Everything you need to know about ABS 3D Printing

Before you get started with ABS 3D Printing, we’ve compiled some of the basic information you’ll need to know. Read on to learn the advantages, disadvantages, history and applications of ABS 3D printing

ABS Filament and 3D printed OXO Thermometer Housing

Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) 3D printing has been around since the early 1990s. It was the third major 3D printing technology to be developed, and is currently one of the most widely used. As the technology developed, materials also started to develop and ABS was one of the first materials to be introduced to 3D printing. It was a known material and already in use in traditional manufacturing processes, making it a natural fit to 3D printing.

Today, ABS is the most popular FDM 3D printing material for professional applications. ABS is a difficult material to 3D print and through this article we intend to share everything you need to know about ABS 3D Printing.

UNDERSTANDING ABS AS A MATERIAL

ABS or Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene is a thermoplastic copolymer – it can be melted to form liquid and cooled to form solid, and this process can be repeated many times without any significant degradation in its properties.

Chemical Composition

ABS is a polymer of acrylonitrile and styrene in the presence of polybutadiene. The general composition is 20% acrylonitrile, 25% butadiene and 55% styrene. By altering the composition of these compounds, the properties of ABS can be modified to improve its toughness, heat and impact resistance. The butadiene, which is a rubbery substance, imparts resilience even at low temperatures while the styrene gives the plastic a shiny, water-tight surface.

LEGO bricks are injection molded out of ABS plastic

Professional Applications

ABS is widely known for its impact, chemical and heat resistance. It also exhibits high structural strength, stiffness, and excellent high and low temperature performance, which make it suitable for automotive components and kitchen appliances. ABS also displays great electrical insulation properties, making it a common choice for applications in housing and casing of electrical components.

ABS has a low production cost and is relatively easy to machine,, making it an ideal material for mass production of everyday products. ABS is also fairly easy to post-process as it can be glued and painted.

Examples of products that are manufactured in ABS include kitchen appliance housings, automobile dashboard and bumper, protective equipment like headgear, electrical casings and covers, Lego bricks and other toys, and even musical instruments.

FUSED DEPOSITION MODELLING (FDM) ABS 3D PRINTING

ABS offers many benefits to users but it is also important to note that it can be difficult to successfully print with this material.

Common Challenges with ABS 3D Printing

Users have to face a variety of challenges while 3D printing with ABS. ABS 3D printing is synonymous with critical issues like warping, curling and cracking that affect the print shape, dimension and performance. These issues are directly caused by ABS’s propensity to shrink up to 2% as it cools. When this cooling occurs unevenly at each layer, the result can be poor-layer adhesion and cracking. First-layer adhesion is also a problem for ABS and users have to resolve the same through a tedious trial and error methodology.

ABS shrinks significantly leading to warped parts

Solutions to ABS 3D Printing

Even though ABS faces multiple challenges, solving them is definitely possible. With careful consideration and proactive measures, the challenges can be easily overcome. We help you with a list of problems and factors to consider while printing with ABS material.

First we need to understand ABS material properties.

FDM ABS MATERIAL PROPERTIES

TECH SPECS	Imperial	Metric
Heat Deflection (ASTM 648, 66 psi)	210°F	99°C
Flexural Modulus (ASTM D790, 15 mm/min)	377,000 psi	2,600 MPa
Tensile Strength at yield (ASTM D638, 50 mm/min)	0.806 psi	43 MPa
Tensile Modulus (ASTM D638, 50 mm/min)	>348,000 psi	>2,400 MPa
Strain at Yield – Elongation (%)	>5.6%	>5.6%
Notched Impact Strength (ASTM D256)	>3.6 ft-lb/in	>192 J/m

GUIDELINES TO ABS 3D PRINTING

Ideal Extrusion Temperature Range

It is important for users to always print ABS within the ideal or recommended temperature range. The temperature range is provided by the filament manufacturer and the entire range should be explored for the ideal temperature for your 3D printer and the environment you are working in. For METHOD the extruder temperature for ABS is 245°C.

Heated Build Plate vs Heated Build Chamber

Due to ABS’s rate of shrinkage while cooling, it is strongly recommended that a heated build chamber is used when printing. This will allow the print to maintain an elevated temperature until the job is complete, at which point the entire print is able to cool at a constant rate ensuring dimensional accuracy and structural integrity are maintained. If a heated chamber is not an option, another less ideal option is to use a heated build plate with an enclosure. The heat on the build plate will increase adhesion while the enclosure will attempt to mimic a heated chamber. Note that for the second configuration, the part’s accuracy and strength will decrease as the part’s size increases.

Real ABS vs Modified ABS

There are many formulations of ABS and depending on what type of 3D printer you have access to, you may elect to choose a variety that has been modified to favor less curling. These modifications tend to have a negative impact on material properties so ensure you know what you are getting before you purchase. If your goal is to closely mimic ABS used in injection molding, you’ll want to stick with the least modified version of ABS you can find. Remember, real ABS will require a heated build chamber to print well.

Ventilation

ABS 3D printing should always be carried out in a well ventilated room. Typically an open office environment with industrial HVAC should do the trick.

Warping, Curling & Cracking

Warping, curling & cracking can be big problems in ABS 3D printing. If not controlled, the print can warp, curl, or even crack after a few layers. These problems are visible only after some printing is done and so the print has to be constantly monitored to make sure the print is running perfectly. To reduce the chances of Warping, Curling & Cracking users have to take certain precautions as mentioned below.

First Layer Adhesion

Users should ensure that the first layer of the print has sufficient adhesion. The first layer adhesion can be controlled through multiple means like using a heated bed or a heated chamber. Both these features are important for ABS printing and help in keeping the printed part well heated. The heat prevents the layers from completely solidifying, thus avoiding warping or cracking.

Using Gluing agent

To increase the first layer adhesion, users can apply glue to the print bed. They can either use a regular glue stick, or specially formulated Magigoo adhesive or use ABS slurry.

ABS Slurry : It is a mixture of ABS filament pieces mixed with acetone. The mixture forms a thick gooey substance that is spread over the print bed to act as a glue. Take adequate care while creating this mixture.

Using Bed Adhesion Tools

Users can also try to control the warping and cracking issues through slicer settings. Slicer softwares have bed adhesion tools like raft and brim. These can significantly improve the first layer adhesion of the print.

Raft: Raft is a horizontal structure over which the entire part is 3D printed. Its sole purpose is to increase the surface area in touch with the bed.

Brim: The brim is similar to a raft but a brim only extends from the outer surface of the print. It has no contact with the print’s underside.

Tweak Slicer Settings

Other slicer settings that can help in increasing the bed adhesion are fan settings. Fans can be either run at low speeds for the entire duration of the print or else simply switched off while printing with ABS. This will help in keeping the print warm and in a heated state to improve bed adhesion.

advantages

➜ Manufacturing-Grade Material: ABS filament offers great mechanical properties like strength, ductility, impact, and wear resistance. This makes it an important manufacturing-grade material

➜ Easy to Post-Process: ABS can be machined, polished, sanded, filed, drilled, painted, glued, etc. with extreme ease, and the finish is still good.

➜ Wide-Ranging Applications: It has wide ranging applications in prototyping, especially for aesthetic prototypes and end-use parts as well.

DISADVANTAGES

➜ Warping, Curling & Cracking: ABS is highly prone to warping, curling & cracking. Without necessary precautions, the print will fail.

➜ Advanced Feature Requirements: ABS is a demanding material and it requires multiple features to ensure it is successfully printed. For most hobbyist and even professional level 3D printers, ABS will produce inconsistent results, while traditional industrial 3D printers can be out of reach due to high costs. Next generation desktop 3D printers such as the MakerBot METHOD are changing this with industrial features designed to control the 3D printing environment and produce consistent results while still being affordable.

WHERE TO BUY?

ABS material can either be bought from filament manufacturers or 3D printer manufacturers. For the MakerBot METHOD, we recommend use of MakerBot ABS as it is optimized to deliver great results.

Looking for a professional 3D printing platform that works with a variety of manufacturing-grade materials? Learn more at makerbot.com/method.

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