Dimensional variation of test bodies printed by Stereolithography exposed to light / Variação dimensional dos corpos de ensaio impressos por estereolitografia expostos à luz

Abstract

The three-dimensional printer is one of the technologies that has great chances of influencing the production process of digital technological innovations with direct repercussions on everyday life, having application in several areas such as: engineering, industrial design, architecture and dentistry. There are four prototyping processes most used in the field of dentistry, each with particular characteristics. Parts printed by stereolithography (SLA) have mechanical and physical properties that present the critical phase at the end of printing and are in a "green state", that is, they already have their final shape, so the polymerization reaction has not been completed, requiring a post-cure process. This study aims to assess whether there is contraction of an object manufactured by 3D printing by stereolithography (SLA) to light exposure. Forty models were evaluated and the initial measurements of points AB, BC and CA were recorded. Afterwards, the models were exposed to white light of 17 watts of power for a period of 49 hours, simulating an exposure for 7 days during 7 hours of daily exposure, similar to what happens in a dental office. The greatest dimensional variation found was 0.7% of the distance AB at 0.5 and 1.50 meters from the light. And the smallest was 0.04% at 0.5 and 1.50 meters from the light distance BC, and there was no difference between the distance AB and 1.50 meters from the light. According to the results of this study and considering its limitations,