Technologies

Stereolithography

First the existing 3D model from your CAD application is prepared for the process by chopping it up into thin layers. Typically, these layers can be 0.05 mm, 0.10 mm or 0.15 mm thick. The thinner the single layers of the data model the higher the resolution that can be achieved in Z direction of the component.

At the beginning the bottom layer of the data model is printed by exposing liquid photopolymer resin to a UV laser. The areas of the resin that are exposed to the laser start hardening.

The component tray is then lowered and a new layer of photopolymer resin is applied so the second layer of the data model can be exposed. By repeating these steps the entire structure of the component is built up from bottom to top.

Components made by stereolithography are highly accurate in size and shape and are therefore perfectly suited as master models. For certain applications they can be used as functional models as well.