How To Succeed When Printing With ABS

ABS filament is a flexible materials that is a terrific choice for while you want your 3D-printed elements to be robust and heat-resistant. Learn to print this materials like a Professional on this in-depth information.

Up to date on August 24, 2023

MatterHackers

What’s ABS filament? ABS is likely one of the mostly used and versatile supplies obtainable in 3D printing right now. There are just a few further issues to contemplate when printing with ABS as in comparison with PLA, however the further hurdles are effectively price it for the improved energy, post-processing capabilities, and temperature resistance of ABS.

What’s ABS?

ABS or Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene is a standard thermoplastic. ABS filament is likely one of the hottest kinds of 3D printing filament on account of its versatility and energy, and is commonly used for injection molding and merchandise like Lego, devices, sports activities gear and extra.

Nice initiatives for ABS:

Automobile inside elements – telephone mounts, cup holders
Cosplay – sand completely clean and acetone-weld giant elements collectively
Robots – robust sufficient to deal with weight and movement
3D Printers – Take a look at the Voron, made potential with ABS elements.

Our Advisable ABS Filaments:

MH Construct Sequence – Low worth, nice for beginning out.
PRO Sequence – Made within the USA, industry-leading dimensional accuracy.
Fillamentum – Top quality materials with unbelievable colours.

Selecting the Proper ABS

There are a lot of completely different manufacturers, colours, and even composites made by mixing different supplies or components with commonplace ABS resin. Relying on the particular wants of your mission, the one of many following supplies might be the best choice.

MH Construct ABS

Worth: $18.21 in bulk
Greatest Use: Basic goal, nice beginning materials for settings improvement, plenty of colour choices.

PRO Sequence ABS

Worth: $52 per kg
Options: Made within the USA (like all PRO Sequence), ±0.02mm diameter tolerance, excessive capability spools obtainable.

Ultimaker ABS

Worth: $50 per 750g spool
Options: Nice compatability with Ultimaker 3D printers through NFC chip for computerized materials recognition.
Be aware: Solely obtainable in 2.85mm

eSUN ABS

Worth: $23 per kg
Options: Basic goal, reasonably priced materials obtainable in a wide range of colours.

Fillamentum ABS

Worth: $45 per 750g spool
Options: Unimaginable colour choices, premium-quality materials manufactured within the Czech Republic. Solely choice for Translucent ABS in our catalog.

3DXTech Flame Retardant PC ABS

Worth: $68 per kg
Options: PC is a superb materials, however tougher to print with than ABS so this compound gives one of the best of each worlds. It is also Flame Retardant, making this materials a terrific selection for initiatives that must explicitly resist injury from hearth.

Getting that first layer proper

As with all 3D printing, getting the primary layer down is crucial a part of the print. All the pieces else is constructed upon this (actually) and it is the place most new 3D printer customers have points honing their expertise. Do not feel unhealthy in the event you’re struggling to get excellent mattress leveling, everybody has to be taught it. For those who need assistance particularly on mattress leveling, take a look at our article. Listed here are the important thing factors:

You want the print mattress to be degree.
1. For those who see some areas of your first layer are too excessive whereas others are too low, re-do your mattress leveling.
You want the extruder to be homed to the right top from the mattress. (Z-offset)
1. For those who total first layer is equally too excessive or too low throughout all the print, modify your Z-Offset.
You want adhesive to help your ABS in sticking to the mattress.
And naturally, ensuring that your extruder/hotend is heated to the suitable temperature.

Lego bricks made from ABS

Lego bricks produced from ABS

Greatest Mattress Setup for ABS

In an effort to print with ABS, you want a headed mattress. The really helpful mattress temperature for ABS is 110°C. Most fashionable 3D printers can attain this temperature, but when yours can’t, you must have the ability to get away with 90°C.

Be aware: If that is your first time having your print mattress this sizzling, watch out as these temperatures can burn pores and skin in a short time!

The most effective construct floor for ABS is PEI, obtainable both clean or with a powder coated floor for further mechanical adhesion. You can even print on glass with adhesion promoters like Magigoo or an ordinary glue stick.

As with all 3D printing, mattress leveling and Z-Offset are essential to success. ABS doesn’t have any particular wants for Z-Offset, so in case you are utilizing the identical construct plate as different supplies you probably is not going to have to regulate this setting. Professional Tip: Your print mattress will probably be a barely completely different form when absolutely heated to ABS print temperatures, so at all times carry out your mattress leveling at temperature to get one of the best outcomes.

Enclose Your Printer for the Greatest Outcomes

The trick to have ABS elements keep on the mattress throughout a print and never break up after being printed is to permit the printed half cool as slowly as potential, and as uniformly as potential. Right here are some things to bear in mind to attain these objectives:

Little to no layer cooling – begin together with your half cooling fan utterly off.

Enclosed construct space – preserve a steady and excessive ambient temperature round your half after it has been printed.

There are a lot of absolutely enclosed 3D printers obtainable right now, along with enclosures obtainable as equipment for a lot of machines that don’t come absolutely enclosed. Moreover, take a look at our video under on constructing a customized, low-cost enclosure for any printer that may allow you to begin printing with ABS instantly.

In case your first layer will not be sticking:

Ensure that the mattress is degree.

Ensure that the mattress is sizzling sufficient – we suggest 110°C.

Make it possible for the ambient temperature of the print atmosphere isn’t too sizzling or chilly (or else modify accordingly).

Be sure to put the adhesive on the mattress.

Ensure that the print head is shut sufficient to make a pleasant first layer.

Be sure to run the extruder sufficient earlier than your print begins so there may be filament going onto the mattress throughout all the first layer. In MatterControl you possibly can add a skirt and calibrate how a lot materials you wish to extrude to make sure the hotend is absolutely primed.

PEI is an effective way to print ABS. It makes a terrific shiny backside layer and the heated mattress ensures that your elements keep good and flat.

For extra in depth info concerning ABS mattress adhesion take a look at this text we wrote for extra detailed steerage.

Getting the temperature proper

When working with a brand new roll of filament for the primary time, we typically like to begin out printing at about 230°C after which adjusting the temperature up or down by 5 diploma increments till we get the standard of the print and the energy of the half to be in good stability with one another. This temperature vary is a generalization, so please reference the precise filament you may have when growing your print settings.

FYI – there’s a temperature tower characteristic construct into MatterControl so you possibly can create customized temperature towers to assist in your print setting improvement.

What to search for

If the temperature is simply too excessive:

You will notice extra strings between the separate elements of your print and you might discover that the extruder leaks out numerous plastic whereas shifting between separate areas of the print. If this occurs you must attempt to incrementally decrease the temperature by 5 levels till the extruder will not be leaking a lot materials.

ABS being printed too sizzling can produce a tough texture, in case your elements really feel and/or look tough, strive reducing the temperature and see if that impact is decreased.

Generally you should have a fabric that’s merely much less viscous than ABS and can leak extra even at decrease temperatures. We suggest you overview your retraction settings and probably tune this particularly.

If the temperature is simply too chilly:

You’ll both see that the filament will not be sticking to the earlier layer and you’re getting a tough floor, or you’re going to get an element that isn’t robust and could be pulled aside simply. In both case, you must enhance the temperature by 5 levels and take a look at once more till you get good line segments on each layer and have a robust half when finished printing.

A print gone chilly. Test your retraction and warmth for clear prints.

Altering filament

When switching ABS colours:

Whereas the extruder is chilly set the warmth to 120°C and look ahead to it to warmth up.

Once you attain 120°C take away the present filament from the extruder. You could possibly again it out by hand or you might must reverse the extruder.

If you’re having hassle eradicating the filament, enhance the temperature to 180°C and take a look at once more.

Clear the extruder gear and blow out any particles from the extruder entrance.

Improve the warmth and cargo the brand new filament usually.

Run the brand new colour by the extruder till it runs clear and the brand new colour is all that’s popping out of the extruder. If you’re switching from a darkish colour (similar to black) to a lightweight colour (like white or pure) you might need to extrude for a couple of minutes to be you positive haven’t any darkish contamination.

Print one thing that you do not care if it has bits of the earlier colour in it, or run the extruder for a number of minutes. It could take as a lot as 10 to fifteen minutes of extrusion earlier than you possibly can trust that there will not be darkish materials combined with lighter materials.

Be aware: We really helpful eradicating the filament when mushy somewhat than when absolutely melted so that there’s a decrease risk of depositing melted materials onto the extruder drive gear or leaving meterial excessive up the soften chamber entrance. Each of which may trigger jamming and are onerous to wash out. Gentle elimination additionally helps be certain that you get all the things out of the extruder tip.

What to do if issues go mistaken

There are just a few key issues to verify when your prints aren’t working. However earlier than we have a look at options we have to have a quick description of your signs.

“I am unable to get the primary layer to stay.”

Ensure that the extruder is on the proper top. Modify the restrict swap or extruder to 0 top

Ensure that the print mattress is degree. Stage the mattress.

Be sure to’re printing on the proper temperature and that your mattress is the suitable temperature.

Test the ambient temperature of your atmosphere. If it’s too chilly or too sizzling outdoors, your print can range drastically!

“The half has unhealthy inner layers and prime surfaces.”

Test the extrusion temperature (you might want to extend it by 5 diploma bumps).

Test the filament stress.

Clear the filament drive gear.

Lower your velocity.

Ensure that your half is correctly cooled.

“The surface edges of my elements have plenty of little bumps on them.”

Ensure that your printer is getting sufficient knowledge. If printing from a pc, be certain that the pc will not be too busy to feed the printer instructions. If the printer is pausing it’s normally as a result of pc being too busy.

Print from the SD card. On some printers you possibly can try to print from the SD card. This usually helps the printer have sufficient knowledge to run extra easily.

Nevertheless, do not be too fast to imagine the issue is in your ABS. With the suitable settings and endurance hobbyists have succeeded in printing all types of supplies lots of which have very low viscosity. It’s best to have the ability to get usable elements even with some decrease high quality filament.

“Tall sections of my prints look melted or squished collectively.”

Activate “Cooling”. In case your printer has a fan you must allow “Cooling” within the print settings.

Get a small fan. In case your printer doesn’t have an built-in fan you must look into getting a small desk fan. This might help dramatically with tall sections of your print or when “bridging” (printing prime layers that span gaps).

My half is curling out of bed.”

Just remember to have quantity of adhesive on the mattress and that you just’re making use of a contemporary layer with each print. As well as, activate a brim. Having a brim that extends out a bit helps give the half a big base to work with, in addition to having extra to stick to.

“My printer is not going to extrude any materials.”

Ensure that your sizzling finish is getting sizzling. Test to ensure the recent finish is heating in any respect. If it’s not, you might want to have your printer serviced. It’s probably that you’ve a unfastened connection, or your electronics have been fried (assuming the printer remains to be related and responding to your host software program).

Clear the drive gear and modify stress. The very first thing we’re going to do is clear the filament touching drive gear and be certain that we have now correct stress towards the filament. Often improper stress or a clogged drive gear will make the print look extra like the image we have now for low temperature filament, but it surely generally does stop extrusion all collectively. Clear the pinch wheel with a wire brush, and ensure your stress is sweet and stable (an excessive amount of also can stop extrusion and is extra widespread with direct drives [the motor is directly connected to the drive gear] however much less widespread with geared drives).

Take away the present filament. It could be that you’ve a small particle in your extruder tip jamming the plastic. Use the change filament approach described above to tug out any particles which might be within the extruder tip.

Test for and take away jams between the extruder and sizzling finish. That is essentially the most excessive kind of drawback as a result of now it is time to take issues aside. Generally warmth can creep up the filament within the extruder and trigger a bulge that then cools and prevents any additional extrusion. That is normally on the junction between the extruder and sizzling finish. Take off the extruder and take away all of the ABS you possibly can (you might want the recent finish sizzling to get all the fabric out.) If you cannot get out all of the filament by pulling, you might must try to drive it down by the recent finish. We normally use a small allen wrench. If this fails you possibly can try to drill out the extruder or sizzling finish however you might want to exchange elements. Be sure you take precautions towards being shocked or burned. If you’re not certified to do that work, discover somebody who’s, somewhat than threat damage.

Thanks for studying this text!

When you’ve got any feedback, corrections, or contributions, please drop us an e mail or give us a name. We’re at all times searching for suggestions, and finest practices – and would love to listen to from you.

Sincerely,

The MatterHackers Crew