Ledges on the surface of a resin model made by the laser solidification process limit its applications. A simulation method for the laser solidification process of photo-curable monomers is proposed. The simulation shows that suppression of the ledges is attainable by controlling the intensity and the incident direction of the laser beam. A method of modification of the solidification profiles is proposed also. The effectiveness of the simulation and the method of modification are confirmed experimentally by the laser solidification process. A helium-cadmium laser and an acrylic monomer are used for the experiments. An accuracy of greater than ±0.05 mm is obtained for a sphere of diameter 10 mm. © 1997 Elsevier Science S.A.