Stereolithography 3D Printed Resin Pressure Enclosures Applied in the Marine Environment

To date, pressure enclosures for the marine environment lack modular options that are low-cost and accessible. This paper explores stereolithography (SLA) 3D printing using resin for the creation of customizable underwater pressure enclosures. The material properties of the SLA prints are critical to accurately evaluating the materials’ performance in an underwater environment. For this project, SLA resin formulas made by Siraya Tech, selected due to their cost and availability, were assessed. The ASTM D695-15 standard was followed to find their compressive properties. From there, a case study was conducted using SLA printed pressure enclosures to examine their performance. The enclosures’ 3D models in Autodesk Fusion 360 were analyzed using Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and were validated through physical testing of the enclosure within a pressure tank. Qualitative testing of the enclosures was also conducted by observing the physical changes of the sample after extended sun and water exposure.