SLA printing: what it is and when you need it
SLA is a 3D printing technology where liquid resin is cured by light layer by layer. It handles very fine detail and a smooth surface, but parts are more brittle than FDM ones.
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Contents
How SLA works
Stereolithography, SLA for short, is the oldest 3D printing technology. It was patented by Chuck Hull in the 1980s, and the STL format is named after it. The printer has a vat of liquid photopolymer resin, which a laser or a screen lights up in exactly the shape of the layer.
The lit resin hardens and the part is gradually pulled out of the vat. After printing it has to be washed in alcohol and post-cured under UV light.
We do not do SLA, and we will be straight about it
We only print with FDM, in PLA and PETG. We do not do resin printing and we do not arrange it for you either. If your order really needs SLA, you will have to go to another company.
In the calculator you always see what the part would cost on FDM. If you are not sure, upload your model and look at the price. It costs you nothing.
When FDM is enough and when to look for SLA
- FDM is enough for: holders, boxes, cases, spare parts, prototypes, organisers and larger parts. FDM is cheaper, the parts are tougher and in PETG they can handle the outdoors.
- Look for SLA for: figurines and miniatures with details smaller than a tenth of a millimetre, jewellery, dental models or parts where layers must not be visible.
- Watch out for brittleness. Common resins are hard but crack on impact. For functional parts that flex or take knocks, FDM is usually the better choice.
Common questions
Do you print in resin?
No. We only print FDM in PLA and PETG. If you need SLA, contact a company that does resin printing.
Is SLA more accurate than FDM?
Yes, for fine detail and surface smoothness. For ordinary technical parts, though, FDM with a 0.4 mm nozzle is good enough and cheaper.
Can I use the same file for SLA and FDM?
Yes. STL, 3MF, OBJ and STEP files can be used for both technologies. The only difference is in the print preparation.
Related terms
FDM
FDM is a 3D printing technology where the printer melts plastic filament and lays it down through a nozzle layer by layer. It is the most widespread and cheapest way to 3D print.
STL
STL is the most common file format for 3D printing. It describes only the surface of a model as a mesh of triangles, with no colours, material or units.
Layer height
Layer height is the thickness of a single layer, from which the printer builds the part from the bottom up. It affects how visible the layers are on the surface and how long printing takes.
PLA
PLA (polylactic acid) is the most common 3D printing material, made from plant starch. It is cheap, accurate and easy to print, but it does not withstand heat above about 60 °C or long exposure to sun.
PETG
PETG is a tough 3D printing plastic, a close relative of the material in PET bottles. Compared with PLA it withstands more heat, impact and moisture, so it suits technical parts and outdoor use.
SourcesSources checked 1 November 2026, 2
- Stereolithography, Wikipedia, checked 2026-11-01
- Chuck Hull, Wikipedia, checked 2026-11-01
We will print it for you
Upload a model and see the price per piece, the total with shipping and the date at once. We print in Košice, Slovakia, from PLA and PETG.
No model? No problem, pick a ready one
These sites have thousands of free models. Download an STL or 3MF and upload it here. If you sell it or use it for business, check the model licence. How to pick a model and licence