Fundamentals of stereolithography: techniques, properties, and applications

Stereolithography (SLA) has become an important additive manufacturing technique nowadays. High-level accuracy, availability of a wide range of resin materials, and diversified applications from the medical industry to the prototyping sectors made SLA an efficient 3D printing process. Like other 3D printing processes, SLA printing also has the same three primary steps: design of the specimen, printing, and finally, postprocessing treatment. These steps are vital for creating prototypes and workpieces with desired mechanical, tribological, and corrosion properties. Typically, layer thickness, the orientation of the constructed piece, and the hatch spacing influence mechanical and tribological properties. In terms of corrosion and tribo-corrosion behavior, the addition of secondary substances, such as graphene, alumina, and zirconia, have been proven helpful to increase the conductivity, improve the strength of the material, and improve the texture for dental applications. Over the past decade, the SLA process has benefited rapid prototyping, preoperative planning, research, biocompatible organ printing, and many other engineering and biomedical applications.