Second Generation Photopolymerization 3D Printing Technology

Digital Light Processing (DLP) came into being over a decade after the emergence of Stereolithography Apparatus (SLA) technology. As a variant of SLA, it bears remarkable similarities to SLA in terms of molding technology, achieving comparable effects through different approaches. This technology is also widely acknowledged in the industry as the second-generation stereolithography technology.

DLP photopolymerization 3D printing technology uses high-resolution DLP projectors to project ultraviolet light onto a printing platform containing photosensitive resin. Based on the 3D model generated by a computer, it cures the resin layer by layer, and through layer-by-layer superposition, ultimately constructs a solid model. Compared with the traditional SLA, DLP technology can cure the entire layer of resin with just one exposure, greatly improving printing speed and efficiency.

The DLP apparatus incorporates a liquid tank designed to contain photosensitive resin, which solidifies upon exposure to ultraviolet light of specific wavelengths. The DLP imaging system is positioned beneath the liquid tank, with its imaging surface precisely aligned to the bottom of the tank. Through energy and pattern control, a thin layer of resin with a defined thickness and shape can be cured each operation. A printing platform is installed above the liquid tank, and after each section exposure is completed, it is raised upward by a certain height to separate the currently cured solid resin from the bottom of the liquid tank and bond it to the printing platform or the previously formed resin layer. By exposing and lifting layer by layer, a three-dimensional solid is generated.

DLP photopolymerization 3D printing technology has the following characteristics:

High precision and detail restoration: DLP technology enables precise printing of extremely small features, making it particularly suitable for the fabrication of complex structures and fine textures.

Fast printing speed: Due to the entire layer exposure, compared with point-by-point or line-by-line curing technologies, the printing time is significantly shortened.

Diversified materials: With technological advancements, DLP printers support an increasingly diverse range of resin materials, including transparent, flexible, high-temperature resistant, bio-based, and other types.

Excellent surface quality: The photopolymerized layers feature strong interlayer adhesion, with the finished product boasting a smooth surface and relatively simple post-processing.

Precision represents the paramount advantage of DLP photopolymerization 3D printing technology. To guarantee high precision, the projection dimension is constrained, confining the technology to the fabrication of small-scale models.

DLP photopolymerization 3D printing technology, with its distinctive technical advantages, is gradually transforming the landscape of traditional manufacturing and driving new trends in personalized customization, rapid prototyping, and the fabrication of complex structural components. With the continuous maturity of technology and breakthroughs in materials science, the application boundaries of DLP photopolymerization 3D printing will continue to expand, bringing unprecedented innovation opportunities and manufacturing possibilities to various industries, and emerging as one of the key technologies driving the development of manufacturing toward intelligence and personalization.