SLA 3D Printing Service

Malcolm Nicholls Ltd have over 50 years as a rapid prototyping and 3D printing service we are home to two of the UK’s largest 3D Printers offering large frame 3D printing or even low volume production with bigger 3d printing capacity we can deliver your parts in days

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Home | 3D Printing Services | SLA 3D Printing Service

3D Printing Services Utilising Our SLA Services

Malcolm Nicholls Ltd are the industry leaders in 3D printing services, with over 50 years of experience in rapid prototypes and low volume production methods, we can produce or manufacture anything from 1 – 1000’s of parts.

We have two of the largest 3D Printers in the UK

Home to one of the largest 3D printers in the UK our Neo 800 has an impressive 800 x 800 x 600m build capacity. Whereas most other stereolithography companies with SLA 3D Printing machines previously would have required large parts to be built in sections, we now have the ability to build parts without the need for cutting meaning parts are built quicker, finishing is streamlined and is cost-effective.

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What is SLA 3D Printing & Stereolithography?

Stereolithography (SLA) also often referred to as SLA is the most widely used resin 3D printing technology and it is generally considered to provide the greatest accuracy and best surface finish of any prototyping or 3D printing process. Stereolithography is an industrial 3D printing process used to create concept models, complex or even very intricate parts. It is a popular choice as many parts can be built in just a day! With MNL’s secondary finishing services such as painting and finishing we can make your part and the details within it really stand out.

Malcolm Nicholls Ltd 3D Printing, Low Volume Production and Rapid Prototyping experts

How does SLA 3D printing work?

A computer controlled UV laser beam scans across the surface of a vat of photosensitive resin that instantly turns the liquid to solid wherever it touches. Successive layers or slices of cured resin are gradually built up into a solid version of the intended CAD model until your part is complete. 

Newly built parts are taken out of the SLA machine and taken into our processing room where solvents are used to remove any additional resins. The additional resin will all be removed so we can then remove any support structures manually. After the supports and all the resin has been removed the majority of parts will undergo a UV-curing cycle to fully solidify the outer surface of the part. If the part is a clear 3D printed part we will leave it to dry naturally.

The final step in the SLA 3D printing process is the application of any specified finishing touches such as metalising, painting, flocking or additional vinyls.

FDM

Manufacturing FDM known as fused deposition modelling is the most widely available form of 3d printing. It is an additive manufacturing technology that selectively deposits molten plastic to build parts layer by layer

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SLS

SLS can build functional parts, casting patterns and tooling inserts from your 3D CAD data. Our HiQ Sinterstation system (SLS 3D Printing machine) represents the future of Instant Manufacturing Technology

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Low Volume Manufacturing

With the growing demand for Low Volume Production also known as low volume manufacturing and small batch production Malcolm Nicholls Ltd can produce 1 – 1000’s of parts.

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Why Choose to do your 3D printing via SLA?

Stereolithography or SLA is also an excellent choice for rapid prototyping and projects requiring the production of very accurate and finely detailed parts. Stereolithography prototyping is ideal for creating parts to demonstrate and validate concept ideas and ergonomic testing.

Malcolm Nicholls Ltd 3D Printing, Low Volume Production and Rapid Prototyping experts, interested in how we can help you? Contact us

Large parts? Utilise an SLA printing service

MNL’s resin 3D printing service in the UK is home to two of the UK’s largest 3D printers. With an impressive build platform of 800 x 800 x 600mm we can produce first-class large frame parts quickly. Offering best-in-class; exceptional part sidewall quality, with a scanning resolution to within 1 micron, our NEO800 systems significantly reduce finishing times by up to 50%. NEO800 has a variable spot-size laser. It goes small for intricate detail on the boundaries of parts and then it goes larger for filling in the rest of the section. As a result, this combination of intricacy and super-fast build speeds produces excellent quality components in super quick time frames.

Inside an SLA

A short 2 min video of a 15 hour build of a piece of art being built on a large format SLA machine at MNL.
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What are the benefits of SLA 3D Printing?

  • SLA has a high resolution.
  • Large parts can be printed quickly. 
  • Virtually optically clear parts can be achieved *ask us about it
  • 3D models can be sanded, painted, & tinted
  • SLA rapid prototype can be made in a matter of hours
  • Small intricate details can be showcased in your part
  • Extremely durable material making it excellent for snap fits
  • Ultra Hi-res mode utilises the lasers extremely small spot size of just 0.075mm
  • Offers the best 3D surface finish for additional finishing

SLA 3D Printing Applications

  • Master patterns for polyurethane castings
  • Aesthetic & conceptual models
  • Parts requiring crisp detail and accuracy
  • Quickcast™ investment “wax” patterns
  • Design evaluation models
  • Clear Flow analysis models
  • Water clear models including lenses and light-guides
  • Masters for vacuum casting
  • Mold shells for metal casting
  • Functional assemblies
  • Wind tunnel models
  • Health items (dental, surgery, medicine, etc.)

Virtually optically clear SLA 3D printed parts?

Our team of 3D printing experts have mastered virtually optically clear parts from our Stereolithography machines, we can help you see inside your assembly, utilised by many of our clients for flow testing and analysis as well as replicating glass for many designs. Glass like SLAs can be achieved with MNL not just for lenses and lighting based components. 
Examples of some of the Different Finishes Achievable with SLA Technology

Levels of Clarity

Exploring the differing levels of clarity that can be achieved on the SLA machines at MNL.
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Being Clear About SLA Manufacturing

Not just used for lenses and lighting based components. See inside your assembly with a clear version of your housing. But how clear do you need it, or how much will it cost? An excellent illustration of examples and uses of making SLA parts in clear materials.

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Want to know more about our SLA 3D printing service?

Stereolithography services at MNL are some of the most precise in the industry thanks to our top-of-the-line SLA machines. If you are in need of stereolithography prototyping or small production batches quickly and at an affordable cost, then our SLA prototyping services are perfect for you.

650mm Wide Size Bust on a Large SLA Printer

Using the 3D scanned data, MNL were able to produce a full size bust of Mr Cadbury using one of MNL’s large frame 3D print machines called Stereolithography (SLA).
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Wind Tunnel Model for High Speed Aerodynamic Testing

The use of SLA enables the manufacture of high fidelity models which can readily incorporate the instrumentation necessary to assess the design.
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Technical Section

SLA Machine Sizes at MNL

Machines and sizes
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Available Materials

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Address

Waterloo Industrial Estate, Waterloo Cres, Bidford-on-Avon, B50 4JH

Call Us

01789 490382

Email Us

quotes@mnl.co.uk

    Subscribe me to the mailing list; we won't bombard you with tons of spam, honest. Just the odd news, or general marketing email :-)

    Upload your data for all other projects such as surface finishing, vac casting, CNC machining

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    If a conversation would be easier, give us a call to discuss further 01789 490382

      Our prefered file format is compressed stl files [.mgx]. For the StlZip utility to produce mgx files click here.

      For a full list of acceptable formats click here. Only ONE file at a time; for multiple parts please zip into one file.

      Subscribe me to the mailing list; we won't bombard you with tons of spam, honest. Just the odd news, or general marketing email :-)

      Upon Successful upload of your data, you will be emailed a tailored enquiry form to complete and return. You will be able to confirm/append your requirements in full including the desired process, materials, colours, finish, quantities etc.