Which description defines stereolithography (SLA)?

Study for the SkillsUSA Additive Manufacturing Test with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each with hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

Multiple Choice

Which description defines stereolithography (SLA)?

Explanation:
Stereolithography builds parts by curing a liquid resin with light. A vat of liquid UV-curable resin sits in the machine, and a UV laser traces each cross-section of the object on the resin’s surface, solidifying the resin where the laser passes. After each layer, the build platform lowers a small distance and a new layer of resin covers the previous layer, allowing the process to repeat until the part is formed. This approach uses liquid photopolymer resin cured by UV light, unlike powder-based or metal-focused methods that rely on sintering or melting powders with lasers or electron beams. So the description that mentions a vat of liquid UV resin and a UV laser building the part layer by layer is the one that defines SLA.

Stereolithography builds parts by curing a liquid resin with light. A vat of liquid UV-curable resin sits in the machine, and a UV laser traces each cross-section of the object on the resin’s surface, solidifying the resin where the laser passes. After each layer, the build platform lowers a small distance and a new layer of resin covers the previous layer, allowing the process to repeat until the part is formed. This approach uses liquid photopolymer resin cured by UV light, unlike powder-based or metal-focused methods that rely on sintering or melting powders with lasers or electron beams. So the description that mentions a vat of liquid UV resin and a UV laser building the part layer by layer is the one that defines SLA.

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