Voron ASA vs ABS — Complete Comparison for Voron Printed Parts
Materials Comparison Build
Choosing between ASA and ABS for your Voron printed parts is one of the most important decisions you will make during your build. Both materials are styrene-based thermoplastics with similar mechanical properties, but they differ in UV resistance, printability, layer adhesion, chemical resistance, and cost. The Voron project officially supports ABS parts, but many builders have successfully used ASA. Last updated: May 2025.
This guide provides a thorough, data-driven comparison of ASA and ABS specifically for Voron printed parts. We cover material properties, print settings, environmental resistance, post-processing, cost analysis, and — crucially — which parts of a Voron benefit from one material over the other. We include real-world experience from the Voron community on V2.4, Trident, V0.2, and Switchwire builds.
Chemical and Physical Properties Overview
| Property | ABS | ASA | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glass transition temp | ~105°C | ~105°C | Tie |
| Tensile strength | ~40 MPa | ~38 MPa | ABS (slight) |
| Impact resistance (Izod) | 200-400 J/m | 150-300 J/m | ABS |
| Elongation at break | 10-50% | 5-25% | ABS |
| UV resistance | Poor — degrades in sunlight | Excellent — UV stabilized | ASA |
| Chemical resistance | Good (oils, acids, alcohols) | Better (oils, acids, UV stabilizers) | ASA (slight) |
| Flammability | UL94 HB (slow burn) | UL94 HB | Tie |
| Water absorption (24h) | 0.2-0.4% | 0.2-0.3% | Tie |
| Density | 1.04 g/cm³ | 1.07 g/cm³ | Tie |
Key takeaway: ABS has marginally better mechanical strength and impact resistance. ASA wins on UV and chemical resistance. For parts inside a Voron enclosure that never see sunlight, the UV advantage of ASA is irrelevant. For parts exposed to sunlight or workshop chemical exposure, ASA is the clear choice.
Printability and Print Settings Comparison
Both materials print at similar temperature ranges, but ASA has subtle differences that affect print quality and reliability.
| Parameter | ABS | ASA | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nozzle temperature | 240-260°C | 245-265°C | ASA typically needs 5-10°C higher for same flow rate |
| Bed temperature | 100-110°C | 95-110°C | ASA adheres slightly better at lower bed temps |
| Chamber temperature | 45-60°C | 40-55°C | ASA slightly less prone to warping at lower chamber temps |
| Fumes | Strong styrene odor | Milder, less irritating odor | ASA has a noticeable but less offensive smell |
| Warping tendency | Moderate-High | Low-Moderate | ASA warps less due to lower coefficient of thermal expansion |
| Layer adhesion | Excellent | Very Good | ABS slightly better interlayer bonding |
| Bridging/overhangs | Good | Fair-Good | ASA slightly more stringy, less clean bridging |
| Surface finish | Matte, uniform | Satin, slightly glossy | Subjective preference |
| Part cooling fan | 0-30% | 0-20% | Both benefit from minimal cooling |
Warping: ASA has a lower coefficient of thermal expansion (~80 x 10^-6 /°C) compared to ABS (~90 x 10^-6 /°C), which means ASA shrinks less as it cools. This translates to noticeably less warping, especially on large parts like Voron deck panels, skirts, and enclosure parts. This is the single biggest practical advantage ASA has for Voron builds.
Layer Adhesion and Part Strength
For Voron printed parts, layer adhesion is critical — the parts must withstand the mechanical loads from 200+ mm/s accelerations, belt tension, and Z-axis compression for years of operation.
- Interlayer bonding: ABS achieves slightly stronger interlayer bonds because the acrylonitrile component promotes better chain entanglement across layer boundaries. In practice, tensile tests show ABS parts fail at 85-95% of the bulk material strength, while ASA parts fail at 80-90%.
- Impact resistance: The butadiene content in ABS provides rubber toughening that gives it 20-30% better impact resistance than ASA. For Voron parts that may experience sudden loads (e.g., Z-axis couplers, extruder mounts), this matters.
- Creep resistance: Both materials exhibit similar creep behavior under constant load. For parts under sustained tension (belt clamps, idler mounts), both perform adequately at chamber temperatures up to 60°C.
- Fatigue life: ABS has slightly better fatigue resistance under cyclic loading. This is relevant for print head carriage and XY joint parts that experience thousands of rapid direction changes per print.
Verdict: For structural Voron parts (gantry mounts, Z-axis components, extruder carriage), ABS has a real but small advantage. For cosmetic or enclosure parts, ASA is equivalent or better.
UV and Environmental Resistance
This is ASA's strongest advantage. ABS degrades under UV exposure through a photo-oxidation process that causes yellowing, embrittlement, and surface cracking. After 500-1000 hours of sunlight exposure, ABS loses 30-50% of its impact strength. ASA is UV-stabilized at the polymer level — the acrylate component absorbs UV radiation and dissipates it as heat rather than allowing chain scission.
- Indoor Voron (enclosed): UV resistance is irrelevant. Your Voron sits in an enclosure, often in a basement or garage. Neither ABS nor ASA will see meaningful UV exposure. ABS is perfectly adequate.
- Outdoor or window-adjacent Voron: If your printer is near a window or in a sunlit workshop, ASA is strongly recommended for all visible parts. UV degradation is cumulative and irreversible.
- Parts that may be moved outdoors: Nevermore filter housings, electronic enclosures, or Voron parts you might use in outdoor projects — use ASA.
- Chemical resistance: ASA resists isopropyl alcohol, acetone (brief contact), oils, and mild acids slightly better than ABS. This matters if you frequently clean your printer with solvents or print in an oily environment.
Acetone Vapor Smoothing
ABS can be smoothed with acetone vapor to achieve a glossy, injection-molded finish. ASA does not respond as well to acetone smoothing because the acrylate component is less soluble in acetone than butadiene.
- ABS smoothing: 10-30 minutes in acetone vapor at room temperature creates a polished surface. This is popular for Voron parts aesthetic and slightly improves layer adhesion by fusing the surface layers.
- ASA smoothing: Requires longer exposure (20-45 minutes) and produces a less uniform, slightly matte finish. Some ASA blends (notably Polymaker ASA) do not smooth well at all.
- Alternative for ASA: Mechanical sanding and polishing (wet sanding to 1000+ grit) produces excellent results on ASA. The satin surface of ASA actually polishes to a nicer sheen than ABS with mechanical methods.
Cost Analysis
| Filament | Price per kg | Cost for full V2.4 parts set | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard ABS | $15-25 | $30-50 | Widely available, many colors |
| Premium ABS (KVP, 3DXTech) | $30-45 | $60-90 | Good availability, fewer colors |
| Standard ASA | $25-40 | $50-80 | Good availability, limited colors |
| Premium ASA (Polymaker, Prusament) | $40-55 | $80-110 | Good availability, special colors |
A full set of Voron printed parts requires approximately 1.5-2.0 kg of filament (depending on printer size and whether you print the enclosure panels). ABS is significantly cheaper, and for an indoor printer, the cost savings are worthwhile for most builders.
Which to Choose for Each Voron Part
| Part Category | Recommended Material | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Gantry mounts, XY joints | ABS | Higher impact resistance and fatigue life |
| Extruder carriage, toolhead | ABS | Better layer adhesion at thin cross sections |
| Z-axis motor mounts, couplers | ABS | Higher creep resistance under constant load |
| Deck panels, skirts | ASA or ABS | ASA warps less on large flat parts, ABS is fine with proper chamber temp |
| Enclosure panels, door hinges | ASA | Better UV resistance if near windows, less warp for large panels |
| Nevermore filter, electronics mount | ASA | Better chemical resistance, less odor during printing |
| Cosmetic / accent parts | ASA | Better surface finish, color stability over time |
Our Recommendation
For most Voron builders, standard ABS is the best choice. It is cheaper, stronger in impact and fatigue, easier to find in the exact colors you want, and can be acetone smoothed for a professional finish. The caveat is that you must have a reliable 45-60°C chamber temperature and proper ventilation.
Choose ASA if:
- Your printer is near a window or in a sunlit room
- You struggle with ABS warping on large parts and cannot maintain a consistent 50°C+ chamber temperature
- You are sensitive to the strong styrene odor of ABS
- You want a satin, consistent surface finish without post-processing
- Your Voron enclosure panels will experience outdoor or garage temperature swings
Mixed-build approach: Many experienced Voron builders print structural gantry parts in ABS (or premium blends like KVP ABS) and cosmetic/enclosure parts in ASA. This gives you the best of both materials: maximum strength where it matters and better appearance/warp resistance where it doesn't.
Recommended Brands
- Best ABS for Voron parts: KVP ABS (excellent layer adhesion, tight tolerance), 3DXTech ABS (high impact), eSun ABS+ (easy printing, less warp), Polymaker ABS (consistent diameter).
- Best ASA for Voron parts: Polymaker ASA (best overall quality, tight tolerances, excellent UV resistance), Prusament ASA (consistent, good color selection), Bambu ASA (prints easily, good layer adhesion), Extrudr ASA (strong, matte finish).