Tag: FDM

  • Plastic Material: ABS vs ASA – What’s the difference?

    Plastic Material: ABS vs ASA – What’s the difference?

    A frequently asked question in the 3D printing industry is: what is the difference between ABS and ASA? Today, we are going to break down the differences and clear up the air between these two materials.

    Filament PM ABS White
    Filament PM ABS

    Let’s start with the technical data.

    MaterialFilament PM ABS3DXTech ASA
    Density (g/cm3)1.041.07
    Tensile Strength (MPa)4245
    Flexural Modulus (MPA)18002000
    Glass Transition Temperature (Tg)94C105C
    *Contact us for full technical data sheets

    Based on the technical data, the properties between ABS and ASA are mostly similar, with ASA inching out slightly. It has better tensile strength, flexural modulus, and glass transition temperature, but, it comes in at a higher density. In terms of mechanical properties, they are similar. So, what is the catch?

    3DXTech ASA
    3DXTech ASA

    Not on the datasheets.

    One significant advantage that ASA has over ABS is that it has UV resistance and is weather resistant, which makes it great for outdoor use! As you probably already know, ABS is notorious for warping during the printing process, ASA on the other hand is much less prone to warping.

    Cost Effective?

    In the past, ABS was more commonly used, making it cheaper to produce, resulting in a much lower price tag. However, ASA’s popularity has risen over the years, bringing down the production cost, and making it very similar to ABS.

    Get your material or parts 3D Printed today! Need help? Contact us and we will get back to you.

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    Some links to articles are not live yet, please be patient while we continue to update our site with new articles and this post if there are any new developments.

  • 3D-Printing Technology: Fused Deposition Modelling – FDM

    3D-Printing Technology: Fused Deposition Modelling – FDM

    Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) is the most common 3D-printing technology and is what we commonly associate 3D printing with. This technology is also known as Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF). Some have categorised this as two different technologies, but they are the same. The different names are due to trademarks that Stratasys filed back in 1991.

    How Does FDM Work?

    FDM works by extruding plastic filament through a heated extruder, layer by layer. As there are many iterations and designs of FDM 3D printers, some of the functionalities may differ slightly from the general idea. For most industrial printers, the X-axis and Y-axis controls the print head while the Z-axis controls the build plate. The printer head will follow the path determined by the cross-section of the part. The build plate will move down by the programmed amount after each layer is completed, continuing the cycle to fuse the layers together till the part is complete.

    What Materials Does FDM Use?

    As FDM attracts hobbyists, enthusiasts, as well as industrial users, many companies have developed different types of materials and specialised materials:

    • Thermoplastics Filaments
    • Exotic Filaments
    • Metal Filaments

    For a more in-depth look at the different types of filament materials, click here.

    Beyond Bynd, 3D Printing Service Singapore, Printer, Additive Manufacturing

    Advantages

    Low Cost

    Compared to the rest of the 3D-printing technologies, the price for a mid-range printer is considerably low. This makes it very affordable for businesses, hobbyists, and enthusiasts to get one. The price of the filament material is also relatively cheap.

    User Friendly

    FDM 3D printers are home-safe as it does not use a powder or a liquid. The part is usable once the print is completed and the supports have been removed.

    Large Support Of Materials

    There are many different types of thermoplastics and specialised materials, which provides you with a wide range of different mechanical properties and aesthetics to choose from. A strong 3rd-party market also gives you increased access to more materials.

    Large Amount Of Users

    As FDM is popular for 3D-printing hobbyists, a large community would be able to assist you in any of your problems besides the manufacturer’s customer support.

    Disadvantages

    Mechanical Weak Points

    Due to the way the 3D-printing works, it is mechanically stronger on the axis perpendicular to the build plate compared to the axis parallel to the build plate.

    Part Quality

    As FDM 3D-printing prints in layers, ‘stepping’ lines will appear and will require post-processing to appear smooth. Or it would require tweaking of the settings in order to reduce the visual impact of the lines.

    Get your parts 3D Printed today! Need help to decide? Contact us and we will get back to you.

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    Some links to articles are not live yet, please be patient while we continue to update our site with new articles and this post if there are any new developments.