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Glossary · Filament

3D printing

ABS

A heat-resistant printing material of which LEGO bricks, for example, are made. An enclosed printer is recommended because ABS warps easily otherwise, and it smells during printing.

Explained in more detail

Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene. Print temperature 240 to 260 °C, bed 90 to 110 °C, little cooling. Dimensionally stable up to around 90 to 100 °C, tough, easy to sand, glue and smooth with acetone. High shrinkage, so ABS is prone to warping and layer cracks. An enclosed, warm chamber reduces this considerably, and small parts can succeed in an open printer under favourable conditions. Printing produces styrene fumes and fine particles, so use a filter or good ventilation. Not UV-resistant: it yellows and becomes brittle in sunlight.

Where does the term come from?

ABS is the abbreviation of the three building blocks acrylonitrile, butadiene and styrene. The name therefore directly describes the composition of the plastic.

In practice

  • Heat the bed 10 to 15 minutes before printing so that the build volume is warm.
  • Keep part cooling at 0 to 30%, otherwise cracks between the layers are likely.
  • Do not print in a bedroom or children's room; a printer with an activated carbon or HEPA filter reduces the exposure.
  • If it crackles during printing or the surface becomes rough, dry at 70 to 80 °C for 4 to 6 hours.
  • When smoothing with acetone, work only outdoors or with very good ventilation, with no flames or heat sources nearby.

Not to be confused

Not to be confused with ASA: both print similarly, but only ASA withstands sun and weather permanently.

Frequently asked questions

Can ABS be printed without an enclosure?

Small parts sometimes work, large ones hardly reliably. Without an enclosed build volume, the corners lift and layers split apart.

Is printing ABS harmful to health?

Printing produces styrene fumes and very fine particles. Ensure good ventilation or use a printer with a filter, and do not print in rooms where someone sleeps.

Printers that can process ABS

According to manufacturer specifications, from the 44 printers in the wiki: