Carima DM400A, world’s first XXL, top-down DLP 3D printer

Top-down DLP resin 3D printing vs. bottom-up printing
But first, what is DLP 3D printing? DLP stands for Digital Light Processing, a technology where an optical engine lamp projects light onto a layer of resin. The light, which is projected into a specific layer’s shape thanks to a mirror system, cures entire layers at a time.
This technique is faster than laser SLA (stereolithography) all while being less expensive. There are two ways in which the projector can be configured: below the tank, or above the tank.
When below the tank, the projector’s light hits the bottom of the resin tank, which is often made up of a very thin, transparent film. The build platform starts at the very bottom of the tank and is completely immersed in the resin, moving upwards as each layer is cured.
Top-down 3D printers work in the opposite way; the projector is located above the resin tank, and the build platform moves downwards. Nothing stands in between the light and the resin, so the projector’s light hits the resin directly.

Advantages of top-down resin 3D printers
Another advantage of top-down printing is that since you’re not working against gravity, you don’t need to add as many support structures. Support structures can add up to a lot of material usage and waste, and they also imply more post-processing (e.g. surface finishing to remove the marks left by the support structures).
Last but not least, maintenance. During the resin 3D printing process, tiny bits of non-intentionally hardened resin can fall to the bottom of the tank. This means that light will be blocked in certain areas, which is why bottom-up tanks must be cleaned after each print, or why their transparent film must be changed (another time-consuming task) after several runs. Top-down 3D printers offer easier, cleaner workflows.
Overall, top-down printers enable larger, heavier prints that won’t fall off the print bed, and the smoother process is less prone to failures.
A closer look at the DM400A
Its large area paired with DLP technology’s high speed means that the Carima DM400A is more than capable of handling mass production applications. An entire build plate with, for example, 57 dental pieces, can be printed in just over an hour and a half. It can also 3D print larger, heavier parts than small dental models with very slim failure rates thanks to its top-down configuration.
The printer also boasts Carima’s Precise Dual DLP Engine Alignment Technology and offers native 132-micron pixel size, for high-quality surface finishes. The DM400A features a 50°C heated chamber as well, meaning it can handle highly viscous materials of up to 6,000 cps.
Build size | 400x330x500mm |
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Available layer thickness | 50, 100, 125, 150 microns |
Engine light source | 405nm UV LED |
Engine resolution | Dual 2K high UV LED 2560×1600 |
Pixel size (XY) | 132 microns |
Machine weight | 800kg max. |
Resin capacity | 220L max. |
Machine dimensions | 1050x1200x1900mm |
Large resin prints require an XXL-sized curing machine
For post-curing, Carima provides a large-sized curing machine, CL1800, which offers a curing full base of ⌀520 x 450mm. Its powerful 1800W UV LED cures large prints in approximately 10 minutes (e.g. with Elastic ToughRubber 90 standard material).

Carima partners with Adaptive3D for wider choice of resins
DM400A’s 6,000 cps viscosity capacity makes it possible to print Adaptive3D’s rubber-like materials, which are optimized for top-down DLP printers.
A part 3D printed with Elastic ToughRubber material.
These are the different types of rubbery materials that the DM400A can 3D print:
Material | Use cases |
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Elastic ToughRubber 90 | Primary: Mid-soles & heel-cups Secondary: Impact parts, recoil pads, door boots & wire guides, tough enclosures, seals |
Soft ToughRubber | Primary: Audio earpieces Secondary: Wearable electronics, anatomical medical models, insoles |
Elastic ToughRubber 70 | Primary: Mid-soles & heel-cups Secondary: Impact parts, recoil pads, door boots & wire guides, tough enclosures, seals |
Interested buyers in the United States can contact Adaptive3D for DM400A inquiries.