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ASA

UV RESISTANCE AND HIGH STRENGTH

AVAILABLE COLORS

BigRep ASA is a strong, engineering-grade 3D printing filament that can withstand exposure to the elements thanks to excellent weather and UV resistance. Designed for industrial and end-use parts, ASA is particularly well-suited to applications in automotive and sporting goods where strength and UV stability are crucial. Its superior layer adhesion and low shrinkage mean that ASA 3D prints are less prone to warpage resulting in strong, geometrically accurate parts.

BigRep ASA has been optimized for large-format additive manufacturing and is able to print complex and lightweight ready-to-use parts including end-use, factory tooling, and functional prototypes. With high heat deflection properties, ASA is well-suited for applications exposing parts to high temperatures and prolonged sunlight.

MADE FOR

PROPRO
STUDIOSTUDIO G2

FFF 3D PRINTER

ASA_high_impact_strength

High Impact
Strength

ASA_weather_uv_resistance

Weather and UV
Resistance

ASA_high_hdt

High Heat Deflection
Temperature

ASA_minimal_shrinkage

Minimal Shrinkage
for Part Accuracy

ASA_lightweight

Lightweight
3D Prints

What is ASA 3D Printing Filament?

ASA (Acrylonitrile Styrene Acrylate) is a thermoplastic filament known for its high strength and weather resistance. The engineering-grade material bears many similarities to ABS, one of the most widely used 3D printing filaments, but has some distinct advantages. Similar to ABS, ASA is characterized by good temperature resistance, high impact resistance, and toughness. Where ASA starts to stand apart from ABS is when we look at weather resistance, and specifically UV resistance.

BigRep ASA filament is engineered to withstand UV exposure and is therefore ideal for outdoor applications, like automotive components, consumer goods, sporting equipment, and more. The robust thermoplastic filament also offers a range of other beneficial properties when 3D printing, including a low rate of shrinkage and good layer adhesion.

BigRep Materials

Why Use BigRep ASA Filament?

BigRep ASA is a good fit for many applications, like functional prototyping, tooling, and end-use parts. Optimized for BigRep’s large-format 3D printing—and specifically the BigRep STUDIO G2 and BigRep PRO 3D printers—the filament is particularly handy for making large parts (up to 1020 x 970 x 985 mm) that are used in outdoor environments or are exposed to sun and heat.

In addition to its UV and weather resistance, ASA filament demonstrates excellent impact strength (30 kJ/m²) and good heat resistance. For instance, BigRep ASA has a Heat Deflection Temperature (HDT) of up to 86 °C, meaning that printed parts will not deform under certain loads below that temperature. Ultimately, if you’re looking for a material with similar properties to ABS but with superior mechanical properties, aesthetics, and UV resistance, ASA is it.

3D Printing Fire Engine Manufacturing

End Use Parts

BigRep-Application-Factorty-Tooling

Factory Tooling

kawasaki-ebook

Sporting Goods

BigRep-Application-Prototype

Functional Prototypes

Benefits of 3D Printing BigRep ASA

Among the main benefits of 3D printing BigRep ASA are the material’s high UV stability, impact resistance, and heat resistance. Compared to ABS, ASA filament is also easier to print: it tends to warp less and can be post-processed using mechanical methods like sanding or drilling, as well as chemical smoothing methods, like acetone vapor. When printing ASA, it is possible to achieve high quality surface finishes that will last through various climates and weather conditions.

In order to unlock the most benefits from BigRep ASA filament and maximize the material’s properties, it’s important to use the right combination of print settings.

Recommended print settings

  • Nozzle temperature: 200 - 240 °C
  • Print Bed Temperature: 40 - 80 °C
  • Chamber Temperature: n/a
  • Print Speed: >40 mm/s

Mechanical Properties

Starting with ASA’s mechanical properties, the material is known for its high impact resistance and strength. ASA boasts a higher tensile strength (40 MPa) than standard ABS (30 MPa) as well as a superior tensile modulus (1900 MPa) than ABS (1400 MPa). Put another way, ASA is more ductile than ABS and can withstand greater stresses without breaking.

Thermal Properties

Starting with ASA’s mechanical properties, the material is known for its high impact resistance and strength. ASA boasts a higher tensile strength (40 MPa) than standard ABS (30 MPa) as well as a superior tensile modulus (1900 MPa) than ABS (1400 MPa). Put another way, ASA is more ductile than ABS and can withstand greater stresses without breaking.

Chemical Properties

Starting with ASA’s mechanical properties, the material is known for its high impact resistance and strength. ASA boasts a higher tensile strength (40 MPa) than standard ABS (30 MPa) as well as a superior tensile modulus (1900 MPa) than ABS (1400 MPa). Put another way, ASA is more ductile than ABS and can withstand greater stresses without breaking.

What to Look Out for When 3D Printing BigRep ASA

As we saw, BigRep ASA has numerous benefits, but the material also comes with a couple of challenges. Fortunately, these can be easily overcome by simply adjusting print settings and implementing some print preparation techniques.

The main issue you may encounter when 3D printing ASA filament is warping. Like ABS, ASA is prone to warping on the print bed. This is the result of the printed part cooling too rapidly or unevenly, which causes the material to shrink and pull up from the print surface. The first line of defense against ASA warping is to use a print bed adhesive, such as BigRep Kapton print bed foil and/or Magigoo glue. You can also minimize warping by slowing down the print speed in the first layers of your build. This will help to ensure strong first layer adhesion as the printer deposits more and more layers.

Best Practices for Storing and Handling BigRep ASA

You can make the most out of BigRep ASA filament by following proper storage and handling guidelines. In terms of storage, ASA is fairly low maintenance and can easily last upwards of a year under the right conditions. In this case, the right conditions consist of a dark, ambient environment that is protected from moisture.

A dry environment is important because ASA is somewhat hygroscopic, meaning it absorbs moisture from the air. In order to preserve the quality of BigRep ASA spools, you should therefore store the material in a dry room or a sealed container with desiccant. (That said, ASA is less hygroscopic than other common filaments like PLA and Nylon, so it may not be as critical to dry it if it is briefly exposed to humidity.) For best results consider storing ASA in the BigRep SHIELD, an industrial dry cabinet designed to protect materials from degradation.

ASA filament does not come with any serious health warnings, but significant exposure to fumes created in the printing process can become hazardous to users. To avoid any potential health risks associated with 3D printing ASA, ensure you are 3D printing in a well-ventilated space. If you are running a 3D print farm or a multi-printer operation, for instance, it’s a good idea to install a local exhaust ventilation system.

filament-dry-cabinet-air-flow

Use Cases: See How Customers Use BigRep ASA

BigRep ASA has been enthusiastically adopted by a range of industries, but perhaps none more than automotive. The material’s high strength, as well as its resistance to impact, high temperatures, and weather, have made it a popular option for printing automotive end-use components as well as jigs and fixtures for automotive manufacturing and assembly processes.

Zoeller-Kipper, a specialist in waste disposal technologies, has adopted BigRep 3D printing to produce bespoke modifications for waste disposal vehicles. Thanks to its durability and ability to withstand UV exposure, ASA has been a perfect fit for its needs. In one use case, for example, Zoeller-Kipper 3D printed a large ASA part to be mounted on the rear corner of a garbage truck. The end-use part, which weighed 1,824 grams, was printed on the BigRep PRO and was ready within just two days.

Other uses for ASA in the automotive industry include jigs and fixtures, brackets, mirror housings, and manifolds. Outside automotive, ASA is also a popular material choice for 3D printing electronic enclosures, sporting equipment, parts for the maritime industry, and more.

Physical properties:


Material: Acrylonnitrile Styrene Acrylatel
Filament Sizes: 2.3, 4.5 and 8.0 kg
Diameter: 2.85 mm
Density: 1.08 g/cm³
Flexural Modulus (ISO 178): 1250 MPa
Tensile Strength (ISO 527): 40 MPa
Tensile Modulus (ATM D638): 1900 MPa
Impact Strength, notched (ISO 179): 30 kJ/m³
HDT / B (ISO 750): 86 °C

Recommended printing conditions:


Nozzle Temperature: 200 - 240 °C
Print Bed Temperature: 40 - 80 °C
Environmental Temperature: n.a.
Printing Speed: > 40 mm/s

Additional comment: To ensure constant material properties and printability the filament should always be kept dry.

Specifications Safety Sheet

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