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.
Generic structural steel, cited as ASTM A992 (the current US structural grade): ASTM A992 W-shapes; Fy/Fu specified minimums from AISC publications (AISC 360-16 Commentary; Modern Steel Construction); elastic constants AISC 360; physical constants from the bauforumstahl structural-steel EPD, which names A992 among covered product standards.
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?
Steel is stronger: its yield strength is 385 MPa against tensile strength 37 MPa for FDM ASA (10.4x).
Which is lighter, FDM ASA or Steel?
FDM ASA is lighter: 1,050 kg/m³ against 7,850 kg/m³ for Steel.
Which is stiffer, FDM ASA or Steel?
Steel is stiffer: Young's modulus 200 GPa against 2.45 GPa for FDM ASA, so the same part in Steel deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, FDM ASA or Steel?
For the same stiffness or strength: FDM ASA is lighter for a stiff panel or plate, strong beam, strong panel or plate; Steel is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), strong rod or tie.
Part that must be
FDM ASA
Steel
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
39% heavier
lighter
Strong beam
lighter
1.57x heavier
Strong panel or plate
lighter
2.32x 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?
Steel conducts heat better: 48 W/m·K against 0.17 W/m·K for FDM ASA.
Which expands less with temperature?
Steel expands less: 12 µm/m·K against 95 µm/m·K for FDM ASA.