Haven’t we always faced a grave deadlock when it boils down to select the perfect material for our 3D model? We need to consider several factors such as mechanical strength, chemical strength, model feasibility, etc, that spins our heads off. It is tedious to fix on one filament, but the process is simple when you aim for one quality over the other.

1. 1/6
December 19, 2020
What are the optimum settings for ASA filament?
makenica.com/what-are-the-optimum-settings-for-asa-filament
Haven’t we always faced a grave deadlock when it boils down to select the perfect material
for our 3D model? We need to consider several factors such as mechanical strength,
chemical strength, model feasibility, etc, that spins our heads off. It is tedious to fix on
one filament, but the process is simple when you aim for one quality over the other.
3D printing services has taken the manufacturing sector by storm. It has indeed reached
unimaginable heights, at a stage where it is inevitable. Selecting an optimum filament for
our design and adjusting your printer is indeed challenging but always intriguing.
Today, we will shed more light on the printer settings that are needed to be modified for
ASA materials. But before that, let us understand what ASA is! We shall also discuss their
properties and functions that set a clear picture for settings. We shall do a comparative
study with other popular filaments to get a better understand of ASA.
What is ASA?
ASA, abbreviated as Acrylonitrile Styrene Acrylate is one of the most used filaments in
FDM printing. It is an amorphous thermoplastic that consists of butadiene elastomer in
its polymer chain. It is widely considered as an engineering plastic since it is obtained
from petroleum and can maintain its appearance and mechanical resistance under
impact.

2. 2/6
ASA is also known for its high chemical resistivity and can withstand high temperatures
easily without deformation. These properties make ASA the most preferred one when
compared to ABS and PLA filaments. ASA is commonly used in automobile part
manufacturing and sometimes for outdoor furniture.
One of the advantages of ASA is that it doesn't allow warping. Materials like ABS are
much prone to warping and discolors when in contact with adverse environmental
conditions. These two conditions won't happen in ASA plastics, and that's why ASA is
preferred in automobile manufacturing.
Properties of ASA for 3D printing:
For many 3D printing enthusiasts, ASA is relatively unknown and very much unexplored
as ABS. ASA is quite advantageous over the other materials used for FDM printing. We
will throw some light on the properties of ASA that makes it the optimum 3D printing
material.
ASA resins are very much resistant to UV rays, which makes them suitable for
commercial usages. It is said to be ten times stronger to UV resistance than ABS. ASA ave
higher versatility which makes it suitable for combining it with HIPS material for models
with cantilevers.
ASA has a high melting point than ABS, which runs from 240 to 260 celsius. These prints
are of top quality when printed hot and not too cold. That's why you need to alter the layer
fan speed so that material drying is slow.
ASA fumes are considered highly toxic to humans and generally avoid overheating of the
filament. Styrene is highly noxious when melted at higher temperatures, so it is essential
to print this in an open environment.
Try to fit your layer bed temperature and nozzle temperature within the given range so
that you don't end up overheating the material.
Advantages of ASA:
PLA and ABS are some of the household names used in commercial FDM prints. Both
these filaments have disadvantages of their own, which is heavily exploited by ASA to
overshadow these filaments at the industrial level. 3D printing using ASA might be
something very new in industrial productions, but ASA is already heavily used in other
additive manufacturing methods. Here's why.
As discussed, when we opt for commercial products, we need plastics that are UV
resistant and heat resistant, which can still hold up shape even in adverse conditions. ASA
has its niche on these that makes them preferable in several plastic product
manufacturing units. Outdoor decors, plastic furniture, Bumper of the car, etc; are all
products of ASA.

3. 3/6
Car Bumpers are made out of ASA since ASA has strong mechanical properties. It has a
tensile strength of up to 7330 psi and flexural strength of up to 11400 psi making it robust
in structure.
ASA is said to have low water absorption percentage than the other materials making it
somewhat moisture resistant. It has an average absorption percentage of 0.38% under 73-
degree Fahrenheit, making it a humid resistant and all-weather material. You can expect
your material to remain safe under a high moisture environment and don't require
frequent drying as ABS and PLA.
ASA also has its own set of disadvantages as ABS and PLA. These are significant when not
attended to it with utmost care. You need to alter your print settings accordingly to avoid
these on a larger scale. Let's discuss a few drawbacks of using ASA.
Drawbacks of ASA:
Just like any other plastic material, ASA has a set of drawbacks. These drawbacks are
significant in that they tend to ruin the overall print quality. The major drawbacks in ABS
and PLA are less present in ASA, making it a bit more preferable than the rest. Let's see
some disadvantages of using ASA.
ASA consists of styrene, which on heating produce toxic fumes. These fumes are capable
enough to damager the liver and lungs of humans and animals, making them hazardous.
It is best to use ASA in an open area rather than using it in enclosed ones, allowing more
ventilation and air to pass through.
ASA has high thermal properties require high bed and nozzle temperatures for it to melt
and solidify. Commercialized 3D printers won't have much stability in withstanding a
higher amount of nozzle temperatures. In due course of time, it might do a reality check
on the printer's durability, which might sometimes turn out to be what we expected.
Another unlikely disadvantage in this material would be warping during the 3D printing
operation. Warping in ASA is very rare but certainly can't be ruled out. Also, ASA material
is quite expensive than PLA and ABS materials.
However, you've got one-stop online 3D printing online stores like Makenica, which can
provide you ASA for cheaper rates with no compensation in quality. Makenica excels in
offering top-notch service and ensures delivery of products with superior quality.
Printer Settings for ASA :
Generally, there will a change in printer settings and when the filaments change. You can't
use ABS settings for PLA and expect top quality print. As filaments change, their thermal
properties change, and you need to adapt your printer accordingly to obtain a top-notch
finish. Here are some printer settings for ASA material to obtain a high-quality finish.
Layer bed settings:

4. 4/6
Every printer has its layering method. Some come with guided wizard setups, while some
require manual leveling. 3D printer bed leveling is done using screws that attach the bed
to the carriage. Tightening and loosening of the screws change the plane of the bed if it
isn't bent.
First, move the print head out and away from the bed to prevent it from colliding with the
bed. After that, alter the z-axis value, which brings the nozzle closer to the bed it can get.
Check, if there’s enough room between the nozzle and the bed. If not, tighten the screws
of the bed so that you get a minimum clearance for print.
Insert a paper on the bed, and level the corners of the screw by bringing the nozzle near to
the screw. Check for the clearance and repeat the same procedure for all corners. This
method is efficient to ensure that the bed is leveled.
Nozzle Distance:
Most of the nozzle distance setting depends upon the leveling of the bed. You must
maintain some clearance between the nozzle tip and the bed so that they don't collide. To
set an automatic default distance, run the setup wizard that self-calibrates according to
the bed level.
You can also manually check the distance and adjust using Z-axis calibration. If you find
that layers of the print skirt have a significant distinction between them, then your nozzle
is higher than the optimum level. You can lower your nozzle distance and re-calibrate.
Similarly, if you find your print skirt to be bubbling up against each other, your nozzle is
lower than the optimum level. Increase the default nozzle distance and re-calibrate the
print settings.
Nozzle Temperature Settings:
Nozzle temperature is an important setting for FDM printers. Nozzle temperature is
according to the thermal properties of the material. Most commercial FDM printers have
preset values, but we can't call shots with those values. Especially for ASA, it is quite
different than the other materials and requires a different setup.
Due to the presence of styrene and butadiene components, ASA requires high
temperatures for layer adhesion. The melting point of ASA ranges from 240-260 degrees
celsius, and you need printers that can go up to those levels. Generally, ASA prints are
better in quality when they're printed hot and not cold.
Configure your nozzle temperature settings and run calibration as and when you change
the brand of the filament. Not all brands can give you the expected output, but you can get
the maximum out of what you have by regularly calibrating it.
Bed Temperature Settings:

5. 5/6
Just like ABS and PLA, your material will get more adhesion if printed on a hotbed and
not a cold one. Having a leveled temperature through the print bed can prevent the object
from warping, one of the major concerns of 3D printing services.
For ASA printing, ensure that you maintain a bed temperature of at least 110 degrees
celsius and not less than that. Ensure you re-calibrate the settings after changing the
material or the brand, as it differs from each other by a significant margin.
You can also use lubricants such as Kapton Tape or hair lubricant on the bed to ensure
that heat is spread uniformly on the surface. Lubrication can prevent warping and provide
a good surface finish.
Cooling Fan settings:
Unlike ABS and PLA, you would generally want to reduce the speed of the cooling fan by a
significant margin for ASA models. As discussed earlier, ASA undergoes more molecular
adhesion when it is hot. Quick cooling can cause splits and cracks on the surface, as layer
adhesion consumes a bit of time.
Highly advisable to switch off your coolant fans for ASA print. However, you can run your
coolant fans at considerable speeds, about 5% to 10% of the fan speed. It will improve the
overhangs present in the model and improve the overall print quality. Provide more focus
on bed temperature, based on which you can tune your fan speed.
Printer Maintenance:
When it comes to printer maintenance, ASA is no different from ABS and PLA. Try to
clean the printer extruder gears every month to avoid gear clogging. Gear clogging can
cause severe problems in terms of extrusion, and you need to keeps tabs regularly. There
are chances of under extrusion or no extrusion when your gear clogs up.
For nozzles, ensure that it remains dust-free. Use a toothbrush or a small wire brush that
quickly fixes the dust present on the nozzle. If you can't extrude ASA at all while your hot
end is at optimum material temperature, there are high chances that your nozzle might be
clogged. In that case, perform unclogging methods such as cold pull, needle-based
cleaning, etc., to remove the clogged material.
Ensure that you print ASA in an open environment as they release harmful fumes when
exposed to higher temperatures. It is better to use safety masks when printing is done for
larger parts. However, you can get the pungent smell of styrene, which can be minute in
short FDM prints.
Conclusions:
What we have discussed were just some basic settings for ASA material in the 3D printing
operation. ASA is widely used in several additive manufacturing methods, and each has
different setups for varied processes.

6. 6/6
It is quintessential for 3D printing enthusiasts to follow these settings before you go for
the printing operation. Only by adhering to these conditions, you can expect a top-notch
print.
ASA is a material that may not be commercially affordable but needs to be explored more
when it comes to 3D printing services. It is much more advantageous than ABS and has
tons of potential to provide the ideal model, which can serve under many upcoming
applications.