ASA filaments for 3D printing

ASA filament (Acrylonitrile Styrene Acrylate) is an engineering material designed for demanding applications that require long-term resistance to outdoor elements. If you need a reliable filament for outdoor use, ASA gives you excellent UV stability and high mechanical strength. In our selection, you will find the established and affordable Smart Print brand, as well as the premium Prof. Lab brand for professional use, including technical variants with glass fiber like ASA-GF. Besides these materials, you can also get proven spools from Polymaker, eSUN and 3DPower. We actively test Smart Print and Prof. Lab on our own printers to ensure a consistent 1.75 mm diameter and reliable results with every print.

Practical uses for ASA filament

Thanks to its natural resistance to sunlight and high temperatures, this material works well where standard plastics quickly fail or become brittle. In our experience, we use it to print parts that are permanently exposed to rain, frost or direct sunlight.

• Enclosures for outdoor electronics and various measuring sensors.
• Spare parts for cars, motorcycles and bicycles.
• Mounts for antennas, cameras and solar panels.
• Garden accessories, birdhouses and functional outdoor tools.

Recommended print settings

Printing this material requires careful printer preparation and stable ambient conditions. To achieve strong layer adhesion and prevent the print from warping as it cools, we recommend following these proven values.

When to choose ASA and when to use other materials

When selecting a suitable engineering material, you often have to decide whether to use ASA filament directly or opt for other options. If you compare ASA and ABS+, you will find that the printing properties and temperature resistance are very similar. However, ABS+ offers noticeably lower UV stability, so it becomes brittle and loses its original color over time in the sun. ASA is therefore a much better choice for outdoor use. Another common alternative is PETG. Printing with PETG is significantly easier and does not require an enclosed printer. On the other hand, PETG has lower long-term outdoor stability and lower temperature resistance, so it can start to deform in direct summer sunlight. If you are printing a part for permanent outdoor deployment, ASA will give you a longer lifespan and better stability.

Frequently asked questions

Do you need an enclosed printer to print ASA?

Yes, based on our experience, an enclosed chamber is strongly recommended. It maintains a stable ambient temperature around the model, which prevents large prints from warping and cracking. It also effectively limits the spread of odors generated when the material melts.

How can you improve build plate adhesion?

The foundation is a clean sheet and a bed heated sufficiently to 90 to 110 °C. For a more secure grip, we recommend using a brim around the model and applying a thin layer of printing adhesive to the bed.

Can prints from this material be post-processed?

The models are very easy to sand, and you can fill and paint them without any problems. Just like with ABS, you can smooth the surface using acetone vapor, which gives you a glossy and uniform look with no visible layers.

Whether you are choosing material for your next garden project or looking for an industrial solution for your workshop, our selection provides a stable foundation at a fair price per one-kilogram spool. If you want to check out other plastics, visit our category for all filaments. For indoor engineering parts, you might find ABS+ filaments useful, while for easier printing of larger objects we recommend PETG filaments. If a tight budget is key for you and you are looking for affordable spools for prototyping, take a look at our affordable filaments.