A Life-Cycle Assessment Framework for Stereolithography

Additive manufacturing is nowadays applied in many different fields, ranging from amateur prototyping to industrial production. In particular, small-sized stereolithographic apparatuses are widely spread due to their low cost, high accuracy and easiness of use. Despite the large diffusion of this technology, its sustainability aspects are not enough investigated, and a general lack of tools for the life-cycle assessment can be observed. The present paper proposes a framework for the development of a life-cycle impact metrics of stereolithography production in a certain area. All the contributions to the overall environmental impact of the manufacturing process are attributed to two main parameters, i.e. the amount of polymerised resin and the time of the process, thus allowing to easily integrate the results within the life-cycle assessment of a generic part. The parametrisation of the LCA also allows getting an estimation of the life-cycle impact from a digital representation of the part.