Purpose　The　purpose　of　this　paper　is　to　show　how　to　precisely　control　the　liquid　resin　coating　thickness　in　stereolithography　(SL).　Design/methodology/approach　A　vacuum　adsorption　coating　equipment　and　technology　are　developed　to　precisely　control　the　liquid　resin　coating　thickness　in　SL.　Dual-electrode　device　is　used,　so　adsorption　can　be　precisely　controlled　and　the　electrode　polarization　can　be　avoided.　Findings　It　turns　out　that　the　apparatus　can　control　coating　thickness　effectively,　and　thickness　uniformity　is　increased　remarkably,　which　induces　the　standard　deviation　thickness　decrease　from　0.00547　to　0.00243　mm,　and　efficiency　of　rapid　prototyping　production　increase　by　53　percent.　Originality/value　The　paper　demonstrates　that　the　apparatus　can　control　coating　thickness　effectively.