Pitfalls To Avoid When 3D Printing With

 ASA Filament

Don’t Use ASA Without Retaining Water

Many filaments come with instructions for keeping the print water-saturated. This is not the case with ASA filament. While it's true that many other filaments benefit from being printed with water, this is not the case with ASA. While ASA does have a high shrinkage rate when it’s fully dried, keeping the filament wet will cause the printed object to have a bubbled appearance. While the bubbling is not a structural issue, it can create an aesthetically unpleasing finish.

Don’t Use High-Density ASA Filament Instead of Standard Density

While ASA filament is a synthetic fiber, it has different densities depending on the type of fiber used. As a rule of thumb, high-density ASA is best for making textiles and standard-density ASA is best for 3D printing. If you try to print with high-density ASA, your print will be weak and brittle.

Don’t Use ASA Filament During Extrusion-Based 3D Printing

ASA filament is not compatible with extrusion-based 3D printers. In fact, extrusion-based 3D printers are not compatible with any filament that contains natural fibers. The two filaments just won't bond together properly and will cause the printer's nozzle to clog up. You can, however, use an extruder with an adapter that allows you to use ASA filament on your printer. Alternatively, you can use a different type of material altogether.

Watch Out For Cohesion Problems

If your model is falling apart during the printing or post-processing, then it’s likely that you have a problem with cohesion. When printing with ASA filament, you do not want to have to use a high amount of pressure on the build plate or have the filament stick to the build plate. This is an indication of a high amount of cohesion. If the filament is rolling off the plate as you are trying to place it on the build plate, then you do not have a cohesion problem. As with all filaments, variation in temperatures can cause cohesion issues. If you’re experiencing cohesion problems with your ASA filament, try adjusting your print temperatures slightly.

Print Only With ASA KENDALL GLUE or ASA FILM No. 3 in 3D Printing

Unfortunately, not any ASA filament will work in a 3D printer. In order to print with ASA filament, you’ll need to use either ASA KENDALL GLUE or ASA FILM No. 3. Of course, there are some important differences between the two types of ASA filament. For example, ASA FILM No. 3 is recommended for very high-temperature 3D printing while ASA KENDALL GLUE is designed for use at room temperature. ASA FILM No. 3 is designed to be printed with a heated bed. If you’re printing with ASA KENDALL GLUE, then you’ll need to have a heated build plate. ASA FILM No. 3 is more viscous than ASA KENDALL GLUE. This means that when printing with FILM No. 3, you’ll need to keep your layer height lower than when printing with KENDALL GLUE.

ASA Filament Has A Tendency To Outgas

Many filaments will emit odors during printing, but ASA filament has a tendency to give off a particularly strong odor. While the smell will quickly dissipate after you take the model off the build plate, it can definitely be off-putting during printing. In fact, the smell is so strong that it can be detected in a room two rooms away. The smell comes from the adhesive used in the filaments. Luckily, it is not harmful to your health and will evaporate quickly once you remove the model from the build plate.

ASA Filament Is Very Flexible

One of the main benefits of ASA Filament is that it’s very flexible. This makes it great for printing models with moving parts. The material can be stretched up to three times its length without breaking, making it much less brittle than other materials.

ASA Filament Is Not Suitable For Bowden Extruders

ASA filament has a tendency to clog bowden extruders and is generally not suitable for use with them. In some cases, you can get away with using ASA FILM No. 3 in a bowden extruder, but we recommend sticking with KENDALL GLUE if you're looking for a filament that's compatible with bowden extruders.

ASA Filament Is Not Suitable For High-Temperature Applications

ASA filament is not suitable for high-temperature applications. The material starts to soften at a temperature of around 200 degrees Celsius, making it unsuitable for cooking. If you need a filament that can withstand high temperatures, we recommend using PLA FILM No. 2 or KENDALL GLUE FILM No. 3 instead.

Print With A Layer Height That’s too Small

If your model is deforming due to too much pressure or oozing, it’s possible that your layer height is too small. Because ASA filament is a fibrous material, it needs support from the bed in order to print correctly. If you have a very low layer height, you risk not having enough surface area on the bed to support the model. Even if the print is deforming, there are ways to work around this problem. You can try adding extra brim to your model, increasing the flow rate of your printer, or using a thicker layer height. If you’re having problems with deformation, you can also try printing with a larger nozzle.

You Aren’t Calibrating Your Printer Before Each Print

As we mentioned at the start of this article, an unbalanced print can cause serious problems. A common mistake among novice users is not calibrating their printer before each print. This can cause your extruder to be under- or over-squeezed, which can have a major impact on the quality of your prints. If you use a retraction setting for the end of each layer, it can also affect the quality of your prints. A lot of beginners tend to over-retract, which can cause backpressure and affect the quality of the print. Depending on your printer, you can try printing at a slower speed to prevent this from happening.

It’s important to remember that not all filaments are created equal. If you have an advanced 3D printer, it can sometimes be difficult to figure out which filament is best for it. Many of the filaments listed in this article are just meant as a starting point; they should work with most printers on the market. However, you may want to try some of these tips if you’re having trouble getting your prints to stick:

Try a Different Printer (or Printer Type) If you’re having trouble getting your prints to stick, it might be time for a new printer. If there are issues with your nozzle or bed leveling, then it’s likely that there will be issues with prints sticking as well. You can try switching between FDM and SLA printers; they have different strengths and weaknesses when it comes to sticking. You can also switch from resin-based printing to FDM printing if you aren’t using an enclosed resin tank for SLA printing. Check Out Some New Filament Types You should also consider trying out some new filament types if you aren’t having any luck with the ones that came bundled with your 3D printer. For example, nylon-based filaments tend not to stick very well compared to other options like ABS and PLA

Conclusion

When used correctly, ASA filament is an affordable way of making quick and easy prototypes. However, using ASA filament incorrectly can cause some serious problems. Remember to print at the right temperature, don’t use ASA without retaining water, don’t use high-density ASA filament instead of standard density, watch out for cohesion problems, print only with ASA KENDALL GLUE or ASA FILM No. 3 in 3D printing, ASA filament has a tendency to outgas, you aren’t calibrating your printer before each print, and you don’t use high-density ASA filament instead of standard density. With these tips in mind, you’ll have a much easier time avoiding the common pitfalls associated with using ASA filament.