High-Precision Resin Additive Manufacturing for Production and Advanced Prototyping
Stratasys P3™ DLP 3D printing technology combines the speed of Digital Light Processing (DLP) with industrial-grade process control, repeatability and material performance. Designed for manufacturers, engineers and product developers, P3 DLP technology delivers highly accurate resin parts with outstanding surface finish, fine detail and reliable production consistency.
Used in Stratasys Origin® systems, P3 (Programmable PhotoPolymerization) is ideal for organisations seeking high-performance resin 3D printing for prototyping, tooling and end-use production parts.
Whether you need precision prototypes, custom medical components or low-volume production parts, Stratasys P3 provides exceptional quality and workflow efficiency.
What is Stratasys P3 DLP 3D Printing?
P3 stands for Programmable PhotoPolymerization, Stratasys’ advanced evolution of DLP resin printing. It uses projected UV light to selectively cure liquid photopolymer resin layer by layer, creating highly detailed parts with excellent accuracy.
Unlike standard DLP systems, P3 DLP incorporates intelligent environmental control, software optimisation and open material flexibility to improve consistency, part quality and throughput.
This technology delivers:
- Exceptional feature resolution
- Smooth surface finish
- Tight dimensional tolerances
- Production-grade repeatability
- Fast print speeds
- Broad resin compatibility
How P3-DLP Technology Works
The Stratasys P3 DLP process follows a precise digital manufacturing workflow:
- A build platform is positioned above a resin vat
- UV light is projected to cure the selected layer geometry
- The platform moves incrementally to form the next layer
- Layers repeat until the part is complete
- Printed parts are washed, post-cured and finished as required
Because an entire layer is cured at once, P3 can offer excellent productivity while maintaining precision detail. Furthermore, this means that the time taken to print many parts across the build plate is the same as printing a single small part of the same height.
Key Benefits of Stratasys P3-DLP Technology
Exceptional Accuracy
P3 DLP systems produce intricate geometries, sharp edges and fine features suitable for demanding engineering and medical applications.
Superior Surface Finish
Smooth surfaces reduce manual finishing and improve presentation quality.
Fast Production Cycles
Layer projection enables rapid build times compared with point-by-point laser systems.
Reliable Repeatability
Programmable process controls help maintain consistency across multiple builds and production batches.
Material Flexibility
P3 DLP supports a wide range of engineering, elastomeric, medical and high-temperature resins.
P3 DLP 3D Printing Materials
Stratasys P3 supports advanced photopolymer materials developed for functional applications.
Tough Resins
Designed for durable prototypes, housings and snap-fit assemblies.
High-Temperature Resins
Suitable for tooling, thermoforming and heat-resistant applications.
Elastomeric Materials
Flexible materials for seals, grips, wearables and soft-touch parts.
Medical & Biocompatible Resins
Used for healthcare devices, guides and patient-specific applications where approved materials are required.
Casting & Specialty Resins
Ideal for investment casting patterns, dental models and specialised workflows.
Material suitability depends on mechanical, thermal, chemical and regulatory requirements.
Common Applications for Stratasys P3-DLP Technology
P3 is widely used where precision, finish and repeatability are essential.
P3 DLP vs Other Polymer 3D Printing Technologies
Choosing the right additive manufacturing technology depends on part function, materials, volume and finish requirements.
P3 DLP vs FDM (Fused Deposition Modelling)
FDM uses thermoplastic filament extrusion and is ideal for strong prototypes, tooling and larger engineering parts.
P3 DLP delivers higher detail, smoother surfaces and finer tolerances than FDM.
Choose P3 DLP when: surface finish, detail and precision matter most.
Choose FDM when: large durable parts and engineering thermoplastics are required.
P3 DLP vs Standard DLP
Standard DLP systems cure resin using projected light and are often used for general-purpose prototyping.
P3 DLP builds on DLP fundamentals with enhanced software control, industrial consistency, environmental management and validated materials.
Choose P3 DLP when: you need production reliability and advanced material performance.
Choose standard DLP when: entry-level resin printing is sufficient.
P3 DLP vs PolyJet
PolyJet offers ultra-smooth surfaces, full-colour output and multi-material printing.
P3-DLP focuses on stronger functional resin parts, throughput and production repeatability.
Choose P3 DLP when: you need engineering-grade resin parts and scalable workflows.
Choose PolyJet when: colour realism, soft-touch simulation or multi-material prototypes are priorities.
P3 vs SAF
SAF uses thermoplastic powder-bed fusion for high-volume production of durable polymer parts.
P3 DLP uses resin photopolymerisation for highly accurate parts with finer detail and smoother surfaces.
Choose P3 DLP when: detail, precision and resin material properties are required.
Choose SAF when: production volume, toughness and low cost-per-part are priorities.
Why Choose Stratasys P3 DLP from AXT?
AXT supplies advanced Stratasys 3D printing solutions across Australia and New Zealand, supported by experienced local application specialists. We help organisations evaluate whether P3, FDM, PolyJet, SAF or another additive manufacturing technology is best suited to their production and prototyping goals.
From system selection to implementation and ongoing support, AXT helps customers maximise the value of additive manufacturing.
