ABS filament

ABS ( Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene ) has a long history in the 3D printing world. This plastic was one of the first materials used with industrial 3D printers. Years later, ABS is still popular. Mainly because it is relatively cheap and has good mechanical properties. ABS is best known for its toughness and impact strength. So you can make durable parts with ABS filament that can be used often. It is also not for nothing that the LEGO blocks are made of ABS. ABS also has a high glass temperature. This means that it can withstand a high temperature before it starts to deform. This makes ABS filament a suitable choice for applications in high temperature environments. Good ventilation is important when printing with ABS filament. It is also important to keep the temperature as constant as possible during printing. Because ABS tends to shrink when it cools too quickly.

Advantages

✔ Cheap.

✔ Good impact strength

✔ Beautiful finish.

✔ Good temperature resistance.

Cons

✘ High risk of warping.

✘ Heated bed (and room) required.

✘ Parts can shrink.

✘ Bad smells during printing. .

Hardware requirements.

Before you order ABS filament. It is advisable to check whether your 3D printer has the correct hardware. So that you too can achieve optimum print quality with ABS.

Bed

Heated bed is needed.

Temperature: 95-110°C

Closed printer is recommended.

Construction area

Kapton tape .
Build branch .

ABS slurry..

extruder

Temperature: 220-250 °C.
No special hotend needed.

cooling

Fan not needed.

Pro Tips.

The adhesion between the first layer and the bed can be improved by using ABS slurry. You can make this by mixing leftover ABS with acetone. You then spread this mixture on the print bed.

When you make a dual extrusion print. Can you use PLA as break-away support filament. Because PLA will not adhere very firmly to the ABS.

Avoid problems when printing.

With these tips you can reduce the most common problems when printing with ABS filament.

Control Warping

Unfortunately, warping is common when printing with ABS filament. This happens when the plastic cools from the extrusion temperature to room temperature. This large temperature difference causes the plastic to shrink and contract. This can cause major problems, especially with the first layer. Warping can cause the first layer to come loose from the print bed. This will cause the print to fail. You can reduce the risk of warping by heating the print bed to a temperature of around 110°C. As a result, the first layers cool less quickly. It is also advisable to increase the extruder temperature 10-20°C for the first layers. These measures will not be sufficient for larger ABS objects. Because the higher layers are no longer helped by the heated print bed. In this case it is advisable to use a closed 3D printer. Preferably with a heated room. But a closed building volume alone will provide a better temperature. Because the whole room will also be slightly heated by the bed. A closed building room also ensures that external factors such as drafts cannot influence the printing.

Use a Brim and Raft.

When printing large parts, or thin fragile parts, you will find that you still have trouble getting these parts to adhere properly to the bed. In these cases a brim or raft can promote the first layer adhesion. So that the part does not warp and is firmly attached to the build plate. The brim will lay down a number of layers around the model. This creates an extra surface to hold up the edges of your model. A raft is a layer on the print bed. Your model will then be printed on. You can remove the raft from your model after printing.

Print in a well-ventilated area.

3D printing with ABS is known to produce a strong odor with fumes that could be harmful if inhaled in large quantities. Therefore, avoid enclosed spaces and place your printer in a well-ventilated area to avoid these problems. Newer 3D printers may include a separate air filtration system or HEPA filter that can process these fumes right from the source. If your printer doesn't have these features or you are limited where you can place them, consider opening a window.

Overview different filaments