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Student Material 001: SLA Technology and Resin Quick Reference

Material ID: U2M1-MAT-001 Purpose: Quick reference guide for SLA printing technology, resin types, and key specifications Format: Comparison tables and reference charts Updated: 2026-03-19

SLA Technology Comparison

Feature Laser SLA DLP MSLA (LCD)
Light Source UV Laser (250mW) UV Projector + DMD UV LED Array + LCD
Wavelength 355nm or 405nm 385nm or 405nm 405nm
XY Resolution 75-140 Ξm 35-75 Ξm 22-50 Ξm
Layer Cure Method Point-by-point trace Full layer flash Full layer mask
Speed vs. Geometry Scales with area Constant per layer Constant per layer
Typical Layer Time 5-30 sec (varies) 3-10 sec 1-8 sec
Cost Range $2K-$500K $500-$50K $150-$5K
Best For Large-format, high accuracy Mid-range professional Consumer, prosumer

Resin Type Properties

Resin Type Tensile (MPa) Elongation (%) Impact (J/m) Shore Hardness HDT (°C) Cost ($/L)
Standard 40-65 3-6 15-25 80-85D 55-75 $25-45
Tough/ABS-like 40-55 15-35 30-60 75-82D 60-80 $35-60
Flexible 3-10 80-160 N/A 40-80A 40-55 $40-65
Water-Washable 30-50 5-15 15-30 78-84D 50-65 $30-50
Castable 15-30 2-5 10-15 70-80D 50-60 $60-120
Dental Model 50-80 5-12 25-40 82-88D 70-100 $80-200
High-Temp 70-120 3-8 20-35 85-90D 200-300 $80-180

Key: HDT = Heat Deflection Temperature, Shore D = hard plastics, Shore A = rubber/flexible

Resin Selection Flowchart

What is the part's primary requirement?
│
├── Fine detail / visual model → Standard Resin
│
├── Must withstand impact or flex → Tough/ABS-like Resin
│
├── Must be rubber-like / bend → Flexible Resin
│
├── Classroom use / easy cleanup → Water-Washable Resin
│
├── Investment casting / jewelry → Castable Resin
│
├── Medical / dental application → Dental/Biocompatible Resin
│
└── High temperature exposure → High-Temp Resin

Common MSLA Printer Specifications

Spec Budget ($150-300) Mid-Range ($300-800) Prosumer ($800-2000)
LCD Resolution 4K (3840×2400) 8K (7680×4320) 12K (11520×5120)
Pixel Size 50 Ξm 28-35 Ξm 22-24 Ξm
Build Volume 130×80×160mm 220×130×200mm 300×165×300mm
Layer Height Range 0.01-0.2mm 0.01-0.2mm 0.01-0.15mm
UV Power 25-40W 40-60W 60-120W
LCD Type Mono Mono Mono
Typical Layer Time 1.5-3s 1.5-3s 2-4s
Z-Axis Lead screw Ball screw Ball screw, dual rail

Exposure Time Starting Points by Resin Type

Resin Type Bottom Layers (count) Bottom Exposure (s) Normal Exposure (s) Notes
Standard 5-8 25-45 1.5-3.0 Most common starting point
Tough 5-8 30-50 2.0-3.5 Slightly longer than standard
Flexible 6-10 35-60 3.0-5.0 Higher exposure needed
Water-Washable 5-8 20-40 1.5-2.5 Often lower than standard
Clear/Transparent 4-6 25-40 2.0-3.5 UV penetrates deeper
Black/Dark 6-10 30-55 2.5-4.0 Pigment absorbs more UV

Note: These are starting points for monochrome LCD printers. Always consult the resin manufacturer's recommended settings for your specific printer model.

Key SLA Print Parameters

Parameter Typical Range Effect of Increasing
Layer Height 0.025-0.100mm Faster print, more visible layers
Normal Exposure 1-5 seconds Stronger cure, risk of over-cure/bloating
Bottom Exposure 20-60 seconds Stronger bed adhesion
Bottom Layer Count 4-10 layers Larger adhesion base
Lift Distance 5-10mm Better peel, slower print
Lift Speed 1-4 mm/s Faster print, higher peel force
Retract Speed 3-6 mm/s Faster return, potential bubbles
Rest Time After Lift 0-3 seconds Resin settling, sharper layers
Light-Off Delay 0-5 seconds Resin leveling, better accuracy

Resin Storage Quick Reference

Condition Requirement
Temperature 15-25°C (59-77°F)
Light Opaque container, UV-free storage
Shelf life (unopened) 12-24 months from manufacture
Shelf life (opened) 6-12 months
Before use Shake 30+ seconds
Vat resin (overnight) Cover vat, okay for 1-3 days
Vat resin (>3 days unused) Strain back into bottle through paint filter

Unit Conversions for Resin Printing

From To Conversion
1 micron (Ξm) mm 0.001mm
50 microns mm 0.050mm
1mL resin grams ~1.05-1.20g (resin is denser than water)
1 liter resin typical prints 40-80 small prints (depends on size)

Last Updated: 2026-03-19