ABS

Characteristics

• High temperature resistance, flexibility, machinability and strength
• Impact, wear and tear resistant
• Easy to post-process
• Good mechanical properties
• Strong electrical insulation properties

Applications

• Injection molding
• Functional prototypes
• End use parts and manufacturing tools
• Electronic and mechanical enclosures, covers, and cases
• Automotive parts and components, natural finishes, painted, plated, and coated
• Pipe systems, musical instruments, home appliances, keyboard caps, Lego, canoes, and even flat-screen TV’s and computer monitors
• Virtually all toys

Considerations

• Strong and toxic fumes, so ensure the HEPA filter is running during a print, and the chamber is always closed.
• It requires proper temperature management, as it must cool slowly to avoid cracks or split layers, so it is critical to use the material profiles provided by 3ntr, when you are learning to print.
• Proper bed adhesion: It is prone to warping, so it is highly recommended to use support material rafts (for 3ntr printers).
• UV sensitivity: ABS is UV sensitive, so it can sustain damage by direct sunlight. For this reason, it’s not really recommended to print outdoor parts with ABS. PETG and ASA are good alternatives for such applications.
• ABS requires special care during storage, as it’s a mildly hygroscopic material (absorbs water). Moist filament will affect your prints, so try as much as possible to store ABS in a dry container when not in use, or ask about our Material Management System (MMS).

Printing Skill & Experience - Beginner

• Small learning curve – but you can overcome them by following the printing guide instructions.
• Enclose the printer: ABS is sensitive to drastic temperature changes, so make sure your 3D printer is closed.
• Use a heated bed: This is mandatory. ABS has a high thermal contraction, so when the first layer cools down it shrinks in volume, causing deformations like warping.