DLP/LCD Test Print

[cliffyk]

I thought of another way to visualize this. Here are Chitubox's previews of layers 1, 8, 15, 16, 22, and 23 (bottom to top) of our 0.3 x 0.6 mm (dia. x H) cone as presented in the "sliced" model window.

layer 1 - comprised of just 32 little 0.05 x 0.05 x 0.02 mm "mushy bricks":


layer 8 - just 16 "bricks":



layer 15 - just 5 "bricks":



layer 16 - down to only 1:



layer 22 - also just 1 "brick":



layers 23 to 31 - do not print, as they are smaller than a single "brick":



Some quick research into the DLP process seems to reveal that their resolution is no better and often not as good as MSLA (Masked Stereolithography Printing--I.e. "LCD"). Laser SLA may have some advantage, however the best I see in that arena is 10 micron (0.010 mm) XY resolution--with 25 micron being more typical. That twice as "high" as my lowly Mars, but still not really enough to meet the 0.3 x 0.6 mm "cone" test.

I also found tremendous levels of confusion regarding what these various resin based 3D printing systems are called--for example conventional wisdom almost exclusively limits the term SLA to MSLA (LCD) based systems--and I am as guilty of this as anyone.

This graphic comparison straightens out a lot of that confusion: