Stereolithography (SLA) is the process for parts where fine detail and a smooth surface matter. A UV laser cures liquid resin layer by layer – in layers of 0.05 mm that are barely visible to the naked eye. We print on the Formlabs Form 4 and deliver to Germany and the EU. The price calculator works out the price for your part straight away: just upload your file.
Key facts
When SLA is the right choice
SLA plays to its strengths when the finished part is going to be looked at – or when it has to fit into something that forgives no tolerance.
The surface comes out of the printer smooth enough to be painted directly. Layer lines of the kind familiar from FDM are practically invisible.
Faces, folds, lettering and textures below one millimetre are preserved. For tabletop gaming, collectors and model making, this is the standard.
Housing halves, lids, connectors and brackets that have to fit together – the fine resolution ensures that snap fits and holes come out as drawn.
With Castable Wax we print burn-out patterns for investment casting – for jewellery, art casting and dental technology. Rings can be designed for this directly in the Ring Designer.
Light guides, display parts, covers – translucent with the clear standard resin, almost clear after polishing.
We print from a single part, with no set-up charges and no surcharge for one-offs. A part costs what the price calculator works out for it; the minimum order value for an order is €3.
Where SLA reaches its limits
So that you don’t order the wrong process, we also tell you what SLA is not built for:
Standard resin is more brittle than the polyamide from SLS printing. If you need a part that can be dropped or bent a thousand times, choose Tough 1500, Tough 2000 – or go straight to SLS.
Every SLA part needs them. We remove them and orient the model so that the contact points sit on rear faces. They are not entirely invisible – a small mark may remain on a visible surface.
200 × 125 × 210 mm. Larger parts we print in segments for bonding, or on the SLS printer with its 295 mm height.
Resins age under UV light and become brittle as they do; the heat deflection temperature is around 60 to 70 °C depending on the resin. For parts outdoors or near an engine, PA12 from SLS is the better choice.
SLA, SLS and FDM compared
The same key figures for all three processes we offer – the SLA column is highlighted. The other two are described in detail on their own pages: SLS printing service and FDM printing service.
| SLA | SLS | FDM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Layer height | 0.05 mm | 0.11 mm | 0.15 – 0.20 mm |
| Surface | very smooth, ready to paint | fine-grained matt | layer lines visible |
| Strength | depending on resin: brittle to tough | high, equal in all directions | high, lower along the layers |
| Support structures | always – removed | none | depending on shape |
| Build volume | 200 × 125 × 210 mm | 159 × 159 × 295 mm | 360 × 360 × 360 mm |
| Materials | 8 resins | Nylon PA12, TPU 90A | 54 filaments in 9 families |
| Colours | 4 standard colours, clear | natural white, black on request | over 40 |
| Price level | medium | medium | lowest |
| Typical for | figures, presentation models, casting patterns | functional parts, spare parts, moving assemblies | large parts, housings, brackets, small batches |
The materials at a glance
We print on the Formlabs Form 4 with Formlabs resins – machine and material come from the same manufacturer and are matched to each other. More on this under Machines and materials.
| Material | Properties | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Standard resin – grey, black, white, clear | Finest detail, very smooth surface, easy to sand and paint. Clear is translucent. | Display models, figures, prototypes, light guides |
| Tough 1500 | Tough and flexible like polypropylene: tensile strength 34 MPa, elongation at break 155 %. Returns to shape after deformation. | Snap hooks, clips, housings and brackets that have to withstand loads |
| Tough 2000 | Stiff and impact-resistant, similar to ABS. | Robust prototypes, fixtures, mechanically stressed parts |
| Castable Wax | Burns out without residue. | Casting patterns for jewellery and investment casting |
| Elastic 50A | Rubber-like, soft and stretchy. Support structures leave more noticeable marks here than with other resins. | Seals, grips, prototypes of flexible parts |
Not sure which resin fits? The material finder asks about the intended use and makes a suggestion. And the price calculator on the home page compares the prices of all three processes immediately after upload – with an AI recommendation to go with it.
How your order works
Either directly in the SLA price calculator or via the instant price comparison on the home page, which puts SLA alongside SLS and FDM. We convert STEP and IGES server-side; you don’t need to export anything.
The price calculator checks wall thickness and build volume, orients the part optimally and shows the price – per piece and for the quantity.
The price is binding. No quote, no queries, no waiting.
After printing, the parts are washed, post-cured under UV and freed of their support structures. The delivery date is already shown in the cart.
What printing costs
The price is based on material volume, the chosen resin and the quantity – not on a flat rate. A small pendant therefore costs a few euros, a housing correspondingly more. There are no set-up charges; the minimum order value for an order is €3.
from €50 cart value 10 %, from €100 15 %, from €200 20 % – applied automatically in the cart.
Germany and EU €4.99, free on orders from €75. Express shipping €11.00 in Germany, €14.50 in the EU.
all payment methods offered in the shop, invoice with VAT shown separately.
Frequently asked questions about SLA printing
STL, OBJ, 3MF, STEP, IGES and BREP up to 256 MB. CAD formats such as STEP we convert into a printable mesh ourselves on upload – you don’t need to export anything from your CAD program.
The layer height is 0.05 mm, and walls are possible from 0.5 mm. Layer lines are practically invisible to the naked eye; lettering, textures and details below one millimetre are preserved.
15 to 21 days from order to delivery, including post-curing and removal of the support structures. The exact delivery date is shown in the cart. If you need it sooner, choose express shipping there.
Yes, with the clear standard resin. The parts are translucent but not glass-clear straight out of the printer; sanding and polishing or a clear coat make them considerably clearer.
Standard resin for anything that needs to look good. Tough 1500 if the part has to be flexible and tough, Tough 2000 if it should be stiff and impact-resistant. Castable Wax for casting patterns, Elastic 50A for rubber-like parts. The material finder and the AI recommendation in the price calculator help you decide.
Only to a limited extent. Resins age under UV light and become brittle. For outdoor parts we recommend PA12 from SLS printing with a UV-protective sealant, or ASA from FDM printing.
Yes. Our free online tools generate print-ready models from text, images or dimensions, and the Ring Designer designs rings for casting. We can also model from a sketch or photo on request.
To Germany and 26 other EU countries. Shipping costs €4.99 and is free on orders from €75.
Alternatives to SLA printing
If your part needs strength above all rather than surface finish, the SLS printing service is the right choice: polyamide PA12 without support structures, mechanically strong in all directions. For large parts and the lowest price, FDM printing remains the process of choice – with a 360 × 360 × 360 mm build volume and over 50 materials. The overview of processes puts all three side by side.