SLA 3D Printing Services

3D printing and rapid prototyping technology

What is SLA 3D Printing & Stereolithography?

Stereolithography or “SLA 3D Printing”, is the most widely used 3D Printing / rapid prototyping technology. It is generally considered to provide the greatest accuracy and best surface finish of any prototyping / 3D printing process.

A computer controlled UV laserbeam scans across the surface of a vat of photosensitive resin instantly turning liquid to solid wherever it touches. Succesive layers or slices of cured resin are gradually built up into a solid version of the intended CAD model.

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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

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
3D models can be sanded, painted, & tinted
Prototypes can be made in a matter of hours
Extremely durable material making it excellent for snap fits

MNL’s machines have a maximum build capacity of 800 x 800 x 600mm
Ultra Hi-res mode utilises the lasers extremely small spot size of just 0.075mm
Offers the best 3D surface finish for additional finishing

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

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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Examples of Projects involving SLA 3D Printed Parts

Triscan Fuel Pump Advertising Nozzle

When approached by the UK’s largest manufacturer and supplier of fuel management systems, the challenge was to create a prototype durable enough to withstand the rigours of fuel such as diesel or petrol and...

Thiery Mugler Stars

This Paris based fashion brand was launched in 1973 by designer Thierry Mugler. The Thierry Mugler brand is evolving its identity in retail as they set to unify their fragrance lines under one single brand name and...

Polar Watches Display Units

Malcolm Nicholls Limited (MNL) produced an extensive array of point of sale display units, utilising a wide variety of process that MNL has to offer. For most of the clear components, these were 3D printed using MNL’s...

Wrigleys Gum Display Cabinets

Malcolm Nicholls Limited (MNL) were approached by a POS design company to produce prototypes that emulated there design challenges such as durability for in store trials and uniqueness of the product display units....

Alexander McQueen Oversized Perfume Bottle

Every element of the McQueen experience is hand-crafted and meticulous - as demonstrated by the beauty of the beguiling fragrance flacon. An object d’art, intricate antique gold feathers - a...

Kenwood Chef Model

For more than fifty years the Kenwood Chef has been a lifesaver in the kitchen – more than 10 million have been sold worldwide.

Childs Plate

This model was produced for a university student’s final degree show for Product Design. Malcolm Nicholls Limited (MNL) gave the student 20% off, further helping them to produce their new plate concept to promote children to eat fruit and vegetables.

SATCase Mobile Phone Converter

SATcase™ is a revolutionary device that transforms the common smartphone into a sophisticated satellite phone. After placing their smartphone into a durable, ruggedized case and installing the SATcase™ application, users can...

Razor Handles

Certain projects have been selected from MNL’s Rich History, this one comes from 2008: First launched in 2008, the Azor 4-Blade System Razor from King of Shaves was the first British designed system razor for over 100...

Earlex Steam Cleaner

Certain projects have been selected from MNL’s Rich History, this one comes from 2002: Steam cleaning allows you to deep clean and disinfect without the use of chemicals or abrasive materials. A diverse steam...

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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