Whether it is to speed up production processes or better meet consumer preferences, companies are constantly on the lookout for cost-effective ways to improve their business. In fact, to open doors to more opportunities, 3D printing tools are increasingly adopted by many companies across a wide range of industries in Singapore.
3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, is essentially the conversion of a digital model into a physical product by layering of materials to form the final object. In this article, we will be focusing on the first ever invented 3D printing process called Stereolithography, which is short for SLA or commonly known as SLA 3D Printing. If you have heard of SLA printing as a service and want to learn more, continue scrolling to find out how your business can benefit from this manufacturing technique.
For starters, SLA 3D printing technology is a popular additive manufacturing technique and sought-after service in Singapore and across the globe. By employing any CAD software or data of a designed model, the 3D printable file format will be read as a digital model by the SLA 3D printers. The desired 3D product is then formed through the use of a laser to harden a photosensitive liquid resin. Here are some benefits of incorporating SLA printing into your product development process:
As the oldest form of 3D printing, SLA printing works through a fine laser beam can be as fine as 0.05mm. This technology is done layer by layer, so you can expect higher precision and more intricate details in the finished products. On that note, SLA printing is especially useful in producing complex geometric shapes.
At present, traditional manufacturing processes such as injection moulding require you to first create a mould before you can progress and this takes some time. You may be relying on the same process for your prototypes as well. This delays your product development process as a result. Yet, as prototyping plays a fundamental role in the product development process, it is a stage that cannot be compromised. With SLA printing, you can create usable prototypes that function as the final products, accomplished in a short amount of time. Besides a high dimensional accuracy and smooth finish, you have a wide range of finishing options for SLA parts.
Take note that different resins vary in toughness, some of which may degrade when exposed under the sun. With that in mind, ensure you select the right type of resin if you require a stronger and more durable product.
While injection moulding is a more ideal alternative for producing parts in large volumes, this can come as an inconvenience for one-off prototype designs. If you have been struggling with meeting deadlines with your existing production processes, not only does SLA printing guarantee faster build times, but it is also the ideal technology for small production runs depending on your application as there are many industrial resins available which provide great engineering properties as final use.
There are a variety of materials available for you to choose from in SLA 3D printing services to achieve your desired look for your product prototype. This includes GP Plus (white resin), Somos Watershed XC 11122 (clear resin), Taurus, EvoLVe and NeXt.
With its fast turnaround time, SLA printing can meet the demands of today’s market more efficiently. For businesses doing manufacturing in industries such as Industrial Design in Consumer Goods and Medical, SLA printing will streamline the workflow and generate significant savings. Offering great future prospects, SLA printing will ultimately change the way businesses do prototyping and modernise business models as it becomes more mainstream.
Before you decide to take the SLA printing endeavour in-house, consider outsourcing this manufacturing process. Why so? Simply because outsourcing eliminates the need for heavy initial investments in machinery or training. At the same time, you also get instant access to professionals.
Since 2014, Additive3D Asia has been providing end-to-end solutions and services to help businesses emerge victorious with the latest disruptive technology in Singapore. If you require experts’ advice on whether SLA printing or other 3D printing services is suitable for your business, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us!
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