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Home Xometry Community Manufacturing Layer thickness for FDM and SLA

Layer thickness for FDM and SLA

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R
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Hi everyone, I’m a bit new to 3D printing and was wondering about the layer height for FDM and SLA printers. How does this affect the detail of the design? Looking for some insights!

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Solved by Manon Bouriaud

Welcome to the forum! The layer height is the thickness of each layer that the printer lays down. For FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling), layer heights are typically between 0.1 to 0.3 mm, although they can go finer. Lower layer heights give you finer detail but at the cost of longer print times and potentially more failures.

As for SLA, the printers typically have finer layer heights compared to FDM, often ranging from 0.025 to 0.1 mm. SLA works by curing resin with a laser or light source, so it can achieve very fine details.

    • R

      Hi everyone, I’m a bit new to 3D printing and was wondering about the layer height for FDM and SLA printers. How does this affect the detail of the design? Looking for some insights!

      0
      Reply
    • Senior Content Manager

      Welcome to the forum! The layer height is the thickness of each layer that the printer lays down. For FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling), layer heights are typically between 0.1 to 0.3 mm, although they can go finer. Lower layer heights give you finer detail but at the cost of longer print times and potentially more failures.

      As for SLA, the printers typically have finer layer heights compared to FDM, often ranging from 0.025 to 0.1 mm. SLA works by curing resin with a laser or light source, so it can achieve very fine details.

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      • R
        Manon Bouriaud

        Thanks for the info! Since I’m working on a prototype that doesn’t require the accuracy SLA offers, I think I’ll go with FDM. Could you provide more detailed guidance on how to choose the right layer thickness for FDM based on different needs?

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      • Senior Content Manager
        Robert400

        Absolutely, happy to help! Choosing the right layer thickness for FDM really depends on your specific goals for the prototype:

        • 0.1 mm or 100 µm (Fine) –for high-detail prints with more intricate details and superior finish quality, but with longer print times
        • 0.2 or 200 µm (Standard) – it is a quite balanced option between speed and detail, and it’s suitable for a large variety of prints
        • 0.3 or 300 µm (Economy) – this is the fastest option, where speed is clearly prioritized, but the layer lines will be much more visible. But it is suitable for rough prototypes


        Hope this helps!

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Layer thickness for FDM and SLA
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