ASA is an all-purpose thermoplastic suitable for 3D printing. Many people want to print using the best ASA filaments but aren’t sure which brands to get for themselves. I looked up some of the best ASA filaments that users love so you can decide which one you want to go with.
ASA filaments are tougher and more resistant to water and ultraviolet rays compared to ABS. While also flexible enough to get some good prints out of them.
Read the rest of the article to understand and learn more about ASA filaments available to you.
Here are the five best ASA filaments to use for 3D printing:
The Polymaker ASA Filament is a great option when looking to print items that will be exposed to the sun’s ultraviolet rays.
Polymaker ASA filament is incredibly useful if you need a filament with a great matte finish. The manufacturer recommends turning off the fan for improved mechanical properties and turning it on at 30% for higher print quality.
A user who has used over 20kg of Polymaker ASA Filament praises the product for its affordable price and good quality. They also added they dry their filament whenever it arrives for best print.
Another user who loved the Polymaker ASA filament had issues with the cardboard spool. They said it didn’t rotate well and created lots of dust and debris.
A user who was worried about the smell of the plastic was pleasantly surprised when it was bearable. After printing for hours, they did not get irritation to their eyes or nose. They also hailed the filament as steady with no problem with layer adhesion – a comment other users echo.
If using a flex plate as a build bed, use Elmer’s glue stick to improve the bed adhesion. Preheat your bed for 10 minutes before you print. This helps with the bed layer adhesion. You can wash off the glue by running it under water and then wiping the surface with dry clothes.
One user with an Ender 3 Pro and Capricorn PTFE tube found that the best temperature for their hot end was 265°C. When they did this, their layer adhesion improved.
A user printed with a 0.6mm nozzle and 0.4mm layer height to get the best result with the filament. It had no layer adhesion issues.
Most users who purchased the Polymaker ASA Filaments said it was good value for money. It’s a quality and affordable ASA filament and it worked great for them.
Flashforge is one of the popular 3D printing brands out there. So, their Flashforge filaments get their fair share of attention.
The Flashforge ASA Filament is resistant to high temperatures and withstands temperatures of up to 93°C without signs of deformity. It doesn’t suffer from shrinking like ABS filaments and goes through complete drying 24 hours before packaging – where it’s vacuum sealed.
One user who originally had bed adhesion issues with this filament fixed it by increasing their printing temperature to 250°C and bed temperature from 80-110°C.
They also used a print speed of 60mm/s, since going too high can have negative effects.
Another user experienced no stringing, blobbing, or warping while printing, stating it was cleaner than any PLA filaments used in the past.
The manufacturer guarantees a 12-hour response time and has a one-month return and exchange guarantee.
The SUNLU ASA Filament brand is another solid choice. It’s tough, strong, and easy to use – ideal for a beginner who is getting into ASA filaments. It is also great because of its good layer adhesion, resistance to water and UV rays.
One user who printed with this filament found that cooling fans caused issues, so they switched off their fan and the prints came out better. Another user who experienced bed adhesion issues solved it by increasing their bed temperature from 80-100°C.
Many first time users of the SUNLU ASA filament praised the packaging and the quality of the filament. A particular user who struggled to get a good print gave the product 4 out of 5 because they said the material was excellent, and whenever they got a good print, it always came out great.
A user with an Ender 3 Pro successfully printed using a hot end at 230°C and a hotbed at 110°C without an enclosure.
Another user with the same printer achieved a good print using their hot end at 260°C and their PEI bed at 105°C in an enclosure.
If you struggle with layer adhesion after heating your bed between 100-120°C, use a glue stick one user recommends.
A user printed a Super Mario Banzai bill model with a 0.4mm nozzle, 0.28mm layer height, and a print speed of 55mm/s. It turned out great, with their daughter commenting that they loved it.
OVERTURE ASA Filament is another good ASA filament in the market. It is mechanically wound and goes through a strict examination to ensure it’s easily fed. It has a large inner spool diameter that makes feeding into a 3D printer smoother.
Like the other brands on this list, this filament is strong, weather and UV-resistant.
The manufacturer advises putting the filament back into its nylon bag after printing to maintain quality outcomes.
One user said they had only printed with ABS and had great results when printing this filament. They decided to stick with this filament brand for future 3D printing.
Another user who bought the white OVERTURE ASA filament said it had the best shade of white and it was ideal for their project. They also said it came at a good price.
A user printed models using their ABS setting and got good prints. They also noted while sanding their model – it generated static, similar to when sanding a PVP pipe.
They said they didn’t mind because the filament was great – and will use it from now on. He printed without an enclosure and experienced warping. They advise if printing with an ASA filament an enclosure will help out a lot.
A few users described their filament of using this filament as very smooth, and most people left positive reviews about it. You can choose to use a brim or raft to improve bed adhesion.
3DXTECH 3DXMax ASA Filament is an ideal brand if you are working with technical parts or models. This filament is best when not looking for a high gloss finish.
The 3DTech 3DXMax ASA filament is able to withstand temperatures up to 105°C, making it an ideal choice if looking to print parts exposed to high temperatures.
One user found it difficult getting the right consistency for their layers. They solved the issue by starting slow and built up the print speed. This improved the bed adhesion and the top layers.
He found that doing this and reducing their bed heating from 110°C to 97°C after the third layer produced excellent results. The thicker filament means it is good for overhangs and bridges.
Several users complimented the finishing of 3DTECH 3DMax filaments. One of its users printed the layer lines at 0.28mm and saw the layers were almost invisible.
Another user was so impressed with this filament’s matte finish, strength, and layer adhesion that they bought more of this filament for their workshop. They donated their ABS filaments to a local school to create space for the 3DMax filaments.
An enclosure is very important if printing with this filament. It isn’t also an easy filament to work with, but its prints were outstanding.
Michael Dwamena is the founder of 3D Printerly, a platform dedicated to simplifying 3D printing for hobbyists and professionals alike. Owns over 20 3D printers (filament and resin) and has plenty experience 3D printing. Michael has authored over 900 articles, helping millions navigate the exciting world of 3D printing.
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