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An increasing library of materials is becoming available for SLA, e.g. I've used those with properties resembling clear acrylic, silicon, rubber, ABS-ish, bio-c
by rkagerer 6y ago
An increasing library of materials is becoming available for SLA, e.g. I've used those with properties resembling clear acrylic, silicon, rubber, ABS-ish, bio-compatibility for dental, "nano-dispersions" for tinting and even some exotics infused with glass powder or with high temperature-resistance (HDT of 238°C @ 0.45 MPa). But FDM still offers more variety (e.g. carbon fiber infused filaments).
There's post-processing if you do prints that require supports (overhangs, etc). I've gotten good at designing within the constraints of the process to eliminate that as much as possible, but yes, it's still a pain.
A typical advantage of SLA over FDM or SLS is a smoother surface finish. But I think the industry will ultimately land on a material jetting design (akin to an inkjet) that can dispense multiple types of polymers and dissolvable supporting material. The NexD1 had promised to be the first consumer-grade printer to do this but it was a scam.