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stereo lithography commonly known as SLA, and fused deposition modeling, or FDM.

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SLA and FDM are the most common non-industrial 3D printing methods,

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and they use very different approaches to create parts.

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Because each process has distinct strengths and limitations,

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it is important to choose the right process for your part.

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SLA uses a UV laser or projected light source to selectively cure a liquid resin,

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forming parts layer by layer with very high precision.

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Desktop SLA printers typically build parts upside down,

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pulling them out of a shallow resin vat as each layer is cured.

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SLA parts are near isotropic, meaning strength is uniform in all directions.

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FDM works by melting thermoplastic filament,

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and depositing it layer by layer, building the part upward from the print bed.

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Each layer cools, solidifies, and bonds to the layer below to form the final geometry.

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Because layers are fused mechanically, FDM parts are isotropic,

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with strength across layer lines often 20-50% weaker than strength in the plane of a layer.

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Both processes offer a wide range of materials to encompass different properties,

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including strength, flexibility, or chemical resistance.

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However, FDM typically provides more color options,

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and is capable of multi-material printing,

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while SLA produces better transparent parts

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and is limited to single material prints.

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SLA generally outperforms FDM in accuracy and resolution

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because it cures resin with light,

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rather than extruding material through a nozzle.

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SLA can reliably produce minimum feature sizes around 0.1 mm,

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with very smooth surface finishes.

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FDM resolution is limited by nozzle diameter,

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with typical feature sizes around 0.2, 0.4 mm, and visible layer lines,

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although FDM machines can usually print parts faster.

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SLA parts require a solvent to wash off excess resin,

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followed by post-curing through UV or heat to reach full strength.

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Supports are often required and must be removed manually as well.

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This all needs to be done with proper protection,

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as the uncured resins are hazardous to touch.

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For FDM, support removal is the only necessary step,

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and can be done manually or dissolved

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when a dedicated support material is used.

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If a FDM part is well designed,

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supports can often be omitted altogether.

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SLA printers generally have higher upfront costs,

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and resins are more expensive than FDM filaments.

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Additional consumables such as cleaning solvents, gloves, and wipes

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also add to operating costs.

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FDM systems are usually cheaper to purchase and maintain

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with lower material costs and more affordable replacement parts.

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SLA excels in good detail surface finish and resolution,

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making it well-suited for jewelry, dental models, figurines,

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and aesthetic prototypes.

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Tupper resins can also be used for complex mechanical parts

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that need to have isotropic strength.

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On the other hand, FDM is a faster, simpler, and cheaper process,

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commonly used for functional prototypes, jigs, or enclosures,

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where intricacy and smoothness is a lower priority.

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Thank you for watching.

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To learn more about these manufacturing processes,

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visit the CustomPartNet website.