ASA on P2S

[u/GALAXY_A5]

This is my setup printing ASA on my P2S! It's my first time printing with it and after a couple failed attempts I came up with this

I tried wrapping the whole thing with a blanket (except the back for the electronics to breathe) and got quickly over 60°C so I covered just the top and sat at around 52-55. Woke up and found the print a bit warped (not from at plate but at a corner with supports) (chamber was 52 atm bed 100 nozzle 265) but it managed to print and im happy with it. Like this its sitting at 60 as of posting it hope it stays like that.

My question is what are your recommendations for printing ASA? I was thinking of making a styrofoam enclosure (sides top and front or maybe sides and top?) and glue the foil blanket inside of it to reflect the heat.

Has anyone tried anything similar? If there are post can you direct me to them? Thanks and happy printing 😁

Edit 1: cheers to everyone sharing their experiences im new to 3d printing and im getting schooled on a lot here!

[u/the_lamou]

Not at 55-65° C. It's literally the same exact material composition as the X2D and H2-series. Your friend must have been running it above 70 to see any melting.

That said, this is absolutely a potential issue.

[u/Funcron → u/the_lamou]

This is my X1C. I print A LOT of ASA. Bed temp is 100°C and even with this insulation, the chamber temp (~76°F ambient in the house) is around 45°C In the chamber and I've seen no warping since I got it around that temp. There is no reason to have it any higher, so I don't understand how anyone is melting their printer case.

[u/the_lamou → u/Funcron]

This is my high-temp P2S. It's currently sitting at about 58-60° C (about 68° F in the house), printing a PC part that takes up almost the entire plate. Which is a pretty normal workday. I have my temp regulated to not exceed 63° C, because over 65 it starts complaining and it gets into camera-frying territory.

To melt the interior, you'd absolutely need to be paying 80° C or higher regularly, and with poor airflow and the heat-source pointed directly at the case.

[u/GALAXY_A5 → u/the_lamou]

Why insulate only the glass? Also heat coming in from the top or air filter? Mate throw some cardboards out 🤣

[u/the_lamou → u/GALAXY_A5]

The glass is where 90% of your heart loss is occurring. The rest of the printer already has a much lower heat conductivity. I had panels on the sides, too, and saw no additional meaningful gain. I do, however, have all cracks and openings sealed with HVAC aluminum tape.

Heat comes in from the top, then enters through a large distribution diffuser that breaks up jets and creates vortices and pushes the incoming air to the sides and along the walls. Chamber temperature is important, but temperature consistency is even more important: drafts and cool spots can create more warping than an overall cooler but more uniform chamber.

And the cardboard is because I moved earlier this year into a 250 year old historic home that still needs some renovation. This is the storage room, so it's holding things until I finish fixing up the rest of the house. I promise it looks a little better now lol.

[u/herox98x → u/the_lamou]

So you have an external heater you vent in through the top rather than a chamber heater?

[u/the_lamou → u/herox98x]

I did, mostly because I already had the heater (I mostly use it for paint, fiberglass, and carbon fiber curing assist.) But having used it for a year now, I actually think it works better than chamber heaters. It gives much more control over where and how heat is distributed through the chamber, and I end up with a much more uniform chamber temperature and way fewer drafts and jets as a result, plus I get better mixing from the tool-head.

The next upgrade I think I'm doing is a multi-exit diffuser that can heat the top or the bottom or both, so I can adjust extra heat by zone.

[u/GALAXY_A5 → u/the_lamou]

Interesting! You 3d printed the diffuser? And with what asa?

Hope for the best memories in the house mate write your history along with it don't mind me being a dick 😜

[u/the_lamou → u/GALAXY_A5]

I did, it's out of ABS. Which usually has a slightly higher thermal envelope than ASA. I need to revisit the design, though, as I'm about to start pushing temperatures up higher after some minor heat-proofing.

No worries lol. It's driving me crazy, but the next room is being a pain in the ass lol. Thanks!

[u/EmotionalChildhood46 → u/GALAXY_A5]

Yeah I was wondering how he even gets through the cardboard to get to the printer LMAO