Stratasys Releases New Thermoplastic Material

Stratasys, a provider of 3D printing and additive manufacturing solutions, has released a new thermoplastic material option for its FDM (fused deposition modeling) based printers — acrylonitrile styrene acrylate (ASA).

The material is all-purpose, and ideal for prototype production, manufacturing tools and finished goods. It can be used in industries such as automotive, electronics, commercial, sporting goods and construction. It is compatible with the Fortus 360mc, 400mc and 900mc.

According to Stratasys, ASA surpasses the capabilities of ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene). One main feature is UV resistance, which prevents parts from fading and enables them to maintain durability with long-term exposure to sunlight. It is available in black and ivory and provides a matte finish.

“As 3D printing becomes a more mainstream production process, and parts are used for a longer period of time and in diverse environments, UV resistance becomes a must-have feature,” said Brendan Dillon, product manager for Stratasys. “Once customers use ASA, they may not go back to ABS.”

For more information, visit Stratasys.

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.