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 ship to Germany and across the EU. The calculator prices your part straight away: just upload the file.
Key figures
When SLA is the right choice
SLA plays to its strengths when the 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 paint directly. Layer lines of the kind you know from FDM are practically invisible.
Faces, folds, lettering and textures below one millimetre survive. For tabletop, collectors and model making this is the standard.
Housing halves, lids, connectors and brackets that need to mate – the fine resolution means snap fits and bores come out as drawn.
With Castable Wax we print burn-out patterns for investment casting – for jewellery, art casting and dental work. Rings can be designed for it directly in the ring designer.
Light guides, display pieces, covers – translucent with the clear standard resin, close to clear after polishing.
There is no minimum order value. A single part costs what the calculator works out for a single part.
Where SLA reaches its limits
So that you do not order the wrong process, we also say what SLA is not built for:
Standard resin is more brittle than the polyamide from SLS printing. If you need a part you can drop or flex a thousand times, choose Tough 1500, Tough 2000 – or SLS straight away.
Every SLA part needs them. We remove them and orient the model so the contact points sit on the back. They are not entirely invisible – a fine dot may remain on a visible face.
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; heat deflection 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, paint-ready | fine-grained matt | layer lines visible |
| Strength | depends on resin: brittle to tough | high, equal in every direction | high, lower across the layers |
| Support structures | always – removed | none | depending on the shape |
| Build volume | 200 × 125 × 210 mm | 159 × 159 × 295 mm | 360 × 360 × 360 mm |
| Materials | 8 resins | nylon PA12, TPU 90A | 53 filaments in 9 families |
| Colours | 4 standard colours, clear | natural white, black on request | more than 40 |
| Price level | medium | medium | the lowest |
| Typical for | figures, presentation models, casting patterns | functional parts, spare parts, moving assemblies | large parts, housings, brackets, small series |
The materials at a glance
| 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 fits, clips, housings and brackets that have to take some punishment |
| Tough 2000 | Stiff and impact-resistant, in the manner of ABS. | Robust prototypes, jigs, mechanically loaded 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 visible marks here than on other resins. | Seals, grips, prototypes of flexible parts |
Not sure which resin fits? The material finder asks about the intended use and suggests one. And the calculator on the home page compares the prices of all three processes as soon as you upload – with an AI recommendation on top.
How your order works
Either directly in the SLA calculator or via the instant price comparison on the home page, which puts SLA next to SLS and FDM. STEP and IGES are converted on our server; you do not need to export anything.
The 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 follow-up question, no waiting.
After printing the parts are washed, post-cured under UV and freed from their supports. The delivery date is already shown in the cart.
What the print costs
The price is derived from material volume, the chosen resin and the quantity – not from a flat rate. A small pendant therefore costs a few euros, a housing correspondingly more. There are no set-up charges and no minimum order value.
10 % from 50 pieces, 15 % from 100, 20 % from 200 – applied automatically in the calculator.
Germany and EU €4.99, free from an order value of €75. Express shipping €11.00 in Germany, €14.50 in the EU.
all payment methods offered in the shop, with a VAT invoice.
Frequently asked questions about SLA printing
STL, OBJ, 3MF, STEP, IGES and BREP up to 256 MB. CAD formats such as STEP are converted into a printable mesh on upload – you do not need to export anything from your CAD program.
The layer height is 0.05 mm and walls are possible from 0.3 mm. Layer lines are practically invisible to the naked eye; lettering, textures and details below one millimetre survive.
15 to 21 days from order to delivery, including post-curing and support removal. The exact delivery date is shown in the cart. If you are in a hurry, choose express shipping there.
Yes, with the clear standard resin. The parts are translucent but not glass-clear straight from the printer; sanding and polishing or a clear coat make them considerably clearer.
Standard resin for anything that should 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 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 seal, or ASA from FDM printing.
Yes. Our free online tools produce print-ready models from text, images or dimensions, and the ring designer designs rings for casting. We also model from a sketch or photo on request.
To Germany and 26 further EU countries. Shipping costs €4.99 and is free from an order value of €75.
Alternatives to SLA printing
If your part needs strength rather than surface finish, the SLS printing service is the right choice: polyamide PA12 without support structures, mechanically strong in every direction. For large parts and the lowest price, FDM printing remains the process of choice – with a 360 × 360 × 360 mm build volume and more than 50 materials. The overview of the processes puts all three side by side.