Materials / Compare
FDM ASA vs. Steel AISI 4340
Compare FDM ASA vs. Steel AISI 4340 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) | 1,035MPasourcetypical, transverse |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 37MPasourcetypical | 1,140MPasourcetypical, transverse |
| Flexural strength | 65MPasourcetypical | not sourced |
| Elongation at break | 9.2%sourcetypical | 18%sourcetypical, transverse |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 2.45GPasourcetypical | 200GPasourceMIL-HDBK-5J design value (AISI 4340, quenched and tempered) |
| Density | 1,050kg/m³sourcetypical7.47x lighter | 7,840kg/m³sourcetypical |
| Strength to weight | 35.2kN·m/kg | 132kN·m/kg3.75x higher |
| Stiffness to weight | 2.33MN·m/kg | 25.5MN·m/kg10.9x higher |
| Poisson's ratio | not sourced | 0.32sourceMIL-HDBK-5J design value (AISI 4340, quenched and tempered) |
| Shear modulus | not sourced | 75.7GPa |
| Bulk modulus | not sourced | 185GPa |
| Speed of sound | 1,528m/s | 5,049m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 0.17W/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution Luran S 777K injection-molding ASA, typical | 37.5W/m·Ksourcetypical |
| Thermal expansion | 80–110µm/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution Luran S 777K injection-molding ASA, range | 11.3µm/m·Ksourcemean, -18 to 93 °C |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 475µm growth | 56.5µm growth8.41x less |
| Specific heat | not sourced | 448J/kg·Ksourcetypical |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | not sourced | 10.7mm²/s |
| Thermal shock resistance | not sourced | 11,678W/m |
| Max service temperature | 92°CsourceHDT 1.8 MPa | not sourced |
| 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. | Carpenter (Latrobe) Lescalloy 4340 VAC-ARC datasheet; mechanical row for 1100 °F temper; physical properties grade-level |
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 Steel AISI 4340?
Steel AISI 4340 is stronger: its yield strength is 1,035 MPa against tensile strength 37 MPa for FDM ASA (28x).
Which is lighter, FDM ASA or Steel AISI 4340?
FDM ASA is lighter: 1,050 kg/m³ against 7,840 kg/m³ for Steel AISI 4340.
Which is stiffer, FDM ASA or Steel AISI 4340?
Steel AISI 4340 is stiffer: Young's modulus 200 GPa against 2.45 GPa for FDM ASA, so the same part in Steel AISI 4340 deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, FDM ASA or Steel AISI 4340?
For the same stiffness or strength: FDM ASA is lighter for a stiff panel or plate, strong panel or plate; Steel AISI 4340 is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), strong rod or tie, strong beam.
| Part that must be | FDM ASA | Steel AISI 4340 |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | 10.9x heavier | lighter |
| Stiff beam (bending) | 21% heavier | lighter |
| Stiff panel or plate | lighter | 1.72x heavier |
| Strong rod or tie | 3.75x heavier | lighter |
| Strong beam | 23% heavier | lighter |
| Strong panel or plate | lighter | 41% 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 Steel AISI 4340?
Steel AISI 4340 conducts heat better: 37.5 W/m·K against 0.17 W/m·K for FDM ASA.
Which expands less with temperature?
Steel AISI 4340 expands less: 11.3 µm/m·K against 95 µm/m·K for FDM ASA.