Why SLA can work for you: Drumlord increase their range of 3D printed solutions.

Technology Spotlights

Recent years have seen a huge increase in the range of 3D printing options, and materials, available.  Drumlord have responded by increasing the number of machines and resins they offer.  Here we outline the benefits of one of the original 3D printing processes, SLA.

Why SLA Can Work For You.

Stereolithography (SLA) is one of the longest and most established 3D printing processes available.  Pioneered in the 1980’s, SLA along with SLS (Selective Laser Sintering) and FDM (Fused Deposition Modelling) dominated the emerging 3D printing markets.  The last decade has seen an explosion of alternative 3D printing processes that have complemented these established technologies.

The demand for 3D printed parts has also grown and with so many options available why is SLA still such a popular choice?

Why should you choose SLA?

A combination of accuracy, speed and cost effectiveness make it a perfect solution for a variety of prototyping requirements.  Our investment in our SLA department has allowed us to lower the cost and increase the turnaround time for your models.  In most instances models are produced in 1-2 working days with next day delivery possible depending on the size and complexity of the part.

SLA parts are perfect for a variety of applications from basic models to fully finished presentation/market research products to Low Volume Production components.

What are the benefits of SLA?

  • Very short lead times.
  • Excellent component & feature accuracy.
  • Easily finished to a high standard and can be painted in multiple surface finishes.
  • Watershed XC11122 is a near colourless transparent material perfect for clear/tinted lenses and fluid flow analysis models.
  • Evolve 128 is a highly durable material that looks and feels like traditional thermoplastics. It’s ideal for snap-fit designs and tough, functional prototypes.

Of course, SLA may not be the right solution for you which is why we like to talk to our clients about the options available.  Choosing the right path can depend on any number of variables and priorities: material, speed, volume or cost.  If SLA isn’t the best option for you then we would be delighted use our expertise to explore a host of other options to find the perfect solution to your project needs.  For more information check out our website, drop us an email, or call us on 01495 249232 and we can talk about your project – we’d be delighted to help!