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SLA 3D Printing Service

High-resolution SLA resin parts with smooth surface finishes and tight tolerances. Ideal for visual prototypes, presentation models, and precision assemblies. No minimum order quantity.

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Grey V5 SLA resin 3D printed housing with structural ribs and snap-fit features

98.4%

On-Time Delivery

19+

Industries Served

600+

Quotes Delivered

3 Minutes

Average Quoting Time

15+ Years

Combined Experience

What Is SLA 3D Printing?

Stereolithography (SLA) is a resin 3D printing process where a UV laser selectively cures liquid photopolymer into solid geometry, layer by layer. A build platform lowers into a vat of resin, the laser traces each cross-section of the CAD model, and the platform lifts incrementally as each new layer is cured on top of the previous one.

SLA achieves layer heights as fine as 0.025 mm (0.001"), producing parts with sharp edges, crisp details, and smooth surfaces that require minimal post-processing. After printing, parts are rinsed in a solvent to remove uncured resin, supports are removed, and a final UV cure hardens the part to its full mechanical properties.

SLA is the technology of choice when surface finish, dimensional accuracy, and fine-feature resolution are the priority. It is widely used for visual prototypes, fit-check models, presentation samples, transparent components, and casting patterns.

Read our full SLA guide

Diagram of Formlabs Low Force Display SLA print engine showing build platform, resin tank, and light processing unit

Image: Formlabs

When to Use SLA

Real applications where Stereolithography delivers results other processes can't.

Multiple SLA prototype iterations showing rapid design validation

Visual Prototypes & Presentation Models

Produce near-production-quality parts with smooth finishes, sharp lettering, and realistic surface textures. Polished enough for client presentations, trade shows, and investor pitches.

Tight-tolerance SLA assembly demonstrating precision fit

Tight-Tolerance Assemblies

SLA maintains tolerances of ±0.1 mm, making it well-suited for snap fits, enclosure fit checks, connector prototypes, and multi-part assemblies where small deviations cause problems.

Transparent SLA 3D printed parts in Clear Resin showing optical clarity

Transparent & Optical Components

Clear SLA resins produce functional light pipes, optical covers, lenses, and fluidic channels. Parts print translucent and can be polished to near-glass clarity for illumination and flow testing.

SLA castable wax resin patterns for investment casting

Master Patterns & Casting

Castable wax resins burn out cleanly during investment casting, making SLA the standard for jewelry patterns, dental models, and any workflow that transitions from printed pattern to metal or ceramic.

Select images courtesy of Formlabs and 3D Systems

Featured Materials

Grey V5 SLA

General-Purpose Photopolymer by Formlabs

Grey V5 is the go-to Formlabs resin for prototyping and concept models. It delivers a smooth matte surface, high dimensional accuracy, and fine feature resolution, ideal for design validation, presentation models, and fit-check assemblies where surface quality matters.

Best for

Concept models, presentation parts, and fit-check assemblies

Not ideal for

Load-bearing parts, outdoor UV exposure, or sustained heat

Formlabs Grey V5 SLA printed adjustable angle bracket with engraved degree scale showing smooth matte surface finish

Clear SLA

Transparent Photopolymer by Formlabs

Formlabs Clear resin produces optically transparent parts that can be polished to near-glass clarity. Use it for light pipes, LED covers, fluid flow visualization, microfluidic devices, and any application where you need to see internal features or pass light through a part.

Best for

Light pipes, lenses, and fluid-flow visualization

Not ideal for

Structural load-bearing parts or UV-stable outdoor use

Formlabs Clear resin SLA printed part showing optical transparency and internal features

Tough 2000 SLA

ABS-Like Engineering Resin by Formlabs

Tough 2000 simulates ABS with high impact strength and low elastic modulus, absorbing stress without snapping. Engineered for snap-fit housings, living hinges, jigs, fixtures, and functional prototypes that need to survive repeated handling, drop tests, and assembly cycles.

Best for

Snap-fit housings, jigs, fixtures, and functional prototypes

Not ideal for

Sustained high heat or outdoor UV exposure

Formlabs Tough 2000 SLA printed enclosure demonstrating impact-resistant ABS-like properties

Rigid 10K SLA

Glass-Filled Engineering Resin by Formlabs

Rigid 10K is a glass-filled resin with a 10 GPa modulus, extremely stiff and dimensionally stable under load. It holds tight tolerances for molds, manifolds, turbine blades, and structural fixtures where deflection under stress would compromise the part's function.

Best for

Molds, manifolds, and stiff fixtures that resist deflection

Not ideal for

Impact-prone or flexible parts; thin snap-fits

Formlabs Rigid 10K glass-filled SLA printed part showing high stiffness and fine detail

Accura 25 SLA

ABS-Like Photopolymer by 3D Systems

Accura 25 is a durable, general-purpose SLA resin with ABS-like mechanical properties. It delivers good impact resistance and stiffness, making it suitable for functional prototypes, fit-check models, and light-duty end-use parts.

Best for

Functional prototypes, fit-check models, and light-duty end-use parts

Not ideal for

High-heat or outdoor structural applications

Accura 25 SLA printed vent component showing ABS-like surface finish

Watershed SLA

Clear Photopolymer by 3D Systems

Watershed is an optically clear SLA resin with water resistance and dimensional stability. Parts print translucent and can be polished to near-transparent clarity. Ideal for light pipes, fluid flow visualization, lenses, and any application where transparency is functional.

Best for

Light pipes, flow visualization, and transparent components

Not ideal for

Load-bearing structural parts or UV-exposed outdoor use

Clear SLA resin headlamp housing demonstrating optical transparency

Explore the Full Materials Catalog

Specs, datasheets, and side-by-side comparisons for every material we print.

View All Materials

SLA Design Guidelines

General guidelines to ensure your SLA parts are printable and achieve optimal results.

General Tolerance

±0.1 mm (±0.004") + approximately 2% per inch on Z-axis

Min. Wall Thickness

0.5 mm (0.02") for rigid resins; 1 mm (0.04") for flexible resins

Min. Feature Size

0.2 mm (0.008")

Layer Height

0.025 to 0.1 mm (0.001" to 0.004")

Max Build Volume

Up to 700 × 600 × 500 mm (27.5" × 23.6" × 19.7")

Min. Hole Diameter

0.75 mm. Smaller holes can seal over during printing and curing

Drain Holes

3.5 mm minimum on hollow sections; add two so resin drains without suction

Mating Part Clearance

0.1 mm for press fits; 0.2 mm for assembled components

Embossed & Engraved Details

0.4 mm minimum relief depth; 2 mm minimum text height

Threaded Connections

Printed threads from M4; use bonded or press-fit inserts rather than heat-set

Need help with DFM? Learn about our CAD drafting services

How SLA Compares to FDM, SLS, and MJF

	FDM	SLA	SLS	MJF
Best For	Early prototypes, low-cost visual models	High-detail visual prototypes, presentation models, casting patterns	Functional prototypes, low-volume production	Medium-volume production, end-use parts
Surface Finish	Visible layer lines	Very smooth, near-injection-mold quality	Matte, uniform	Smooth, uniform
Dimensional Accuracy	±0.5 mm	±0.1 mm	±0.3 mm	±0.3 mm
Mechanical Strength	Moderate (anisotropic)	Lower (UV-sensitive, brittle)	High (near-isotropic)	High (near-isotropic)
Supports Required	Yes	Yes (tree-style lattice)	No	No
Material Options	PLA, ABS, ASA, PLA-CF, TPU	Photopolymer resins (standard, clear, engineering, castable)	PA12, PA11, GF, CF, FR nylons	PA12, PA11, PA12-GB, TPU
Cost Per Part (low vol)	Lowest	Moderate	Moderate to high	Moderate to high
Ideal Volume	1 to 25 units	1 to 50 units	1 to 500 units	50 to 5,000 units

Not sure which process fits? Read our comparison guide or contact us for a recommendation.

How We Make It Simple

No MOQ, engineering review on every quote, and volume pricing starting at 2 units.

High-Resolution SLA Capabilities

Industrial SLA with build volumes up to 700 × 600 × 500 mm and layer heights as fine as 0.025 mm. Sized to your part's detail and resolution requirements.

No MOQs

No minimum order quantity. We accept orders of even 1 unit.

Wide Range of Resin Materials

Standard, engineering, clear, high-temperature, and castable resins. Each material is selected for its mechanical, optical, or functional properties to match your application.

15+ Years Combined Experience

Our founders bring over 15 years of additive manufacturing research. Expert guidance at every step.

Engineering Review on Every Quote

Every SLA quote is reviewed by our engineering team. We evaluate geometry, recommend optimal build orientation, and flag potential design issues before production.

Volume Discounts from 2 Units

Volume-based discounts start at just 2 units. Our Auto-Quoter applies them automatically.

SLA Post-Processing & Finishing

Every SLA part ships with supports stripped and the part ready to evaluate. Additional finishing options are available for cosmetic or functional requirements.

Standard Support Removal

Advanced Support Removal

Bag & Tag

Standard Support Removal

All SLA parts ship with supports removed. We strip the support structures and ship the part as-is, with fast turnaround and no additional finishing. Support nub marks may be visible at contact points.

SLA printed part with tree-style support structures before removal

Advanced Support Removal

For parts with complex geometry or cosmetic requirements, our technicians carefully remove supports from hard-to-reach areas and follow up with 200-grit sanding to smooth nub locations and contact points. Recommended for visible parts, fit checks, and assemblies where clean mating surfaces matter.

Removing support structures from an SLA resin part with flush cutters before sanding

Image: Formlabs

Bag & Tag

Each part is individually labeled with its name, version, and key specifications before being sealed in a protective bag. Ideal for multi-part assemblies, revision tracking, and organized delivery. Labels can include barcodes or QR codes on request.

Made in the USA

All parts are produced within the United States. For clients in Silicon Valley, Tri-Valley, the East Bay, and surrounding areas, local pickup is available at our facility.

All orders over $250 include free standard shipping anywhere in the contiguous United States.

Check if local pickup is available for your area:

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700 Terminal Cir, Livermore, CA 94551 · About our Bay Area shop

What Our Clients Say

★★★★★

"Awesome business! I needed a hinge replacement for my headphones that didn't require me to solder wires. They are transparent in prices, easy to communicate with, and quick. Would recommend!"

Katrina T.

★★★★★

"I contacted Simple Machining after another 3D print service ignored the request for a small custom job and got a response within minutes. They delivered a perfect print in a few days and it looks and fits great."

Chris H.

★★★★★

"Very glad I chose Simple Machining for my 3D printing project. They communicate clearly and give professional advice."

Yue Y.

SLA 3D Printing FAQ

SLA (Stereolithography) is a resin-based 3D printing process that uses a UV laser to cure liquid photopolymer into solid parts, layer by layer. It produces parts with smooth surface finishes, fine detail resolution, and tight dimensional tolerances, making it the go-to technology for visual prototypes and precision assemblies.

Featured SLA materials include Formlabs Grey V5 (general purpose), Clear (transparent), Tough 2000 (ABS-like), and Rigid 10K (glass-filled), plus 3D Systems Accura 25 and Watershed. High-temperature resins, castable wax resins, and additional engineering photopolymers are available on request for specialized applications. Contact us to discuss material selection.

±0.1 mm (±0.004") in X/Y, with approximately 2% variation per inch on the Z-axis. Layer heights range from 0.025 to 0.1 mm. Parts may experience 1 to 2% shrinkage during post-curing, so compensate accordingly for tight-tolerance features.

Yes. SLA prints require tree-style lattice supports for overhangs and isolated features. Standard support removal strips supports and ships the part as-is. For cosmetic parts, advanced support removal includes hard-to-reach cleanup and 200-grit sanding of nub locations. Build orientation is optimized to minimize support marks on cosmetic surfaces.

SLA pricing depends on part volume, resin material, quantity, and finishing requirements. It is more expensive per part than FDM but delivers significantly finer detail and smoother surfaces. Volume discounts apply starting at 2 units. Submit your files for a quote.

Both SLA and DLP cure liquid resin using light. SLA uses a UV laser to trace each layer point by point, while DLP uses a projected light pattern to cure an entire layer at once. DLP is generally faster for small parts but may sacrifice resolution on larger builds. We offer both under our SLA printing service. Formlabs mSLA (masked LCD) systems are also included in this service line.

Related Resources

SLA 3D Printing Guide: Materials, Use Cases, and 6 Design Guidelines for Project Success

SLA Guide

SLA 3D Printing Guide: 6 Design Guidelines for Project Success

Materials, use cases, and six design guidelines for achieving professional-quality SLA parts. Technical specs and practical tips for engineers.

Read the Article

What Project Managers Need to Know About 3D Printer Resolution

3D Printing Design

What Project Managers Need to Know About Resolution

How 3D printer resolution affects surface finish, part detail, and accuracy. What to consider when selecting the right resolution for your project.

Read the Article

Prototyping Guide

Rapid Prototyping Guide: Methods, Materials, and Process Selection

Matching process and material to your validation goal. A breakdown of FDM, SLA, SLS, MJF, and CNC machining for prototype development.

SLA 3D Printing Service

What Is SLA 3D Printing?

When to Use SLA

Visual Prototypes & Presentation Models

Tight-Tolerance Assemblies

Transparent & Optical Components

Master Patterns & Casting

Featured Materials

Grey V5 SLA

Clear SLA

Tough 2000 SLA

Rigid 10K SLA

Accura 25 SLA

Watershed SLA

SLA Design Guidelines

How SLA Compares to FDM, SLS, and MJF

How We Make It Simple

High-Resolution SLA Capabilities

No MOQs

Wide Range of Resin Materials

15+ Years Combined Experience

Engineering Review on Every Quote

Volume Discounts from 2 Units

SLA Post-Processing & Finishing

Standard Support Removal

Advanced Support Removal

Bag & Tag

Need SLA resin parts fast? How about 3 business days?

Made in the USA

What Our Clients Say

SLA 3D Printing FAQ

Related Resources

SLA 3D Printing Guide: 6 Design Guidelines for Project Success

What Project Managers Need to Know About Resolution

Rapid Prototyping Guide: Methods, Materials, and Process Selection

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