Housings & Casings
Functional enclosures for parts that need to survive drops, vibration, and repeated mechanical stress.
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Extended Range · ABS & ASA Family
ABS & ASA, built for heat and impact.
ABS is a suitable step up when a part must withstand mechanical stress or elevated temperatures. It is impact resistant, machinable and can be vapour smoothed for a cleaner finish. ASA is a UV stable alternative that retains its colour and strength in direct sunlight better than ABS.
Tougher and more heat-resistant than PLA or PETG, at the cost of being more prone to warping during printing and needing a controlled print environment.
Common uses
Outdoor Parts (ASA)
Enclosures and signage left in direct sunlight, where ASA holds its colour and strength far longer than ABS.
Impact-Resistant Parts
Protective casings and guards designed to absorb impact rather than crack on the first drop.
Automotive & Workshop Parts
Clips, ducts, covers, and workshop aids that need better heat and impact resistance than PLA.
Properties
Where ABS and ASA work well, and where they do not.
Both ABS and ASA are tougher and more heat-resistant than PLA or PETG, and ABS in particular can be acetone-vapour-smoothed for a glossy, seam-free finish. The trade-off is a higher tendency to warp during printing, so these materials need a controlled, often enclosed print environment to come out well. ASA adds UV stability on top of ABS's mechanical properties, making it the better choice for anything left outdoors long-term; flame-retardant and ESD-safe ABS grades cover more specialised requirements.
ABS StandardABS Carbon-fibreABS Flame-RetardantABS Wood-fillABS GlowABS ESD-ConductiveABS ESD-AntistaticASA StandardASA Carbon-fibre
Common Applications
Where we typically use it.
- Functional housings and mechanical parts
- Automotive-adjacent components and fixtures
- Outdoor enclosures and signage (ASA)
- Tooling and fixtures exposed to moderate heat
- Impact-resistant protective casings