What is Stereolithography (SLA) 3D Printing?

Stereolithography (SLA) is a 3D printing process that uses a UV laser to cure liquid photopolymer resin into solid plastic. By tracing a laser beam across a resin vat, it hardens the liquid layer by layer with extreme precision, allowing for far more intricate geometries than traditional filament-based printing. This technology is most known for its smooth surface finish and near-invisible layer lines. Because of this high resolution, SLA is the industry standard for detailed work like jewelry, dental models, and professional-grade miniatures.

What can you print with SLA?

If you’re looking for ultra-smooth surfaces, intricate details, and realistic prototypes, SLA printing is a powerful choice. Some of the best applications include:

Highly Detailed Miniatures

Captures tiny accessories and sharp textures, even on small scales.

Lifelike Figurines

Renders realistic facial features and smooth skin textures without visible layer lines.

Jewelry Prototypes

Print intricate ring settings and fine engravings with stunning clarity.

Master Patterns for Molding

High-resolution SLA master parts to create silicone molds for casting.

Functional Prototypes

Smooth finish and tight tolerances needed to simulate injection-molded parts for professional prototyping.

SLA is a go-to technology for any project requiring precision, smoothness, and intricate detailing.

Materials

TGM-7

High Detail Plastic

A high-detail gray resin optimized for tabletop gaming miniatures, figurines, and collectibles.

TGM-7 combines a hard, smooth surface with balanced toughness and flexibility.

Design guidelines

Bounding box
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The bounding box is a 3D imaginary outline of a box that encloses the smallest area occupied by your model. Your model must be within the minimum and maximum bounding box sizes. If the size of the model is close to the maximum bounding box, then the printing orientation will be restricted.

Max. bounding box

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Min. bounding box

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Walls
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A supported wall is connected at least on two sides of the wall, while an unsupported wall is connected only on one side of the wall. Walls that do not meet the minimum requirements may not survive printing and cleaning processes. Additionally, models may still be rejected based on the wall geometry of the model. Please consider the size of your model and reinforce the walls or add support structures as needed as minimum guidelines will not always be adequate for large models.

Supported walls

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Unsupported walls

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Wires
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A wire is a circular, rectangular or even triangular feature that is thinner in its unconnected directions than its length. A supported wire is connected at least on two sides of the model, while an unsupported wire is connected on one side of the model. Wires that do not meet the minimum requirements may not survive printing and cleaning processes. Additionally, models may still be rejected based on the wire geometry of the model. Please consider the size of your model and reinforce the wires or add support structures as needed as minimum guidelines will not always be adequate for large models.

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Supported wires

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an icon depicting guidelines for unsupported wires
Unsupported wires

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Details
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For text, the ratio between width and depth, should be 1:1 and sans-serif fonts are preferred for line weight consistency.

an icon depicting guidelines for embossed details
Embossed Details

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an icon depicting guidelines for engraved details
Engraved Details

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Clearance
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Clearance is the space between two individual parts in a model. If the space among the individual parts do not meet the minimum clearance, then parts can fuse together or can be difficult to clean. This is important for movable pieces like hinges, gears, etc.

Minimum

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Sprues
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Sprues are wires that keep two or more parts together. Parts should be connected with a minimum of two sprues each. Please consider the size of your sprues and increase them as needed as minimum guidelines will not always be adequate for large models. If the sprues are within the guidelines and are broken, but there is no damage to your model, we will still ship them as is.

an icon depicting guidelines for sprues

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Interlocking & Enclosed parts
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The bounding box is a 3D imaginary outline of a box that encloses the smallest area occupied by your model. Your model must be within the minimum and maximum bounding box sizes. If the size of the model is close to the maximum bounding box, then the printing orientation will be restricted.

Interlocking

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Enclosed

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Escape holes
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A wire is a circular, rectangular or even triangular feature that is thinner in its unconnected directions than its length. A supported wire is connected at least on two sides of the model, while an unsupported wire is connected on one side of the model. Wires that do not meet the minimum requirements may not survive printing and cleaning processes. Additionally, models may still be rejected based on the wire geometry of the model. Please consider the size of your model and reinforce the wires or add support structures as needed as minimum guidelines will not always be adequate for large models.

Single Escape hole diameter

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Multiple Escape hole diameter

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Accuracy
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The bounding box is a 3D imaginary outline of a box that encloses the smallest area occupied by your model. Your model must be within the minimum and maximum bounding box sizes. If the size of the model is close to the maximum bounding box, then the printing orientation will be restricted.

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