Materials / Compare
FDM ASA vs. Stainless Steel 303
Compare FDM ASA vs. Stainless Steel 303 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) | 275MPasourceOutokumpu typical (product P = hot rolled plate, transverse) |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 37MPasourcetypical | 585MPasourceOutokumpu typical |
| Flexural strength | 65MPasourcetypical | not sourced |
| Elongation at break | 9.2%sourcetypical | 35%sourceOutokumpu typical, A5 |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 2.45GPasourcetypical | 200GPasourceat RT (Table 12) |
| Density | 1,050kg/m³sourcetypical | 7,900kg/m³sourceat RT |
| Strength to weight | 35.2kN·m/kg1% higher | 34.8kN·m/kg |
| Stiffness to weight | 2.33MN·m/kg | 25.3MN·m/kg10.8x 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 | 5,032m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 0.17W/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution Luran S 777K injection-molding ASA, typical | 15W/m·Ksourceat RT |
| Thermal expansion | 80–110µm/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution Luran S 777K injection-molding ASA, range | 16µm/m·Ksourcemean, 20–100 °C |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 475µm growth | 80µm growth5.94x less |
| Specific heat | not sourced | 500J/kg·Ksourceat RT |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | not sourced | 3.8mm²/s |
| Thermal shock resistance | not sourced | 902W/m |
| Max service temperature | 92°CsourceHDT 1.8 MPa | 871°Csourcecontinuous, scaling limit |
| 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. | 1.4305 / UNS S30300, Outokumpu typical values (hot rolled, solution annealed) from 'Steel Grades, Properties and Global Standards'; max service from Carpenter CarTech 303 datasheet |
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 Steel 303?
Stainless Steel 303 is stronger: its yield strength is 275 MPa against tensile strength 37 MPa for FDM ASA (7.43x).
Which is lighter, FDM ASA or Stainless Steel 303?
FDM ASA is lighter: 1,050 kg/m³ against 7,900 kg/m³ for Stainless Steel 303.
Which is stiffer, FDM ASA or Stainless Steel 303?
Stainless Steel 303 is stiffer: Young's modulus 200 GPa against 2.45 GPa for FDM ASA, so the same part in Stainless Steel 303 deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, FDM ASA or Stainless Steel 303?
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 Steel 303 is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending).
| Part that must be | FDM ASA | Stainless Steel 303 |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | 10.8x heavier | lighter |
| Stiff beam (bending) | 20% heavier | lighter |
| Stiff panel or plate | lighter | 1.73x heavier |
| Strong rod or tie | lighter | 1% heavier |
| Strong beam | lighter | 1.98x heavier |
| Strong panel or plate | lighter | 2.76x 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 Steel 303?
Stainless Steel 303 conducts heat better: 15 W/m·K against 0.17 W/m·K for FDM ASA.
Which expands less with temperature?
Stainless Steel 303 expands less: 16 µm/m·K against 95 µm/m·K for FDM ASA.