Which process cures a liquid resin with a guided laser beam?

Which process cures a liquid resin with a guided laser beam?

• A. Stereolithography (SLA)
• B. Selective Laser Sintering (SLS)
• C. Direct metal laser sintering (DMLS)
• D. Electron Beam Melting (EBM)

Answer: (A)

The process uses a guided laser to cure a liquid resin, which is stereolithography. In this method, a photosensitive liquid resin sits in a vat and a UV laser beams into it, tracing the cross-section and curing the resin wherever the laser touches. After each layer is solidified, the build platform drops slightly and a new layer of resin is spread over the surface, then the laser continues to cure the next layer. This layer-by-layer curing of liquid resin is the hallmark of vat polymerization. The other options rely on solid powders—polymer powder or metal powders—that are fused or melted by a laser or electron beam, not liquid resin.

The process uses a guided laser to cure a liquid resin, which is stereolithography. In this method, a photosensitive liquid resin sits in a vat and a UV laser beams into it, tracing the cross-section and curing the resin wherever the laser touches. After each layer is solidified, the build platform drops slightly and a new layer of resin is spread over the surface, then the laser continues to cure the next layer. This layer-by-layer curing of liquid resin is the hallmark of vat polymerization. The other options rely on solid powders—polymer powder or metal powders—that are fused or melted by a laser or electron beam, not liquid resin.