SunLu ASA Filament – 1.75mm White

Have you begun to amass that garden gnome army, looking for a way to print outdoor UV resistant 3D Prints, or just wanting a more rigid, strong filament for your engineering designs? As avid 3D Makers, we couldn’t stop the ideas from flowing when we heard about ASA Filament and that one of our favourite brands, SunLu, has started a range of it! While white and black are the only colour options available from SunLu’s ASA Filament so far, keep an eye out because we know SunLu usually loves populating their ranges with a wonderful array of colours that we won’t hesitate to pick up in this awesome ASA Filament.

This SunLu ASA Filament is white and offers all the benefits of its very similar baby cousin, ABS Filament, while adding a few of its own interesting beneficial properties. For engineers and Advanced Makers, Sunlu ASA Filament is a perfect choice as it bolsters every 3D Print with UV resistance, water resistance and thermal stability. That’s why many Makers use ASA for outdoor purposes, crafting cool garden gadgets like a hosepipe y-splitter, stylish sprinkler heads and soil moisture sensors, which stay under the sun for long periods without discolouring. And just to add the cherry on top of the already-tasty sundae, this Exotic Filament is also naturally anti-static, making it a great choice for robust Electronics enclosures that can withstand impressive forces and weathering, while being dust-resistant too!

ASA parts tend to be incredibly heat-resistant and durable, and so is also a great choice for important couplings for a hydroponics system or another similar large-scale DIY Project. However, like ABS, this SunLu ASA Filament can be considered a more troublesome filament to print with than the beginner friendly PLA Filament you may be used to. ASA Filament will require between 230°C to 260°C print temperatures, an at least 80°C bed, and controlled environments. We recommend upgrading your 3D Printer with an All-Metal Hotend, Wham Bam Build Assembly and enclosure. All of which you likely already have if you’ve been printing with ABS Filament, but this superior SunLu ASA Filament is certain to become your new favourite.

Helpful Tips for Printing with Sunlu ASA Filament:

When printing with this unique ASA filament, there are a few extra notes that you should take into consideration before starting. This is because ASA is polymerised with very similar materials to ABS Filament, but has been made without the double bond butadiene, which means it offers better weather, temperature and UV resistance, but may require some extra care during the printing process to enjoy good results. As such, it’s prudent to keep the following in mind:

• Be sure to set your infill lower than usual, as this will help reduce shrinkage and cracking when the filament cools down.
• Always remember to turn off the part cooling fan, and try to provide an enclosure or wind protection to avoid the filament cooling at an uneven rate.
• A clean print surface will drastically help the first layer adhesion of this filament, although the heatbed temperature may vary according to what adhesion aid you are using.
• Finally, ASA has relatively weak tear resistance, so try to avoid drag or twine as much as possible, especially during the printing process while the plastic is still cooling.

Despite these unique requirements and extra considerations, ASA is an excellent polymer that is surprisingly close to an Engineering-quality plastic. And while it may take a few tries to get just right, you will certainly be pleased with the results once you have your printer dialled to accommodate the unique properties of ASA.

If you would like a more visual explanation of the nuances of printing this unique filament, MatterHackers on YouTube provides a great guide for how to succeed when 3D printing with ASA Filament in the video below:

Although it may not be a popular brand here in SA (yet!), many 3D Makers will recognise the name SunLu, as these fantastic 3D Filament Makers have been involved in 3D Printing since as far back as 2013, specialising in affordability & accessibility, but placing a strong focus on R&D & bringing new materials to the market for 3D Makers to enjoy.

From the classic PLA & ABS range through to the more exotic styles like PETG & TPU, as well as what we like to call Semi-Exotics like Marble & Twinkling Filament, SunLu has garnered a lot of experience in the world of 3D Filaments, & have one of the most comprehensive catalogues that the Hobbyist 3D Printing world has ever seen. This gives them a good spot amongst the leaders in 3D Filaments, & while they may not quite match the premium quality of Fillamentum & other high class brands, the affordability & range of options that SunLu offers is simply unbeatable even for the major players.

If you’re looking for a good brand to use for all kinds of different prints & applications, but don’t want to pay a premium, SunLu is the ideal brand that is ready to become your next new favourite. So get out there & start testing out the range that SunLu has to offer! With so many options available & a price that is low enough to simply take a chance with, there’s absolutely no reason why you shouldn’t give SunLu a chance & test this awesome brand out, to see if it’s a good fit for your 3D Printing fun.