How Does Resin 3D Printer Works?

Most resin 3D prints are made using Stereolithography, sometimes called "the mother of all 3D printing technologies" due to its widespread usage and reputation for creating high-quality prints. Since 1990, Materialize has been making use of Stereolithography. It is time to go into more detail regarding this technology and our newest resins.

What Are the Different Kinds of Resin 3D Printing, and How Does It Work?

Instead of using a nozzle to inject liquid resin, a container is used in resin 3D printing. Stereolithography (SLA), digital light processing (DLP), liquid crystal display (LCD), or masked Stereolithography are the most common methods of resin 3D printing (MSLA).

SLA

The Stereolithography (SLA) resin 3D printer uses ultraviolet (UV) laser light applied to the surface of a photopolymer container, often referred to as resin VAT. Light is directed in a predetermined manner to create the desired form.

Construction platforms, resin VATs, lights, lifts, and galvanometers are only some of the parts that make up a stereolithography 3D printer.

An elevator's primary function is to change the level of the building's platform, making it possible to print at different heights. The laser beam is aligned using a pair of galvanometers, which are adjustable mirrors.

DLP

Similar to SLA technology is Digital Light Processing, which uses a digital projection surface in place of lasers to illuminate the work area. DLP resin 3D printing works by printing a whole layer at a time, as opposed to the SLA method, which limits printing to a single spot. This is why DLP resin 3D printing is so much quicker than SLA.

Since it is not a complicated system with no moving components, they are also noted for their dependability. Resin 3D printers use a DMD (Digital Micromirror Device) to fine-tune the projection's placement.

Since the DLP 3D printer uses digital displays as its starting point, the layer's picture is mainly made up of pixels. In 3D printing, the points are in the shape of prisms that you can see from all three angles.

When an individual layer has been printed in its entirety, the platform is raised to a predetermined height to make room for the subsequent layer. The primary benefit of DLP resin 3D printing is that it produces prints that are both smoother and faster than those produced using other methods. You should know that as the print area grows, the processing quality suffers greatly.

MSLA/LCD

It's easy to tell the difference between a DLP and an SLA, but you may get mixed up between a DLP and an MSLA or an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display). For example, although LCD 3D printers don't need an extra micromirror device to transport light from the projector, DLP 3D printers need one.

The UV rays are generated by the LEDs that shine through the LCD. LCD technology is also often referred to as MSLA because of the masking function of this panel (masked SLA). With the development of MSLA/LCD technology, resin 3D printing has become more mainstream and affordable.

One reason is the low cost of LCD 3D printing's parts and ancillaries. Do keep in mind that the lifetime of an LCD FDM 3D printer is a little shorter than the DLP chipset, and it typically needs more maintenance as well.

Even with this shortcoming, LCD/MSLA 3D printing is fairly popular since it gives the benefits of smoother surfaces and prints reasonably quickly. Pixel distortion is an essential element in resin 3D printing which is considerably less than with DLP resin 3D printing.

Conclusion:

Basically it works on the principle like exposing a layer of resin to UV laser beam which solidifies the object.