MSLA resin printing — ultra-high detail, exceptional surface finish, and a broad material library for jewelry, dental, art, miniatures, and precision prototypes. Houston's professional resin printing service.
Get a Resin Quote Compare TechnologiesResin printing encompasses several photopolymerization technologies — SLA (laser-based), MSLA (LCD masked), and DLP (digital light projector). At Export Commodity, we primarily operate MSLA systems, which use a high-resolution LCD screen to flash-cure entire layers simultaneously. This makes MSLA significantly faster than laser SLA for comparable resolution, while maintaining the exceptional surface quality and fine detail characteristic of all resin technologies.
Resin printing produces parts with the finest resolution and smoothest surfaces of any additive manufacturing technology. At 0.05mm layer height, layer lines are imperceptible to touch. At 0.02mm, parts emerge from the machine with a near-optically smooth surface that requires minimal post-processing. The XY resolution of modern MSLA systems resolves features as fine as 0.05mm — well below the resolution of most human fingertips.
The material breadth in photopolymer resins has expanded dramatically in recent years. Beyond standard rigid resins, the category now includes engineering-grade tough resins, flexible elastomeric resins, high-temperature tooling resins, castable resins for jewelry and metal casting, optically clear resins for lenses and display components, and biocompatible resins for dental and medical applications.
| Resin Type | Shore / Hardness | Key Properties | Applications |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Gray/White | Rigid | Smooth, accurate, paintable | Prototypes, models, display pieces |
| ABS-Like Tough | Rigid, impact-resistant | Higher impact strength than standard | Functional prototypes, snap fits |
| Water-Washable | Rigid | Water-washable (no IPA needed) | Rapid prototyping, models |
| High-Temp Resin | Rigid, 200°C+ HDT | Resists elevated temperatures | Tooling, molds, thermoforming inserts |
| Clear / Optical | Rigid, transparent | Polishable to optical clarity | Lenses, display panels, fluidics |
| Castable (Wax-Fill) | Rigid, burns clean | Zero ash investment casting | Jewelry masters, metal casting |
| Flexible 80A | Shore 80A | Semi-flexible, durable | Soft grips, seals, flexible components |
| Ultra-Flexible 50A | Shore 50A | Highly flexible, rubbery | Gaskets, simulation models, toys |
| Dental Model Resin | Rigid | High accuracy, polishable | Orthodontic models, dental study |
| Biocompatible (Class I) | Rigid | ISO 10993 cytotoxicity tested | Surgical guides, oral appliances |
| Ceramic-Look Resin | Rigid | High stiffness, fine detail | Art, jewelry, decorative |
| 4K ABS-Like (Black) | Rigid | Very fine detail, high stiffness | Precision engineering models |
Castable resin burns cleanly in investment casting with zero residual ash. Our 49-micron XY resolution captures engraving detail, stone seat geometry, and fine surface texture that a casting master requires. Gold, silver, platinum, and bronze can all be cast from our resin masters.
Orthodontic study models, aligner series models, surgical guides, and dental splints produced from high-accuracy dental resins. We work from patient STL files generated by your practice's intraoral scanner or CBCT scan. Turnaround in 24–48 hours for urgent cases.
Tabletop RPG and wargame miniatures, figurines, character sculptures, and art objects at scales where FDM cannot resolve the required detail. Our MSLA systems produce gallery-quality figurines at 28mm scale and below with crisp detail throughout.
Consumer electronics, medical device casings, automotive interior pieces — any prototype where surface quality and feature accuracy directly affect evaluation and presentation. Resin prototypes photograph and present as production-quality pieces.
Clear resin parts can be wet-sanded and polished to optical transparency. Applications include custom safety glasses, display window inserts, light diffusers, and decorative clear elements. We post-process clear parts through a progressive grit sanding and polishing process to maximize clarity.
The smooth, detail-faithful surface of resin prints transfers perfectly to silicone mold masters. We produce mold masters in tough or high-temp resin, then pour production silicone molds from them — resulting in cast-urethane or cast-resin parts with near-injection-molded surface quality.
Every resin part is washed in isopropyl alcohol to remove surface resin, then UV-cured at the manufacturer's specified time and temperature. Included in all resin orders. Parts arrive fully cured and ready to use.
Resin supports are removed with flush cutters and the support contact points are cleaned with precision tools. High-detail parts get additional cleanup time — the work shows in the finished piece.
For optical-clarity clear parts and premium aesthetic parts, we wet-sand progressively from 400 to 12000 grit and follow with polishing compound and a UV-protective clear coat. The result is a glass-like surface.
Resin takes primer and paint exceptionally well due to its smooth, non-porous surface. Painting quality is often superior on resin vs. FDM because there are no layer-line artifacts to telegraph through the paint.
Both are photopolymerization processes. SLA uses a UV laser to cure resin point-by-point, while MSLA uses an LCD screen to flash-cure entire layers simultaneously. MSLA is faster for most part sizes because the exposure time per layer is constant regardless of cross-section area. Resolution and surface quality are comparable at equivalent layer heights. We operate both systems and select the optimal one for each job based on build volume requirements and resolution specifications.
Standard resins are generally more brittle than FDM thermoplastics — they resist compression well but are less impact-resistant than materials like ABS or Nylon. Tough and ABS-like resins close this gap significantly. For maximum mechanical performance, FDM in engineering materials or SLS Nylon typically outperforms resin. For detailed parts where strength requirements are moderate, tough resin is a good balance of detail quality and structural performance.
Liquid photopolymer resins are skin and eye irritants and should not be handled without gloves and eye protection. We observe all required safety precautions in our production environment. The finished, post-cured parts you receive are fully polymerized and non-toxic under normal handling conditions. Only the liquid resin and IPA wash solvent require careful handling.
Yes, but with a process note: resins print in a translucent state that has a slight haze from support contacts and layer transitions. To achieve optical transparency, the part must be wet-sanded through a progressive grit sequence (400, 800, 1500, 3000, 5000, 12000) and then polished and clear-coated. This finishing process is available as an add-on. The result is genuinely clear — you can read text through 5mm of properly finished clear resin.
We print tabletop miniatures at any standard scale — 28mm, 32mm, 54mm, and 1:12 scale are most common. At 28mm scale with 0.02mm layer height, we resolve facial features, chainmail texture, fine engraving on weapons, and individual hair strands in sculpts designed for that level of detail. The limiting factor is the digital resolution of the source model, not the printer. We can also scale up miniatures to 1:6, 1:1, or beyond for display pieces and collectibles.
Share your file and application — we'll recommend the right resin and finish level for your specific needs and send a quote within one business day.
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