SLA is recognised by many in the design industry as the preferred method for Rapid Prototyping. However, times change and 3D Printing technology is now as good as, if not superior to, SLA.
We built the same model (click the thumbnail to see it in better detail) on an SLA and an Objet 24, which resulted in the following benchmarking data:
| SLA | Objet24 | |
| 76 microns | Accuracy | 100 microns |
| 50 microns | Resolution | 28 microns |
| 0.5mm | Minimum Hole Diameter | 0.5mm |
| 0.3mm | Minimum Wall Thickness | 0.3mm |
| 6 hours | Production Time | 2 hours |
Yet the SLA machine costs more than 5 times the price of the Objet 24. Even greater resolution is possible from Objet’s Eden and Connex ranges.
SLA has led the market for years, but 3D Printing is now a serious choice for any product design team.
“We like the multi-materials capability of the Objet Connex 3D printer as well as its potential to mix material hardness for the purpose of trials."