Comparing SLA, DLP, and PµSL Additive Manufacturing Methods

Comparing SLA, DLP, and PµSL Additive

Manufacturing Methods
Sponsored by Boston Micro Fabrication (BMF) Nov 2 2023
Reviewed by Maria Osipova

Boston Micro Fabrication has released a new on-demand whitepaper explaining how
some of the key modern additive manufacturing techniques work and the typical
achievable manufacturing performances with each method.

Additive manufacturing technologies are revolutionizing the speed at which complex

structures can be prototyped.1 However, the wealth of different methods out there can make
it hard to select which is the right approach for your manufacturing problem. In this e-book,
Boston Micro Fabrication looks at which factors are important for the quality of your final
product, such as resolution and precision, for several key manufacturing additive
techniques.

Stereolithography (SLA)
Stereolithography (SLA) makes use of a rounded laser beam to draw a pattern on the
target substrate. Current commercially available SLA systems can achieve an XY resolution
of 50 µm, a minimum features size of 150 µm and an overall tolerance of +/- 100 µm.

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Comparing SLA, DLP, and PµSL Additive Manufacturing Methods

Image Credit: Boston Micro Fabrication (BMF)

Digital Light Processing (DLP)

Digital Light Processing (DLP) is sometimes known as LCD projection but uses a flash of
light from a projector to cure a particular image into a resin. The entire region is cured at
once, meaning that, unlike in SLA, the laser does not have to raster over the object.
Typically, DLP systems possess only Z-direction movement, altering the curable area at the
expense of resolution, without accompanying XY translation.

Image Credit: Boston Micro Fabrication (BMF)

Projection Micro Stereolithography (PµSL)

Projection Micro Stereolithography (PµSL) has many similarities to DLP but was developed
as a way of being able to print larger parts or multiple parts with higher tolerances at higher
resolution. Achieving this means including XY translation for the beam delivery as well as
the inclusion of an extra lens to focus the beam to achieve smaller spot sizes for improved
resolution.

Boston Micro Fabrication has a special top-down design for its instrumentation, which
simplifies and improves the manufacturing process. As a result, Boston Micro Fabrication’s
systems can achieve XY resolution down to 2 µm, a minimum feature size of 10 µm, and a
high dimension tolerance of up to +/- 10 µm.

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Comparing SLA, DLP, and PµSL Additive Manufacturing Methods

Image Credit: Boston Micro Fabrication (BMF)

Download the White Paper to Learn More

References and Further Reading

1. Singh, J., Singh, R. P., & Pandey, P. M. (2023). Additive Manufacturing Techniques:
Fundamentals, Technological Developments, and Practical Applications. In Handbook
of Post-Processing in Additive Manufacturing (pp. 1-34). CRC Press.

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This information has been sourced, reviewed and adapted from materials provided by
Boston Micro Fabrication.

For more information on this source, please visit Boston Micro Fabrication.

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Comparing SLA, DLP, and PµSL Additive Manufacturing Methods

Boston Micro Fabrication

(BMF)

Address

8 Mill & Main, Suite 310

Maynard
Massachusetts, 01754
United States

Phone: +1 (978) 637-2050

Visit Website

Boston Micro Fabrication (BMF) manufactures high-precision micro 3D printers for diverse
use cases that require a unique combination of excellence in three key areas: resolution,
accuracy, and precision. Using polymer and composite additive manufacturing, BMF can
produce high-precision/high-tolerance industrial parts (2μm printing resolution and +/- 10
µm tolerance).

BMF’s microArch systems use a 3D printing approach called PμSL (Projection Micro
Stereolithography) that leverages light, customizable optics, a high-quality movement
platform and controlled processing technology to produce the industry’s most accurate and
precise high-resolution 3D prints for product development, research and industrial short run
production. The technology represents a true industry breakthrough by empowering product
manufacturers to capitalize on the benefits of 3D printing without sacrificing quality or scale.
Today, BMF is the only industrial 3D printing company to match the quality of high-
resolution injection molding and CNC processing.

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