Materials / Compare
FDM ASA vs. Stainless 316
Compare FDM ASA vs. Stainless 316 strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.
| Try it on a partA bracket to run stress or thermal on, free in your browser | Open in LessCAD | Open in LessCAD |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical | ||
| Yield strength | not given (tensile used) | 265MPasourcetypical (representative), annealed 1.0 mm sheet |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 37MPasourcetypical | 583MPasourcetypical (representative), annealed 1.0 mm sheet |
| Flexural strength | 65MPasourcetypical | not sourced |
| Elongation at break | 9.2%sourcetypical | 61%sourcetypical (representative), annealed, in 2 in. (51 mm) |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 2.45GPasourcetypical | 200GPasourcetypical, in tension |
| Density | 1,050kg/m³sourcetypical7.64x lighter | 8,027kg/m³sourcetypical |
| Strength to weight | 35.2kN·m/kg7% higher | 33kN·m/kg |
| Stiffness to weight | 2.33MN·m/kg | 24.9MN·m/kg10.7x higher |
| Poisson's ratio | not sourced | 0.3sourcedesign value (structural stainless steels) |
| Shear modulus | not sourced | 76.9GPa |
| Bulk modulus | not sourced | 167GPa |
| Speed of sound | 1,528m/s | 4,992m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 0.17W/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution Luran S 777K injection-molding ASA, typical | 14.6W/m·Ksource20–100 °C |
| Thermal expansion | 80–110µm/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution Luran S 777K injection-molding ASA, range | 16.5µm/m·Ksourcemean, 20–100 °C |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 475µm growth | 82.5µm growth5.76x less |
| Specific heat | not sourced | 450J/kg·Ksourceat 20 °C |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | not sourced | 4.04mm²/s |
| Thermal shock resistance | not sourced | 821W/m |
| Melting point | not sourced | 1,390–1,440°Csourcemelting range |
| Max service temperature | 92°CsourceHDT 1.8 MPa | 871–899°Csourceoxidation (scaling) limit in air |
| Values for | Bambu Lab ASA, TDS V3.0, printed specimens X-Y; nozzle 260 °C, bed 80 °C, 200 mm/s, 100% infill; annealed and dried 80 °C for 12 h before testing. | ATI 316 (UNS S31600), annealed 1.0 mm sheet, ATI technical data sheet (2012); Poisson's ratio from the Nickel Institute/SCI structural stainless design manual |
Every value links to the document that states it. "Not sourced" means no citable source states it (or only a specification minimum); figures computed from it are left out too.
FDM ASA is 3D printed: its properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.
Questions
Is FDM ASA stronger than Stainless 316?
Stainless 316 is stronger: its yield strength is 265 MPa against tensile strength 37 MPa for FDM ASA (7.16x).
Which is lighter, FDM ASA or Stainless 316?
FDM ASA is lighter: 1,050 kg/m³ against 8,027 kg/m³ for Stainless 316.
Which is stiffer, FDM ASA or Stainless 316?
Stainless 316 is stiffer: Young's modulus 200 GPa against 2.45 GPa for FDM ASA, so the same part in Stainless 316 deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, FDM ASA or Stainless 316?
For the same stiffness or strength: FDM ASA is lighter for a stiff panel or plate, strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate; Stainless 316 is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending).
| Part that must be | FDM ASA | Stainless 316 |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | 10.7x heavier | lighter |
| Stiff beam (bending) | 18% heavier | lighter |
| Stiff panel or plate | lighter | 1.76x heavier |
| Strong rod or tie | lighter | 7% heavier |
| Strong beam | lighter | 2.06x heavier |
| Strong panel or plate | lighter | 2.86x heavier |
For the same stiffness or strength, mass scales with density over stiffness (or strength) raised to a power set by how the part is loaded: 1 for a rod in tension, 1/2 for a beam in bending, 1/3 for a panel (the standard material-selection indices).
Which conducts heat better, FDM ASA or Stainless 316?
Stainless 316 conducts heat better: 14.6 W/m·K against 0.17 W/m·K for FDM ASA.
Which expands less with temperature?
Stainless 316 expands less: 16.5 µm/m·K against 95 µm/m·K for FDM ASA.