktop SLAs cannot produce many parts with the same high resolution. 
• Limited choice of materials. Only certain types of resin materials can be used for such printing.
• Low speed. Desktop SLAs can't run fast. Also, they often have errors.

Another important problem of such devices is low accuracy. However, it is gradually being solved, and with each new generation, the performance of desktop SLAs is getting better.

Industrial 3D printing

Industrial 3D printing (also called professional 3D printing) is printing that is done on an industrial scale. Industrial printers are designed for large batches of goods and higher accuracy. These printers have the following features:

• Price. Industrial SLA printers are used to produce parts in large quantities. They can also print large assemblies with very high precision. However, correspondingly, these 3D printers are very expensive. The material is also expensive. On average, industrial SLA printing is ten times more expensive than desktop printing.
• Part sizes. Industrial equipment is designed to print large parts. The build volume ranges from 2100 x 800 x 700 mm and more.
• Materials used. A wide variety of materials can be used for industrial SLA printing. As a rule, manufacturers of such equipment offer their own certified materials. With a wide selection on the market, users can choose the most suitable option. For example, you can use True Silicone, industrial-grade resins, etc.
• Resolution. Typically, print resolution refers to the minimum build layer thickness. This is an important requirement for industrial SLA printers. The best industrial 3D printers are capable of printing with a resolution of 50-100 microns. The most high-performing devices are able to work with a layer thickness of 25 microns.

Industrial printers are well suited for parts manufacturing where high precision and surface quality are a key priority. With their help, you can produce large parts for various machines. The only limitation is the high final cost of the product since the price of equipment and materials is very high. These factors will directly affect the formation of the price of the finished product.

The key difference between desktop and industrial SLA

The key advantage of industrial equipment lies in accuracy and tolerances. A professional 3D printer is able to print the same parts in large batches and still provide high quality. That is why companies are willing to pay big money for industrial equipment because they need a reliable and stable operation.

Desktop printers can also work at high resolutions but may not work consistently when printing large batches. Therefore, there is no guarantee that one of the parts will be printed with the same quality as the others.