ABS Filament
ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) is an oil-based engineering thermoplastic widely used in automotive parts, LEGO bricks, and functional enclosures. In 3D printing, it offers superior heat resistance (up to ~90°C) and impact durability compared to standard PLA.
Printing Requirements & Thermal Challenges
ABS has a high glass transition temperature and significant thermal shrinkage. To prevent severe warping and layer separation, it requires a high hotend temperature (230°C–260°C), a heated build plate (90°C–110°C), strong bed adhesion, and an enclosed print chamber.
Post-Processing & Acetone Vapor Smoothing
One unique advantage of ABS is its solubility in acetone. Exposing ABS parts to acetone vapor dissolves microscopic surface layer lines, yielding an ultra-smooth, glossy injection-molded appearance with enhanced layer bonding.
Pricing ABS Print Jobs
Due to higher enclosure electricity draw, slower cooling cycles, and a higher failure risk from warping, commercial print services typically apply a 15% to 30% material multiplier when estimating ABS jobs compared to standard PLA.
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