ASA-CF 3D PRINTING
ASA-CF adds chopped carbon fibre to ASA's UV and weather resistance, giving a large jump in flexural stiffness and better dimensional stability — carbon fibre lowers thermal expansion, so large flat parts shrink and warp less than you'd expect for a fibre-filled material, though an enclosed chamber is still required. We also print ABS-CF as the indoor-only equivalent when UV resistance isn't needed. Bicester3D prints both routinely on hardened nozzles. Carbon-fibre materials carry a £25 minimum order — upload an STL or STEP for an instant quote.
WHEN ASA-CF IS THE RIGHT MATERIAL
- Structural brackets under load that also live outdoors — motorsport, agricultural, drone applications.
- Larger flat panels or brackets where warping and shrinkage need to be minimised.
- Indoor-only equivalents (ABS-CF) where UV resistance isn't needed but stiffness is.
WHEN ASA-CF IS THE WRONG MATERIAL
- Visible cosmetic exterior trim — CF surface finish is rougher and fibrous, not showroom-grade.
- Parts that need to flex or absorb impact — stiffness comes at the cost of toughness.
- Food or body contact applications.
TECHNICAL DATA
| Property | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tensile strength | Similar to unfilled ASA | Carbon fibre's main benefit here is stiffness, not raw tensile strength |
| Flexural modulus | ~67% higher than unfilled ASA | The main reason to specify this over plain ASA |
| Toughness | Lower than unfilled ASA | Stiffer but more brittle — the trade-off across every CF grade we use |
| UV stability | Excellent | Engineered for permanent outdoor exposure, same as unfilled ASA |
| Warping tendency | High, but lower than unfilled ASA | Enclosed chamber and hardened nozzle are both mandatory |
PRICING
Carbon-fibre composites carry a £25 minimum order — hardened-nozzle setup and premium material cost apply even on small parts. Above the minimum, pricing scales with size and quantity like any other material. Quotes valid for 30 days.
GET YOUR ASA-CF QUOTE
Upload your STL, STEP, or mesh file to the quote tool. Price returns in seconds. Card, invoice (trade accounts) and bank-transfer payment accepted. Most ASA-CF orders are dispatched within 2 working days.
ASA-CF FAQ
Chopped carbon fibre raises stiffness and dimensional stability — parts stay flatter under load and warp less during printing. It does not make the base polymer dramatically stronger in tension, and it always reduces elongation, so CF parts are stiffer but more brittle than their unfilled equivalent. The surface comes out matte and slightly fibrous rather than glossy. Specify CF when rigidity, flatness or stiffness-to-weight is the requirement, not as a blanket upgrade.
Work up the ladder and stop at the first material that meets the spec. PETG-CF: stiff jigs, fixtures and brackets indoors — the cost-effective default. ASA-CF: the same stiffness but UV-stable, for parts that live outdoors. PPA-CF: near-metal stiffness and strength with heat tolerance well beyond either — load-bearing parts that run hot. PPS-CF: the top rung — continuous service near 200°C plus chemical, fuel and flame resistance. Each step up adds cost and lead time, so don't specify PPS-CF where PETG-CF already does the job. If in doubt, tell us what the part does and we'll recommend the cheapest material that meets it.
Matte and slightly fibrous — the fibre shows in the surface texture. It reads as functional and engineering-grade rather than glossy, and many customers prefer it on visible brackets and fixtures. But it is not a cosmetic showroom finish and it doesn't polish up the way ABS or SLA resin does. For display-quality surfaces, use SLA grey resin and reserve CF for the parts doing the work.
CF-filled filaments are abrasive, so they run on hardened nozzles, and the materials themselves cost several times more per kilogram than commodity filaments. Several also need drying and higher-temperature hardware before a job can start. That setup overhead is real even on a small part, so composite materials carry a £25 minimum order. Above that, pricing scales with size and quantity exactly like our standard materials.