Stratasys F123 Series Materials - ABS, ASA, PC-ABS, TPU 92A

The F123 series from Stratasys unlocks so much more potential in 3D printing than its predecessors. Faster heat up, faster material swapping, and a modern age touch screen interface are just a few of the things that make these 3D printers stand out among other systems. The biggest addition, in my opinion, is the ability to print multiple materials. The legacy machines could only print ABS, but these systems can now print ABS, ASA, PC-ABS, and the newly released TPU 92A. In this post, I will go over each of the new materials and their applications.

All these materials are available to print with on each of the three systems in the series with only one exception, PC-ABS is only available on the F370. If you’re not familiar with the three systems that make up the F123 series, you should follow the link below to learn more!

https://www.cati.com/3d-printing/stratasys-3d-printers/f123-series

Most people are familiar with the versatile ABS plastic as it one of the most widely used plastics on the planet. That is why ABS was the only material option on most the legacy systems. The introduction of ASA, PC-ABS, and TPU 92A gives us more possibilities in prototyping.

ASA

ASA is very similar to ABS from a mechanical perspective. It is an all-purpose material with balanced strength and rigidity. Most ABS applications could be converted to ASA without much notice. The real advantage to ASA is its superior UV stability. It is suitable for outdoor commercial parts because it remains stable and accurate during prolonged outdoor use.

Top User Applications:

• Outdoor Commercial End-Use Parts
• Outdoor Infrastructure End-Use Parts
• Consumer Goods Prototyping
• Manufacturing Tooling
• Production Parts

PC-ABS

PC-ABS is exactly what it sounds like. It is a blend of Polycarbonate and ABS that offers a combination of the most desirable properties from each. It has the superior strength and heat resistance of PC and the flexibility and general usability of ABS. We see PC-ABS mostly commonly used in the automotive, electronics, and communications industries.

Top User Applications:

• Conceptual modeling
• Functional prototyping
• Manufacturing aids and tools
• Production parts

TPU 92A

The only elastomeric material in the Stratasys portfolio and only available on the F123 Series, TPU 92A is the best way to prototype large, durable, complex elastomer parts. Though 3D printing elastomer parts has been around for some time, Stratasys’ soluble supports enable users to build complex geometries that competitors cannot match. Watch the video below to learn more about printing TPU 92A on an F123 system.

Top User Applications:

Industries

• Transportation
• Consumer Goods
• Industrial Goods
• Education

Use Cases

• Seals, gaskets
• Surface protection covers
• Mats, liners
• Bellows
• Wheels, rollers
• Hoses, tubes
• Ducts
• Manufacturing Aids

For more information on the F123 Series and other Stratasys 3D printers, visit our website!

Cody Dorion
Application Engineer, Manufacturing Solutions
Computer Aided Technology, LLC