Stereolithography (SLA) is a vat photopolymerization 3D printing process that uses a UV laser to selectively cure liquid photopolymer resin layer by layer, creating highly detailed prototypes with smooth surfaces.
A build platform submerges into a resin vat, and a UV laser traces each layer’s cross-section at the bottom through a transparent window, solidifying resin (typically 25-100µm layers) while galvanometers control beam direction. The platform rises after peeling the cured layer from the vat, allowing fresh resin to refill, repeating until completion.