what-is-sla-3d-printing

What Is SLA 3D Printing?

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SLA 3D Printing is a form of 3D printing that uses a laser or ultraviolet light source to harden a liquid resin into plastic. This style of printing works by layering the hardened plastic product to build the body of the three dimensional subject. SLA (stereolithography apparatus) technology was originally developed in Japan in the early 1980s as a system of 3D printing that could print functional products in a small amount of time. Today, SLA is still a widely popular form of printing and is often used in the  manufacturing of production materials and creation of high quality plastic models.

What is SLA 3D Printing used for?

  • SLA printing was originally created for the purpose of engineers producing high quality, plastic, prototypes in a time efficient manner. This is still a primary use of SLA printing.
  • This form of 3D printing has also gained popularity in the medical field. It is often used to create anatomically correct diagrams of the human body, used for education.
  • Many manufacturers also use SLA printing in the production of goods that have plastic components such as; jewelry, dentals tools, car parts, and prosthetics.

Cleaning SLA 3D Printing Machinery

SLA 3D printers generally consist of 4 parts; the resin tank, laser light source, perforated platform (building surface), and computer that controls the machinery and design. After a design has been completed, machine parts require some cleaning to ensure no resin is left to harden onto the surfaces. The best way to clean your SLA printing device is to wipe clean the surface with isopropyl alcohol (IPA).

For industrial and machine cleaning, Isopropyl alcohol (IPA) is preferred over other alcohol cleaning agents such as Methyl Alcohol, Ethyl Alcohol, and Butyl Alcohol, as IPA has an ideal evaporation rate and vapor density in comparison to these other alcohol cleaning agents. At Ecolink you can find high quality, isopropyl alcohol to clean your SLA printer, ensuring the cleanliness and longevity of your device. Contact us today or shop our industrial cleaners and degreasers conveniently online here.