Due to the quick rise of 3D printing, many folks may be confused about the various printing methods. There is so much misconception about additive manufacturing (AM) techniques that companies are developing policies to help with the discussion. We’ll compare and contrast two of these AM techniques, SLA and SLS.

What is SLA Process?

Stereolithography (SLA) Rapid Prototyping is a process of creating a prototype using a UV-curable liquid resin that solidifies on exposure to UV light. The liquid resin, is poured into the mold, then the mold is closed, and the prototype gets cured under UV light.

The SLA rapid prototyping has been around for some time and is used by large companies with big budgets. The result is a strong and a durable prototype, best to test and verify product designs.

What is SLS Process?

Selective Laser Sintering is a rapid prototyping process that uses an extrusion head to melt a layer of plastic. It is then deposited on the build plate to create the next layer. The process keeps repeating until the model is complete.

Parts can be produced from nylon, glass-filled nylon, CPE (a high-temperature engineering plastic), or other materials available from your local plastics supply house.

Difference Between Sla Rapid Prototyping And Sls Prototyping

SLA rapid prototyping is different from SLS prototyping in the following ways:

• The process is different. For example, SLA rapid prototyping uses ultraviolet light to cure liquid resin, while SLS prototyping uses a laser to cure powder materials.
• The materials used are different. For example, SLA rapid prototypinguses a liquid resin, while SLS prototyping uses powdered plastics or ceramics.
• The cost is higher for SLA rapid prototypes than SLS prototypes, which are much less expensive than SLA rapid prototypes.

Conclusion

Hopefully, this has shed some light on the often blurry line between SLA and SLA rapid prototyping processes. Both SLA rapid prototyping and SLS rapid prototyping have strong points, and each has its advantages. This content aims to assist you in understanding the differences. We made an effort to help you choose which of the two is best for your needs. If you desire to get more detail, then reach out to Hlhproto.com.