Source: MakerBot Industries, LLCMakerBot announced the availability of acrylonitrile styrene acrylate (ASA) for Method X, a weather-resistant alternative to acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS).

(ASA) is an engineering-grade resin that exhibits high ultraviolet and chemical resistance properties. It has mechanical properties that are similar to ABS, but it excels in outdoor applications and harsh environments where parts are exposed to UV light, heat and chemicals.

The weather resistance of ASA addresses several demanding industries including automotive, power and utilities, agriculture, oil and gas and mass transit. Common ASA plastic components include outdoor electrical box covers, gardening equipment and automotive side-view mirror housings.

In line with the makeup of MakerBot’s production-grade ABS resins, ASA can be supported by Stratasys SR-30 industrial support material and is available for the Method X manufacturing workstation. This setup provides design freedom and maintains dimensional accuracy of +/- 0.2 mm.

Black ASA engineering-grade materials are expected to begin shipping in November, with the availability of red and white ASA materials expected shortly thereafter.