Masked Stereolithography (MSLA)
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Our MSLA 3D Printing Process
We offer high-quality MSLA 3D printing services from our Melbourne manufacturing facility, using multiple precision resin printers for increased efficiency and output. Our MSLA process delivers exceptional surface quality and fine detail, ideal for prototypes, concept models, or low-volume end-use parts. With nine Formlabs resin options available, including rigid, clear, durable, flexible, high temp, flame-retardant, and ESD-safe materials, we can match the right material to your application.
Why Use Our MSLA Service?
Resin printing might look clean and simple in marketing videos, but the reality is far from it. The process is messy, requires careful handling of sensitive materials, and involves multiple steps like UV curing, labour intensive support removal, sanding, bead blasting & polishing, as well as painting or lacquering to achieve a perfect part. Resin printing isn’t just time-consuming, the best results demands dedicated workspaces, skin & respiratory safety equipment, temperature controlled curing environments, and lots of experience to get it right and hit tight tolerances.
That’s where Formero comes in. Our expert team takes care of the entire process, so you don’t have to worry about the mess, the risks, or the learning curve. You simply provide your 3D file, select your material, confirm your order and receive professionally finished parts, ready to use a few days later.
No need for a resin-covered workspace. No exposure to harmful chemicals. Just high-quality, accurate parts produced with the latest Formlabs MSLA technology and materials, right here in our Melbourne-based facility.
Let us handle the dirty work while you focus on what really matters: designing, testing and selling better products.
MSLA Material Overview
Clear V5
A transparent material with high stiffness and strength properties.
Grey V5
A versatile, general purpose material that replicates injection moulded parts.
Tough 1500
A resilient material with strength and stiffness similar to polypropylene (PP).
Durable
Impact and wear-resistant with a glossy finish for low friction parts.
ESD
A static-dissipative material for producing ESD-safe tooling and components.
Flexible 80A
Ideal for rubber-like parts with the flexibility of harder rubber or TPU. Translucent.
White V5
A versatile, general purpose material that replicates injection moulded parts.
High Temp
Ultra stiff, translucent material with a heat deflection temp of 238°C @ 0.45 MPa.
Flame Retardant
UL94 V0 certified. Stiff parts that are robust and experience low creep.
Black V5
A versatile, general purpose material that replicates injection moulded parts.
Benefits of MSLA Printing
- Cost-Effective: MSLA is a affordable option for producing high-quality prototypes and low-volume parts, making it a smart choice for projects where precision and value matter.
- Reliable and Repeatable: The entire layer is cured at once, which means faster builds and consistent quality across every part, perfect for batches or short-run production.
- Complex, Compact Geometry: MSLA handles fine features and tight tolerances with ease. Whether it’s intricate latticework or small internal details, the process supports designs that other methods might struggle with.
- Material Versatility: Choose from eight Formlabs resins, including general purpose white & grey, rigid, flexible, clear, tough, flame-retardant, and high-temp. Whatever the application, there’s a material to suit.
Materials Available.
Clear V5
An optimally-balanced Clear Resin for transparent applications.
An exceptionally clear and colour-neutral general purpose resin, offering an optimal balance of dimensional accuracy, fine detail, and a high-quality finish after post-processing.
Clear V5 creates highly transparent and colourless parts that can be polished to near optical transparency. Create parts that are stiff and strong with a smooth surface finish that rivals acrylic.
Applications
- Transparent enclosures, optical components, and lighting prototypes.
- Consumer bottle and container prototypes.
- Parts showcasing internal features.
- Moulds, masters, and other rapid tooling.
- Fluidic devices.
Technical Specs
| Tensile Strength: | 60 MPa |
| Elongation at Break: | 8% |
| Flexural Strength: | 103 MPa |
| Impact Strength: | 29 J/m (notched Izod) |
| Colour: | Clear (Transparent) |
| Build Size: | 353x196x350 mm |
| Layer Thickness: | 0.05-0.1 mm |
For more technical data download the material data sheet.
Grey V5
An optimally-balanced Grey Resin for versatile applications.
An exceptionally versatile general purpose resin, offering an optimal balance of high accuracy, fine detail, strong mechanical properties, and a high-quality finish after post-processing.
Create parts that are stiff and strong with a surface finish that rivals injection moulding. Grey V5 has a rich, matte colour that captures fine features accurately.
Applications
- Form and fit prototyping.
- Presentation-ready models with fine features and intricate details.
- General dental models.
- Jigs and fixtures.
Technical Specs
| Tensile Strength: | 62 MPa |
| Elongation at Break: | 13% |
| Flexural Strength: | 103 MPa |
| Impact Strength: | 32 J/m (Notched Izod) |
| Colour: | Grey |
| Build Size: | 353x196x350 mm |
| Layer Thickness: | 0.05-0.1 mm |
For more technical data download the material data sheet.
White V5
An optimally-balanced White Resin for versatile applications.
An exceptionally bright white General Purpose Resin, offering an optimal balance of accuracy, presentation-ready appearance, and strong mechanical
properties.
Create parts that are stiff and strong with a surface finish that rivals injection moulding. White Resin V5 is a matte, bright white that captures fine features accurately.
Applications
- Form and fit prototyping.
- Anatomical models
- Presentation-ready models with fine features and intricate details.
- Enclosures and housings.
- Jigs and fixtures.
Technical Specs
| Tensile Strength: | 62 MPa |
| Elongation at Break: | 13% |
| Flexural Strength: | 103 MPa |
| Impact Strength: | 32 J/m (Notched Izod) |
| Colour: | White |
| Build Size: | 353x196x350 mm |
| Layer Thickness: | 0.05-0.1 mm |
For more technical data download the material data sheet.
Black V5
An optimally-balanced Black Resin for versatile applications.
An exceptionally rich, deep black General Purpose Resin, offering an optimal balance of high accuracy, presentation-ready appearance, and strong mechanical properties.
Create parts that are stiff and strong with a surface finish that rivals injection moulding.
Black V5 is a rich, matte black that captures fine features accurately.
Applications
- Form and fit prototyping.
- Presentation-ready models with fine features and intricate details.
- Enclosures and housings.
- Jigs and fixtures.
Technical Specs
| Tensile Strength: | 61 MPa |
| Elongation at Break: | 10% |
| Flexural Strength: | 103 MPa |
| Impact Strength: | 29 J/m (Notched Izod) |
| Colour: | Black |
| Build Size: | 353x196x350 mm |
| Layer Thickness: | 0.05-0.1 mm |
For more technical data download the material data sheet.
Tough 1500 V2
Certified biocompatible material that is a stiff but compliant material with toughness that rivals polypropylene.
Tough 1500 Resin V2 is a resilient material with strength, stiffness, and toughness comparable to polypropylene (PP), offering exceptional resistance to fractures, impacts, and shattering.
Create parts that balance stiffness and ductility, whether for compliant mechanisms or rugged enclosures with self-tapping screws and snap fits. Tough 1500 Resin V2 enables a wide range of applications, from functional prototypes to end-use jigs and fixtures.
Applications
- Impact-resistant jigs, fixtures, and parts, and squeezable prototypes.
- Low-friction assemblies, such as gears and ball joints.
- Parts that need a combination of stiffness and ductility to create compliant mechanisms like latches, flexures, and dampers.
- Clasps and buckles, self-tapping screw bosses, hinges.
- Robust jigs, fixtures, protective shells, and snap-fit enclosures.
- Parts that require high temperature and creep resistance.
- Parts that required extended skin-contact.
Technical Specs
| Tensile Strength: | 34 MPa |
| Elongation at Break: | 155% |
| Flexural Strength: | 41 MPa |
| Impact Strength: | 42 J/m (Notched Izod) |
| Colour: | Black |
| Build Size: | 353x196x350 mm |
| Layer Thickness: | 0.05-0.1 mm |
For more technical data download the material data sheet.
Durable
Resin for Pliable Prototyping.
Durable Resin is the most pliable, impact resistant, and lubricious material in the Formlabs functional family of Tough and Durable Resins. Choose Durable Resin for squeezable parts and low-friction assemblies.
Applications
- Squeezable prototypes.
- Low friction and non-degrading surfaces.
- Impact resistant jigs.
- Polyethylene-like strength and stiffness.
Technical Specs
| Tensile Strength: | 28 MPa |
| Elongation at Break: | 55% |
| Flexural Strength: | 24 MPa |
| Impact Strength: | 114 J/m (notched Izod) |
| Colour: | Translucent |
| Build Size: | 353x196x350 mm |
| Layer Thickness: | 0.05-0.1 mm |
For more technical data download the material data sheet.
Flexible 80A
Ideal for Hard Flexible Prototypes.
Flexible 80A is the most stiff soft-touch material in the Formlabs library of Flexible and Elastic Resins, with an 80A Shore durometer to simulate the flexibility of rubber or TPU.
Balancing softness with strength, Flexible 80A Resin can withstand bending, flexing, and compression, even through repeated cycles. This material is well-suited for cushioning, damping, and shock absorption.
Applications
- Handles, grips, and overmoulds.
- Cartilage and ligament anatomy.
- Seals, gaskets, masks.
Technical Specs
| Tensile Strength: | 8.9 MPa |
| Elongation at Break: | 120% |
| Shore Hardness: | 80A |
| Colour: | Clear (Transparent) |
| Build Size: | 353x196x350 mm |
| Layer Thickness: | 0.05-0.1 mm |
For more technical data download the material data sheet.
High Temp
Resin for Heat Resistance.
High Temp Resin offers a heat deflection temperature (HDT) of 238°C @ 0.45 MPa, the highest among Formlabs resins. Use it to print detailed, precise prototypes with high temperature resistance.
Applications
- Hot air, gas, and fluid flow.
- Heat resistant mounts, housings, and fixtures.
- Moulds and inserts.
Technical Specs
| Tensile Strength: | 49 MPa |
| Elongation at Break: | 2.3% |
| Flexural Strength: | 97 MPa |
| Impact Strength: | 17 J/m (Notched Izod) |
| Heat Deflection @ 0.45 MPa: | 238°C |
| Heat Deflection @ 1.8 MPa: | 101°C |
| Colour: | Translucent (yellow) |
| Build Size: | 353x196x350 mm |
| Layer Thickness: | 0.05-0.1 mm |
For more technical data download the material data sheet.
Flame Retardant
For UL 94 V-0 Certified Parts With Excellent Part Quality and Heat Resistance.
Easily and quickly create stiff, creep-resistant, and functional plastic parts that perform well long-term in indoor and industrial environments. FR Resin is self-extinguishing and halogen-free with favourable flame, smoke, and toxicity (FST) ratings.
Applications
- Custom jigs, fixtures, and replacement parts for industrial environments with high temperatures or ignition sources.
- Interior parts in airplanes, automobiles, and railways with excellent surface finish.
- Protective and internal consumer or medical electronics components.
Technical Specs
| Tensile Strength: | 41 MPa |
| Elongation at Break: | 7.1% |
| Flexural Strength: | 75 MPa |
| Impact Strength: | 22 J/m (notched Izod) |
| Colour: | Grey |
| Build Size: | 353x196x350 mm |
| Layer Thickness: | 0.05-0.1 mm |
For more technical data download the material data sheet.
ESD
ESD-safe resin for electronics manufacturing tooling and production components.
Electronics manufacturing leaves no room for static discharge. ESD Resin produces static-dissipative parts that protect sensitive components from unregulated static, repel dust and powder, and hold up under the demands of daily production use. With high modulus and impact strength comparable to ABS, it’s a practical, cost-effective material for custom tooling and end-use parts on the factory floor.
Applications
- Tooling, jigs, and fixtures for electronics manufacturing.
- Anti-static prototypes and end-use components.
- Custom trays for component handling and storage.
- Enclosures for sensitive electronics.
Technical Specs
| Tensile Strength: | 44.2 MPa |
| Elongation at Break: | 12% |
| Flexural Strength: | 61 MPa |
| Impact Strength: | 26 J/m (notched Izod) |
| Surface Resistivity: | 105 – 108 Ω/sq |
| Volume Resistivity: | 105 – 107 Ω-cm |
| Colour: | Black |
| Build Size: | 353x196x350 mm |
| Layer Thickness: | 0.05-0.1 mm |
For more technical data download the material data sheet.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
SLA (stereolithography) uses a laser to trace each layer of a print, while MSLA (masked stereolithography) uses an LCD screen and UV light to cure entire layers at once. MSLA is generally more cost-effective but comes with smaller build volumes, making it well-suited to small or medium-sized detailed parts. SLA can produce larger parts with consistent accuracy. Both deliver smooth, precise results, with the choice depending on size and application.
Masked Stereolithography, or MSLA, is a resin-based 3D printing process that uses an array of UV LEDs shining through an LCD screen to selectively cure resin, one full layer at a time. This method allows for fast, accurate, and repeatable production, especially when printing multiple parts at once.
Unlike traditional SLA, which traces each layer with a laser, MSLA exposes the entire layer simultaneously. This not only reduces print times but also creates parts with exceptional detail and consistency. The LCD screen acts as a digital mask, allowing for pixel-level precision, which is ideal for printing fine features, sharp edges, and intricate designs.
Parts printed with our Formlabs MSLA technology and materials can achieve a high-quality smooth surface finish with post-processing completed by our experienced team. The process is well-suited for producing small to medium-sized parts where visual quality and accuracy are critical, such as in prototyping, model making, or detailed end-use components.
MSLA offers outstanding visual detail, smooth surface finishes, and high dimensional accuracy. It’s ideal for concept models, small functional parts, and low-volume production where precision and appearance are important. MSLA also enables quick turnaround so customers can get their parts quickly.
Formero offers nine resin materials for MSLA printing, covering a variety of performance needs. Options include general purpose white & grey, rigid, tough, flexible, ESD-safe, flame retardant and high-impact resins. Material selection depends on the required mechanical properties, surface finish, and application. Speak to our team to help find the right material for your application.
Yes, MSLA excels at printing fine features, sharp edges, and intricate geometries. Its pixel-based curing process enables excellent resolution, making it a strong choice for parts with detailed surface textures or compact internal features.
MSLA is widely used in industries such as consumer products, healthcare, dental, industrial design, and engineering. It’s particularly valuable when producing accurate models, display-quality prototypes, or small parts that require tight tolerances and smooth finishes.
Project cost is influenced by part size, complexity, chosen resin material, and quantity. Additional post-processing steps, such as cleaning, curing, and surface finishing, can also affect the final price. All necessary post-processing is handled in-house at Formero.
Yes, MSLA parts typically require support structures during printing, particularly for overhangs or complex shapes. These supports are removed during post-processing by Formero’s experienced team, ensuring a clean finish and minimal impact on the final part.
Yes, MSLA is best suited for small to medium-sized parts. Formero prints using the Formlabs Form 4L, which supports build sizes up to 353x196x350 mm. Larger designs can be split into multiple components and assembled after printing, if required.
