-PLA, however, was not going to cut it. In addition to not really dealing with heat very well, PLA is also not especially stable under UV light, both properties that make it an unsuitable polymer for use in an outdoor context. Instead therefore, I decided to try printing it with ASA, a close relative of more common ABS. These plastics don't have the downsides of PLA, but unfortunately are a bit tougher to print. In addition to fuming slightly when melted, ASA and ABS basically require a heated chamber as otherwise printed layers cool too quickly and contract/curl to the point where they don't adhere to the underlying layer; ask me how I know. Rather than replace my geriatric printer with something more modern that has an enclosure, I decided to upgrade what I had using a different means.
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