ABS filament is a flexible materials that is an incredible possibility for once you want your 3D-printed elements to be sturdy and heat-resistant. Learn to print this materials like a Professional on this in-depth information.
Up to date on August 24, 2023
by
MatterHackers
What’s ABS filament? ABS is among the mostly used and versatile supplies accessible in 3D printing as we speak. There are just a few further issues to contemplate when printing with ABS as in comparison with PLA, however the further hurdles are nicely value it for the improved power, post-processing capabilities, and temperature resistance of ABS.
What’s ABS?
ABS or Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene is a standard thermoplastic. ABS filament is among the hottest forms of 3D printing filament because of its versatility and power, and is usually used for injection molding and merchandise like Lego, devices, sports activities tools and extra.
Nice initiatives for ABS:
- Automotive inside elements – telephone mounts, cup holders
- Cosplay – sand completely clean and acetone-weld massive elements collectively
- Robots – sturdy sufficient to deal with weight and movement
- 3D Printers – Try the Voron, made doable with ABS elements.
Our Beneficial ABS Filaments:
- MH Construct Sequence – Low value, 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 numerous completely different manufacturers, colours, and even composites made by mixing different supplies or components with normal ABS resin. Relying on the particular wants of your venture, the one of many following supplies might be the most suitable choice.
MH Construct ABS
- Worth: $18.21 in bulk
- Finest Use: Basic function, nice beginning materials for settings improvement, numerous coloration choices.
PRO Sequence ABS
- Worth: $52 per kg
- Options: Made within the USA (like all PRO Sequence), ±0.02mm diameter tolerance, excessive capability spools accessible.
Ultimaker ABS
- Worth: $50 per 750g spool
- Options: Nice compatability with Ultimaker 3D printers by way of NFC chip for computerized materials recognition.
- Notice: Solely accessible in 2.85mm
eSUN ABS
- Worth: $23 per kg
- Options: Basic function, reasonably priced materials accessible in a wide range of colours.
Fillamentum ABS
- Worth: $45 per 750g spool
- Options: Unimaginable coloration choices, premium-quality materials manufactured within the Czech Republic. Solely possibility for Translucent ABS in our catalog.
3DXTech Flame Retardant PC ABS
- Worth: $68 per kg
- Options: PC is a good materials, however harder to print with than ABS so this compound offers the most effective of each worlds. It is also Flame Retardant, making this materials an incredible selection for initiatives that have to explicitly resist harm from fireplace.
Getting that first layer proper
As with all 3D printing, getting the primary layer down is an important a part of the print. Every part else is constructed upon this (actually) and it is the place most new 3D printer customers have points honing their expertise. Do not feel dangerous if you happen to’re struggling to get excellent mattress leveling, everybody has to be taught it. In the event you need assistance particularly on mattress leveling, try our article. Listed here are the important thing factors:
- You want the print mattress to be stage.
- In the event you 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 peak from the mattress. (Z-offset)
- In the event you complete first layer is equally too excessive or too low throughout the whole print, alter your Z-Offset.
- You want a very good adhesive to help your ABS in sticking to the mattress.
- And naturally, ensuring that your extruder/hotend is heated to the precise temperature.
Lego bricks made out of ABS
Finest Mattress Setup for ABS
With the intention to print with ABS, you want a headed mattress. The advisable mattress temperature for ABS is 110°C. Most trendy 3D printers can attain this temperature, but when yours can’t, you need to have the ability to get away with 90°C.
Notice: If that is your first time having your print mattress this scorching, watch out as these temperatures can burn pores and skin in a short time!
The very best construct floor for ABS is PEI, accessible both clean or with a powder coated floor for further mechanical adhesion. You can too 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 if you’re utilizing the identical construct plate as different supplies you seemingly won’t have to regulate this setting. Professional Tip: Your print mattress might be a barely completely different form when totally heated to ABS print temperatures, so all the time carry out your mattress leveling at temperature to get the most effective outcomes.
Enclose Your Printer for the Finest Outcomes
The trick to have ABS elements keep on the mattress throughout a print and never cut up after being printed is to permit the printed half cool as slowly as doable, and as uniformly as doable. Right here are some things to bear in mind to attain these objectives:
- Little to no layer cooling – begin along with your half cooling fan fully off.
- Enclosed construct space – keep a steady and excessive ambient temperature round your half after it has been printed.
There are numerous totally enclosed 3D printers accessible as we speak, along with enclosures accessible as equipment for a lot of machines that don’t come totally enclosed. Moreover, try 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 just isn’t sticking:
- Be sure the mattress is stage.
- Be sure the mattress is scorching sufficient – we advocate 110°C.
- Ensure that the ambient temperature of the print surroundings isn’t too scorching or chilly (or else alter accordingly).
- Ensure you put the adhesive on the mattress.
- Be sure the print head is shut sufficient to make a pleasant first layer.
- Ensure you run the extruder sufficient earlier than your print begins so there may be filament going onto the mattress throughout the whole first layer. In MatterControl you may add a skirt and calibrate how a lot materials you want to extrude to make sure the hotend is totally primed.
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PEI is an effective way to print ABS. It makes an incredible shiny backside layer and the heated mattress ensures that your elements keep good and flat.
For extra in depth data concerning ABS mattress adhesion try 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 usually like to start out 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 power of the half to be in good steadiness with one another. This temperature vary is a generalization, so please reference the precise filament you will have when creating your print settings.
FYI – there’s a temperature tower function construct into MatterControl so you may create customized temperature towers to help in your print setting improvement.
What to search for
If the temperature is just too excessive:
You will note extra strings between the separate elements of your print and you could discover that the extruder leaks out a variety of plastic whereas shifting between separate areas of the print. If this occurs you need to attempt to incrementally decrease the temperature by 5 levels till the extruder just isn’t leaking a lot materials.
ABS being printed too scorching can produce a tough texture, in case your elements really feel and/or look tough, strive decreasing the temperature and see if that impact is lowered.
Generally you’ll have a fabric that’s merely much less viscous than ABS and can leak extra even at decrease temperatures. We advocate you overview your retraction settings and presumably tune this particularly.
If the temperature is just too chilly:
You’ll both see that the filament just isn’t sticking to the earlier layer and you’re getting a tough floor, or you’re going to get an element that’s not sturdy and could be pulled aside simply. In both case, you need to improve 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 executed 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 anticipate it to warmth up.
- If you attain 120°C take away the present filament from the extruder. You could possibly again it out by hand or you could have to reverse the extruder.
- In case you are having hassle eradicating the filament, improve 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.
- Enhance the warmth and cargo the brand new filament usually.
- Run the brand new coloration via the extruder till it runs clear and the brand new coloration is all that’s popping out of the extruder. In case you are switching from a darkish coloration (equivalent to black) to a light-weight coloration (like white or pure) you could wish to extrude for a couple of minutes to be you certain haven’t any darkish contamination.
- Print one thing that you do not care if it has bits of the earlier coloration 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 may have faith that there will not be darkish materials combined with lighter materials.
Notice: We advisable eradicating the filament when comfortable moderately than when totally melted so that there’s a decrease chance of depositing melted materials onto the extruder drive gear or leaving meterial excessive up the soften chamber entrance. Each of which might trigger jamming and are arduous to scrub out. Gentle elimination additionally helps be sure that you get every part out of the extruder tip.
What to do if issues go improper
There are just a few key issues to test when your prints aren’t working. However earlier than we take a look at options we have to have a short description of your signs.
“I am unable to get the primary layer to stay.”
- Be sure the extruder is on the proper peak. Alter the restrict change or extruder to 0 peak
- Be sure the print mattress is stage. Degree the mattress.
- Ensure you’re printing on the proper temperature and that your mattress is the precise temperature.
- Test the ambient temperature of your surroundings. If it’s too chilly or too scorching exterior, your print can differ drastically!
“The half has dangerous inside layers and prime surfaces.”
- Test the extrusion temperature (you could want to extend it by 5 diploma bumps).
- Test the filament stress.
- Clear the filament drive gear.
- Lower your pace.
- Be sure your half is correctly cooled.
“The skin edges of my elements have numerous little bumps on them.”
- Be sure your printer is getting sufficient information. If printing from a pc, be sure that the pc just isn’t too busy to feed the printer instructions. If the printer is pausing it’s normally as a result of laptop being too busy.
- Print from the SD card. On some printers you may attempt to print from the SD card. This usually helps the printer have sufficient information to run extra easily.
Nevertheless, do not be too fast to imagine the issue is in your ABS. With the precise settings and persistence hobbyists have succeeded in printing all types of supplies lots of which have very low viscosity. You must 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 need to allow “Cooling” within the print settings.
- Get a small fan. In case your printer doesn’t have an built-in fan you need to look into getting a small desk fan. This will 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 be sure you have a very good quantity of adhesive on the mattress and that you simply’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 won’t extrude any materials.”
- Be sure your scorching finish is getting scorching. Test to ensure the new finish is heating in any respect. If it’s not, you could have your printer serviced. It’s seemingly that you’ve a unfastened connection, or your electronics have been fried (assuming the printer remains to be linked and responding to your host software program).
- Clear the drive gear and alter stress. The very first thing we’re going to do is clear the filament touching drive gear and be sure that we’ve got correct stress towards the filament. Often improper stress or a clogged drive gear will make the print look extra like the image we’ve got for low temperature filament, however it 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 frequent with direct drives [the motor is directly connected to the drive gear] however much less frequent 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 are within the extruder tip.
- Test for and take away jams between the extruder and scorching finish. That is essentially the most excessive sort of downside 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 scorching finish. Take off the extruder and take away all of the ABS you may (you could want the new finish scorching to get all the fabric out.) If you cannot get out all of the filament by pulling, you could have to attempt to drive it down via the new finish. We normally use a small allen wrench. If this fails you may attempt to drill out the extruder or scorching finish however you could want to interchange elements. You should definitely take precautions towards being shocked or burned. In case you are not certified to do that work, discover somebody who’s, moderately than danger harm.
Thanks for studying this text!
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Sincerely,
The MatterHackers Crew
