**Conflict of interest**

None.

regulation [85] have also been established. SLA can furthermore be used in medical imaging to create 3D models [86] for preoperative planning [87] or educational purposes [88]. 3D cell culture for more accurate in vitro models to study diseased, as well as healthy tissues, can likewise be created [89]. Tissue engineering constructs in regenerative medicine have also been fabricated with SLA methods [90] and even bioprinting, where live cells are incorpo-

A plethora of SLA printers are currently on the market, ranging in price and quality from amateur desktop applications to professional high-precision machines. A brief overview of

LCD-SLA is only available as a low-budget 3D printer for hobbyists. The more common methods such as conventional laser-SLA and DLP-SLA, however, have their low-cost and low-resolution desktop editions for consumers but can also offer high-end methods for professionals and industrial applications. While CLIP and TPP are both in higher price ranges, the former is designed for the extremely fast production of larger parts, while the latter is used

> **Maximum print size (mm)**

TPP 0.400 — 100 × 100 × 3 Nanoscribe [34] DLP 33–120 25–150 45–230 EnvisionTEC, Kudo3D [96–98] CLIP 50–100 500 80–320 Carbon [44] LCD 50–100 20–60 55–160 SparkMaker, Photocentric [49, 99]

**Commercial vendors Sources**

[92–95]

XYZPrinting,

As the front-runner for high-resolution 3D printing, SLA retains substantial limitations due to the often high costs of this AM method, which are augmented further by slow printing velocities. Additionally, the fact that printing is only possible with one resin at a time severely

Trends toward faster manufacturing have already been set by the CLIP technology [44]. Other continuous DLP methods, where building platforms are raised at a constant rate

rated into the printed scaffold is currently being investigated [91].

for very slow fabrication of small parts with sub-micron resolution.

Laser 6–140 14 27–750 3DSystems, Formlabs,

**Printing speed (mm/h)**

**Table 2.** Comparison of commercially available SLA systems.

**5. Commercially available SLA systems**

their specifications is given in **Table 2**.

**6. Outlook**

**SLAtype**

14 3D Printing

**Lateral resolution (μm)**

restricts potential applications.
