SLA 3D printing operates on the principle of vat photopolymerization. The process begins with a tank filled with liquid photopolymer resin. A build platform dips into the resin, and a UV laser beam, directed by mirrors called galvanometers, traces the object’s cross-section onto the surface of the liquid. Wherever the laser touches the resin, it hardens and becomes solid due to the photochemical reaction. After one layer is completed, the build platform lifts, allowing uncured resin to flow beneath the solidified layer. This process repeats, building the object layer by layer from the bottom up. The result is a high-resolution, smooth, and detailed part that can be used for prototyping or end-use products.
