Digital Light Processing (DLP) 3D Printing Service

Rapid Prototyping
3D Printing
Digital Light Processing (DLP)

Overview:What Is a DLP 3D Printer?

How Do DLP 3D Printers Work?

Digital Light Processing is a 3d printing process where a projector is used to cure photopolymer resin. Very similar to SLA where the only difference is that instead of a UV laser to cure the photopolymer resin, a safelight (light bulb) is used. Objects are created the same as SLA with the object being either pulled out of the resin which creates space for the uncured resin at the bottom of the container and to form the next layer of the object or down into the tank with the next layer being cured on the top.

A diagram illustrated the DLP setup. Source: DruckWege.de
Objects that are printed with Digital Light Processing have less visible layers versus other processes such as FDM/FFF. Compared with SLA, DLP can have faster build speeds due to a single layer being created in one singular digital image whereas with SLA, the UV laser has to scan the vat with a single point (trace out the object layer).
Also, the same photopolymer resins that can be used with SLA, can be used for DLP 3D Printing. Objects printed with this process have the same strengths and weaknesses.
Similar to SLA, DLP is commonly used to generate highly detailed artwork, non-functional prototypes, and can be used to make molds in investment casting applications.

Main DLP 3D Printing Technologies

Digital Light Processing provides excellent capabilities for 3D printing / Additive Manufacturing processes with an eye on efficiency. DLP is your go-to method when opting for a quick printing process without compromising on the quality of intricate parts.

Just like their SLA counterparts, desktop DLP 3D printers are built around a resin tank with transparent bottom and a build platform that descends into a resin tank to create parts upside down, layer by layer.
The difference is the light source. DLP 3D printers use a digital projector screen to flash an image of a layer across the entire platform, curing all points simultaneously.Now that you know how SLA works, it’s time to take a closer look at DLP. DLP is a “sister technology” to SLA as the only big difference is the light source used to cure the resin. As we just mentioned, SLA printers use lasers combined with galvanometers to cure resin.
With a DLP 3D printer, the light source is a specially developed digital light projector screen. Thanks to this screen, DLP is generally considered to be faster than SLA, and here’s why:
With SLA, the laser has to individually cure the resin in a “point to point” technique. On the other hand, a DLP projector screen flashes an image of a layer all at once! Thus all points of a layer can be cured simultaneously. In this way, the print speed is increased in comparison to SLA since it takes less time to cure a single layer.
Since the DLP is a digital technology, the 2D image that is projected is composed of pixels. When translated into three dimensions, they become voxels.
High productivity
For larger and smaller parts

Our DLP 3D printing service

Requirement	Specification
Maximum build size	300 x 230 x 130 mm
Minimum wall thickness	0.8 mm
Dimensional accuracy	L<100mm,±0.1mm. L>100mm,±0.1%*L(mm)
Typical surface finish	3-5 microns RA

The table below depicts the general tolerances for industrial-grade DLP services. Stresses during the build, support strategy and other geometry considerations may cause deviation in tolerances and flatness. Improved tolerances may be possible with a manual quote review, after successful completion of a prototype build, and must be approved on a case-by-case basis.

Available Materials for DLP

Below is a list of our standard materials for DLP 3D printing. To instantly compare material prices, upload your parts to our online platform.

TDS EvoDent

Waxy yellow

EvoDent Model V2.0 is a model material specially developed for dentistry. Dental molds printed with this product have high dimensional accuracy, good dimensional stability, a very smooth surface, and good presentation of high-detail structures. Simultaneously this product is easy to use, and has less precipitation, fast construction speed, and high printing success rate, so that it brings you an excellent user experience.

UTR Flex

White, Black

UTR Flex is a high-precision photosensitive resin material with excellent flexible property, smooth surface and excellent detail performance.

Our standard surface finishes

Here is a list of standard surface finishes. For custom surface finishes such as electroplating or polishing, please contact 3dcnc@pcbway.com.

Spray painting

Get painted according to the color pattern provided by the customer (Including matte paint, high-gloss paint, electroplating-imitation paint, varnish, leather paint,etc).

Polished

The surface texture is polished in a variety of ways to meet the actual needs of customers. The transparent parts can be polished accordingly to improve transparency and light transmittance.

Electroplating

Provide electroplating services, improve the overall strength of the parts, provide metal-like surface texture, and make it have certain metal characteristics.

Inlay nut

At the specific bottom hole position that needs to be processed, the internal thread is processed.

Glazing assembly

The surface of the part is glazed to better imitate the appearance of handicrafts. Have mature assembly experience to ensure the overall display of the product.

Reinforced coating

The unique outer coating processing ability improves the strength of the product structure, reduces external wear, and can better avoid damage caused by normal storage and use.