MakerBot Broadens METHOD Material Offering with Precision ASA for Outdoor Applications

MakerBot, a global leader in 3D printing, continues to expand its materials portfolio with the availability of ASA (acrylonitrile styrene acrylate). ASA is part of MakerBot’s line of Precision Materials for METHOD and is ideal for 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 make it optimal for outdoor applications, such as outdoor electrical box covers, gardening equipment, and automotive side view mirror housings. ASA is available for METHOD X, a powerful manufacturing workstation with an up to 100°C Circulating Heated Chamber capable of providing a superior print environment for 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.

“We are committed to adding a wide range of materials to the METHOD platform to support the different needs of our customers and their applications,” said Nadav Goshen, CEO, MakerBot. “The METHOD X Circulating Heated Chamber allows engineers to produce strong and durable parts with industrial materials. We believe that ASA can deliver high-performing mechanical properties that will enable companies to develop better products.”

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. ASA’s weather-resistant properties make it ideal for many end-use parts and functional prototype applications that are exposed to harsh environments, such as those within the automotive, power and utilities, agriculture, oil & gas, and mass transit industries.

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, resulting in superior surface finish and print precision. METHOD X is the only 3D printer in its price-class that uses SR-30, providing engineers with unlimited design freedom.

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.