Stereolithographcy

Stereolithography (SLA) is an material additive fabrication process for rapid prototypes utilizing liquid photopolymer resin and a laser to build parts one layer at a time. On each individual layer a laser traces a cross-sectional pattern on the surface of the liquid resin. The laser light cures (solidifies) the pattern on the resin and adheres it to the layer below.
After the pattern has been traced an elevator platform descends by one single layer thickness allownig a resin-filled blade to sweep across the cross section re-coating it with fresh material. On the new liquid surface the subsequent layer pattern is traced adhering to the previous layer. Eventually a 3-D Prototype is formed.

Parametric Solid Modeling softwares:
Alibre Design
Top Solid
Solidworks
SolidEdge
Pro E
Catia

Free Form Surface Modeling softwares:
3D Studio Max
NX
Alibre
Alias
Rhino
Pro E
Solidthinking

Related Terminology

Concept Design
Invention Drawings
Package Design
Proof of Concept
Marketing Analysis
Invention Prototyping
Digital Presentation
Computer Aided Design
Computer Aided Engineering
Computer Aided Manufacturing
Finite Element Analysis
Motion Simulation
Computational Fluid Dynamics
Advertising
Technology Lifecyle