Ash vs Maple
Natural Material · grade comparison
Ash and Maple are both natural material grades. Ash is the stronger of the two: tensile strength 110 MPa (16 ksi) against 100 MPa (14.5 ksi) for Maple, about 10% more. In exchange, Maple is the more ductile: elongation 1.5% versus 1% for Ash. Ash is lighter (0.67 g/cm³ vs 0.71 g/cm³ for Maple) and Maple runs hotter in service (90°C vs 80°C continuous).
AshChoose it when strength drives the design, or when weight is the constraint.
MapleChoose it when the part is bent, formed or impact-loaded, or when the part sees heat.
Ash vs Maple: propertiesHow to read these bars
- One bar per material. A full bar is the highest value among all natural material grades in the FabDigit library; each bar is drawn as a share of that.
- The better value (by the usual engineering direction) is in bold. Rows with no direction — density, thermal conductivity — have no bold.
- Values are typical room-temperature figures for the condition named on each card.
- Confirm against the certified mill or resin datasheet before design release.
How to read these bars
- One bar per material. A full bar is the highest value among all natural material grades in the FabDigit library; each bar is drawn as a share of that.
- The better value (by the usual engineering direction) is in bold. Rows with no direction — density, thermal conductivity — have no bold.
- Values are typical room-temperature figures for the condition named on each card.
- Confirm against the certified mill or resin datasheet before design release.
Mechanical
Strength, stiffness, ductility and hardness at room temperature.
Elastic (Young's) Modulus
Shear Modulus
Poisson's Ratio
Tensile Strength (Ultimate)
Elongation at Break
Compressive Strength
Flexural Strength
Shear Strength
Fracture Toughness (K_IC)
Physical
Density and transition temperatures.
Density
Same in both: Porosity 55%
Thermal
How each material carries heat and how hot it can run.
Specific Heat Capacity
Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C)
Max Service Temperature (continuous)
Same in both: Thermal Conductivity 0.16 W/m·K0.09 BTU/hr·ft·°F · Min Service Temperature -60°C-76 °F
Electrical
Conductivity and insulation.
Dielectric Strength
Same in both: Electrical Resistivity 1×10⁸ Ω·m3.94×10¹⁵ µΩ·in
Chemical & Environmental
Corrosion and environmental resistance (0–100 scores).
Corrosion Resistance
Manufacturability
FabDigit workshop ratings (0–100 scores) — how each material behaves on the machine.
Machinability
Polishability
Sustainability
Primary-production footprint per kilogram.
Embodied Energy (primary production)
Embodied Carbon (primary production)
Same in both: Embodied Water 650 L/kg77.9 gal/lb · Typical Recycled Content 5%
Common Calculations
Ratios derived from the values above.
Specific Strength (UTS / density)
Same in both: Specific Stiffness (E / density) 17.9 MN·m/kg · Thermal Diffusivity 0.1 mm²/s · Thermal Shock Resistance Index 0
Strength versus weight
Yield strength against density for every natural material grade in the FabDigit library; the compared grades are highlighted. Up and left is stronger for its weight.
Manufacturing and finishing
| Capability | Ash | Maple |
|---|---|---|
| Default condition | — | — |
| Relative cost | $$ Standard | $$ Standard |
| Min. machined wall | — | — |
| Best machined surface | — | — |
Ash vs Maple — frequently asked
Is Ash stronger than Maple?
Yes. Ash has a typical tensile strength of 110 MPa (16 ksi) against 100 MPa (14.5 ksi) for Maple — about 10% more.
Which is cheaper, Ash or Maple?
Both sit in the same relative cost tier ($$, standard); the part price will be decided by machining time, tolerance and quantity rather than by the material.
When should I choose Ash over Maple?
Pick Ash when strength drives the design, or when weight is the constraint. Pick Maple when the part is bent, formed or impact-loaded, or when the part sees heat.
Ready to make it?
Upload a CAD file and FabDigit prices the part in Ash and Maple side by side — material, machining time, tolerance and finish in one quote. Certified material data ships with the order on request.
Typical handbook values for the conditions named above, normalised for comparison. Hardness on non-Brinell scales is converted approximately for charting only. Request certified data with your order for design-critical properties.