ASA

ASA Filament 1.75 mm

UV-resistant, weatherproof 3D printer filament for outdoor prints

  • 1.75 mm ± 0.05 mm
  • 1 kg / 2.2 lb spool
  • UV resistant
  • Enclosure recommended
  • Ships from the USA

ASA (Acrylonitrile Styrene Acrylate) is the 3D printer filament to use when a part has to survive outside. It exists as a direct answer to ABS’s biggest weakness — sunlight. Where ABS yellows, chalks and turns brittle after a season outdoors, ASA keeps its color, its surface and its mechanical strength for years. Add high heat resistance, real impact toughness and a smooth matte finish that can be acetone smoothed, and you get a filament built for outdoor signage, automotive parts, garden fixtures and any enclosure that lives in the weather. It also warps noticeably less than ABS, so with a hot bed and an enclosure it prints far more predictably than its reputation suggests — and like the rest of the range it is sold in custom packs.

Ready for parts that survive the weather?

Pick your colors, mix in other materials, and build an ASA pack in one order.

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What Makes ASA Filament Different

True UV Resistance

ASA’s acrylate backbone is inherently stable under ultraviolet light. Parts keep their color and surface finish through years of direct sun instead of yellowing and chalking the way ABS does after a single summer.

That makes it the only sensible choice for outdoor signage, exterior automotive trim, garden hardware and anything mounted on a roof, wall or vehicle.

Heat & Impact Strength

ASA holds its shape in conditions that soften PLA and PETG, and it absorbs impact rather than cracking, so functional parts survive drops and vibration in service.

It machines, sands, drills and glues cleanly, which makes post-processing and assembly straightforward for finished parts.

Smooth, Professional Finish

ASA prints with a low-gloss, uniform matte surface that hides layer lines better than PLA or PETG — parts look injection-moulded rather than printed straight off the plate.

It can also be acetone vapor smoothed to a glossy, sealed finish, which both improves appearance and makes parts more watertight.

ASA Filament Print Settings and Specifications

Recommended starting settings, aligned to the Fremover ABS data sheet — ASA is its direct sister material and shares its printing profile. ASA prints best in an enclosed chamber with minimal part cooling; draft protection matters more than any single temperature value.

Printing Temperature240°C – 280°C
Bed Temperature90°C – 120°C
Printing Speed30 – 250 mm/s
Cooling Fan10%
Drying Settings70°C – 85°C
Retraction Speed30 mm/s
Diameter1.75 mm ± 0.05 mm
Net Weight1 kg / 2.2 lb
Build PlatePEI, glass, BuildTak®, blue tape
Nozzle Sizes0.2 – 1.0 mm
Chamber TemperatureApprox. 60°C
EnclosureStrongly recommended

Build parts that don’t fade, crack or warp in the sun

The outdoor-grade filament for signage, automotive and functional exterior parts

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ASA vs. ABS Filament: Which One for Outdoor Prints?

Advantages of ASA

  • Excellent UV stability — colors stay true for years
  • Resists rain, humidity and temperature swings
  • High heat resistance for outdoor and automotive use
  • Strong impact resistance and toughness
  • Warps noticeably less than ABS
  • Acetone smoothable for a sealed, glossy finish

ABS Limitations

  • Yellows and chalks after months of sun exposure
  • Becomes brittle as UV degrades the surface
  • More prone to warping and corner lifting
  • Stronger odor during printing
  • Layer delamination on tall parts without a chamber
  • Not suited for long-term exterior use

ABS and ASA share a very similar mechanical profile and print at nearly the same temperatures — the difference is what happens after the part leaves the printer. ASA was developed specifically to fix ABS’s UV degradation, and it also happens to warp less and smell less while printing. If a part is going outdoors, on a vehicle, or anywhere near sustained heat and sunlight, ASA is the direct upgrade. Both need a heated bed and an enclosure; neither should be printed in a cold, drafty room.

What People Print With ASA Filament

01

Outdoor Signage & Fixtures

House numbers, plaques, brackets, mailbox parts and garden hardware. ASA keeps its color and strength through full sun, rain and freeze-thaw cycles, so a part printed this spring still looks right three summers later.

02

Automotive & RC

Interior trim, mounts, ducts, drone frames and RC body parts. ASA handles the heat and vibration of a working vehicle without softening, cracking or fading.

03

Enclosures & Housings

Electrical boxes, sensor housings and equipment covers that live on a wall, a pole or a rooftop. Vapor smoothing seals the surface for better water resistance and a finished, professional look.

How to Print ASA Without the Warping

ASA has a reputation for being difficult, and almost all of it comes down to temperature control around the part. Get these five things right and it prints as consistently as PETG.

  • Enclose the printer: ASA shrinks as it cools and wants an ambient chamber around 60°C. A closed enclosure — even a simple box over the printer — keeps that temperature stable and prevents corner lifting on tall parts.
  • Keep the fan at 10%: Aggressive part cooling is the number one cause of layer splitting and warped corners in styrene-based filaments. Almost off is the correct setting.
  • Run the bed hot: 100°C or above with a clean surface, and glue on the plate. A brim of 5–8 mm on large footprints makes the difference between a flat part and a taco.
  • Avoid drafts: An open window or an air conditioning vent near the printer will ruin a print that would otherwise have been perfect.
  • Ventilate the room: ASA emits fewer fumes than ABS but still needs airflow. Print in a ventilated space, or use an enclosure with a carbon filter.

Every spool ships sealed and packed with silica gel, so you start dry and consistent instead of chasing the bubbles and popping caused by filament that absorbed moisture in storage.

Best Uses for ASA Filament

Outdoor Signage

House numbers, plaques and lettering that keep their color through years of direct sun.

Automotive Parts

Interior trim, clips, mounts and ducts that hold up to heat and vibration in service.

Garden & Patio

Planters, hose fittings, hooks and hardware exposed to rain and temperature swings.

Enclosures & Housings

Weather-resistant boxes for electronics, sensors and outdoor equipment.

Drone & RC Parts

Tough, lightweight frames and body panels that absorb impact instead of shattering.

Functional Prototypes

Prototypes that can be tested under real thermal and UV conditions.

How to Print ASA: Settings and Troubleshooting

Getting Started

  • Print inside an enclosure and keep the printer away from windows, doors and vents
  • Start at 250°C nozzle and 100°C bed, then adjust in 5°C steps
  • Set part cooling to about 10% — more fan means split layers
  • Use glue on the plate plus a brim on any part with a large flat footprint
  • Clean the build plate with isopropyl alcohol before every print

Advanced Techniques

  • Blast dry at 70–85°C if the spool has been open for more than a few weeks
  • Increase perimeters to 4 and infill to 30–40% for parts that carry load outdoors
  • Slow down on tall, thin geometry to prevent delamination between layers
  • Acetone vapor smoothing seals the surface and improves water resistance
  • Let parts cool fully inside the enclosure before removing them from the plate
Storage Tip: ASA absorbs moisture from the air, which shows up as popping, stringing and a rough surface. Once opened, keep the spool in a dry box or a resealable bag with fresh silica gel, and blast dry at 70–85°C if prints start looking hairy.

ASA Filament FAQ

What is the difference between ASA and ABS filament?

Chemically they are close relatives with almost identical strength, heat resistance and print settings. The difference is UV stability: ASA replaces one component of ABS with an acrylate that does not break down in sunlight. In practice, ABS yellows and turns brittle outdoors within months while ASA keeps its color and toughness for years. ASA also tends to warp slightly less and smell less while printing.

Is ASA filament good for outdoor use?

It is the best FDM option for it. ASA is specifically designed to resist ultraviolet light, so outdoor parts keep their color and mechanical strength for years rather than months. It also tolerates rain, humidity and freeze-thaw cycles well. For outdoor signage, garden hardware, mailbox parts and anything mounted on a vehicle or a roof, ASA is the material to choose.

Do I really need an enclosure to print ASA?

For anything small and flat you can often get away without one. For anything tall, wide or structural, yes — an enclosure holds the chamber near 60°C so layers bond properly and corners stay down. It does not have to be expensive; even a simple acrylic or cardboard box over the printer makes a dramatic difference.

Is ASA stronger than PLA or PETG?

It is tougher in the ways that matter outdoors: higher heat resistance, better impact absorption and far better UV and weather stability. PLA is stiffer but brittle and softens with heat; PETG is a good middle ground but less UV stable over the long term. For a part that lives in the sun, ASA wins clearly.

Can I smooth ASA prints with acetone?

Yes. ASA responds to acetone vapor smoothing the same way ABS does. A short, controlled exposure dissolves the outer surface just enough to erase layer lines, leaving a glossy, sealed finish that also improves water resistance. Always do this in a well-ventilated space away from any ignition source.

What print settings should I start with for ASA?

250°C nozzle, 100°C bed, part cooling at around 10%, inside an enclosure. From there, adjust the nozzle in 5°C steps based on your surface finish and layer adhesion. Any printer that reaches 260°C at the nozzle and 100°C at the bed can run ASA.

Is ASA safe to print at home?

Print it in a ventilated room or in an enclosure with a filter. ASA releases fewer and milder fumes than ABS, but like all styrene-based materials it should not be printed in a small closed room where you spend hours. Good airflow solves it.

How do I buy it — can I mix colors and materials?

Yes. ASA is sold in custom packs rather than one spool at a time: you choose how many spools you want and pick any combination of colors, and you can mix in other materials such as PETG, PLA+ or TPU in the same pack. Build your pack on the bundle page and the price is calculated per spool, with free shipping within the contiguous USA.

Other Fremover Filaments

Not every part needs to live outdoors. Compare ASA with the rest of the range, or mix several materials into a single pack.

Build for the Outdoors With Confidence

ASA gives you UV stability, heat resistance and impact strength in a filament that warps less than ABS. Sealed with silica gel, held to a 1.75 mm diameter within ±0.05 mm and sold in custom packs you build yourself.

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Sold in custom packs · Free shipping within the contiguous USA

Why Buy ASA Filament From Fremover

ASA exists for one reason: parts that have to work outside. If you have ever printed a bracket in PLA and watched it sag in the sun, or printed one in ABS and watched it yellow and crack over a season, ASA is the material that solves both problems at once. It holds color, holds shape and holds up under load.

Two things make or break an ASA print: a consistent diameter for predictable extrusion, and a warm, draft-free chamber. These spools cover the first — 1.75 mm within ±0.05 mm, sealed with silica gel so moisture is never the variable — and the tips on this page cover the second. Everything ships from the USA and is sold in custom packs, so you can add a couple of ASA spools to an order alongside the materials you print every day.