ASA - Bambu Lab

The Bambu Lab ASA is a filament designed for those who need parts that can withstand harsh outdoor conditions. It combines resistance to ultraviolet rays, oxidation, and aging, with notable thermal stability up to approximately 100 °C. This makes it an ideal option for outdoor applications, such as housings, signage, lightweight furniture, architectural elements, and objects exposed to direct sunlight.

Image 1: Birdhouse printed in ASA. Source: Bambu Lab.

Regarding its mechanical properties, it offers a tensile strength of around 37 MPa, elongation at break of ≈ 9.2%, and a flexural modulus close to 1920 MPa. Its melt index is approximately 7.0 g/10 min, indicating good material flow when printed with appropriate parameters. The density is around 1.05 g/cm³, providing robustness without making parts too heavy.

For optimal results with this filament, it is recommended to:

• Dry it beforehand, for example at 80 °C for about 8 hours, and maintain relative humidity below 20%. Moist ASA can lead to poor surface finish, weak layer adhesion, or brittleness.
• Use an appropriate nozzle, preferably hardened, and extrusion temperatures between 240-270 °C to ensure good layer bonding and clean edges.
• Keep the heated bed between 80-100 °C, use adhesive or liquid glue if necessary to improve adhesion, and preferably use a printer with an enclosure to prevent warping due to air currents.
• Use moderate printing speeds, below 250 mm/s for large parts, and adjust the layer fan (low percentage) to avoid sudden cooling that could generate internal stress or deformation.

Image 2: Comparison among different materials based on temperature resistance. Source: Bambu Lab.

This material is particularly useful for users aiming to print durable outdoor parts that require resistance to sunlight, heat, and humid conditions without losing mechanical integrity. It is also suitable for demanding home use or functional prototypes. Compared to filaments like ABS or PETG, ASA offers clear advantages in outdoor durability but requires better printing conditions and additional care.

The Bambu Lab ASA is ideal for projects demanding robustness, outdoor durability, and good aesthetic presentation, as long as printer settings, temperatures, and usage conditions are properly configured.