MakerBot, a global leader in 3D printing, expanded its materials portfolio with the availability of ASA (acrylonitrile styrene acrylate). ASA is part of MakerBot’s line of Precision Materials for METHOD and fits outdoor applications that need to withstand harsh environments, such as in the automotive, power and utilities, agriculture, oil & gas, and mass transit industries.
ASA is an engineering-grade material with high weather-resistant properties, which suit applications such as outdoor electrical box covers, gardening equipment, and automotive side view mirror housings. ASA is available for METHOD X, a manufacturing workstation with an up to 100°C Circulating Heated Chamber for printing industrial-level materials. Powered by Stratasys, the MakerBot METHOD X is designed to help engineers achieve dimensionally accurate production-grade parts at a lower cost than traditional manufacturing.
ASA has mechanical properties similar to ABS but with stronger ultra-violet (UV), long-term heat resistance, and chemical resistance. This enables ASA to retain its gloss, color, and properties in outdoor exposure better than ABS.
Engineers can print unrestricted geometries when printing ASA with Stratasys SR-30 industrial support material. The combination of these two materials allows users to achieve consistent and repeatable parts with ± 0.2 mm dimensional accuracy[1], resulting in good surface finish and print precision.
MakerBot’s line of Precision Materials for METHOD include MakerBot Tough, PLA, PVA, ABS, and ASA, and are primarily used for prototyping, jigs and fixtures, and end-use parts. These materials have been extensively tested by MakerBot for the highest reliability and measurably-accurate parts.
Precision ASA is expected to begin shipping in November 2019, and will be available in black. The availability of ASA in red and white is expected shortly thereafter.
