Stereolithography

Stereolithography is a process that translates CAD designs into solid objects through a combination of laser, photochemistry and software technologies. With 3D Systems (tm)' stereolithography apparatus, or SLA, CAD data of the product design is first sliced into very thin cross sections. A laser beam of ultraviolet light is then focused onto the surface of a vat of liquid photopolymer. The laser traces a cross section of the part, turning a thin layer of the liquid plastic to solid. The cross section is lowered and recoated with liquid photopolymer and the laser traces the next slice on top of the previous one. The process continues layer by layer until the part is complete. Unattended, the SLA works around the clock. Without tooling, machining or cutting, a three dimensional part is built within a matter of hours.

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