A Mechanical Add-On for Multi-Resin SLA Printing: Design, Integration, and Testing

Abstract Multi-material additive manufacturing using Masked Stereolithography Apparatus (MSLA) presents significant challenges due to material contamination, switching mechanisms, and hardware constraints. This paper presents a novel wiper-based MM-SLA (Multi-Material MSLA) system designed as an add-on to affordable commercial MSLA printers. The approach features a divided resin vat and an actuated wiper mechanism to facilitate material transitions without tank replacement. A small test campaign with five standard specimens of stiff, flexible, and hybrid resin compositions demonstrates the ability to mix resin properties as expected. Early experimental results validate the feasibility of the system, showing controlled resin transitions and successful multi-material prints. This work provides a cost-effective and scalable alternative for multi-material SLA printing, expanding accessibility for research and industry applications.