FDM vs SLA: Which 3D Printer Should You Buy?

Despite a host of different 3D printing technologies arising since its inception, the purpose has remained the same: convert a digital model into a physical one. However, each technology has different techniques, developments, and results. We have compared two of the best-known technologies in the industry today: FDM & SLA. There are several types of FDM 3D printers, which we will compare with their resin 3D printer counterparts.

First Developments

Stereolithography (SLA) was the first 3D printing technique. Its first developments began in 1986 when Chuck Hull, 3D Systems’ founder, registered the first commercial patent for the photopolymerization of a resin through laser. Years later came DLP technology, based on the same technique but using light generated by a projector. In the development of SLA/DLP printers, companies like Formlabs, B9Creations and Carbon 3D grew large.

A few years later in 1988 Scott Crump, founder of Stratasys, unveiled the first FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) or FFF (Fused Filament Fabrication) printer. This technology became popular because of its easy handling and low price compared to other technologies. The development in FDM allowed companies like Ultimaker, Makerbot and Zortrax, to become big brands.