How To Print With ABS Filament
ABS has been responsible for bringing intense pain to parents' feet since 1963. LEGO! famous for its unforgiving sharp edges in a dimly lit childs room is made from high quality ABS plastic. Unabbreviated it is Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene and was a founding material used at the very start of Additive Manufacturing. ABS is a great 3D Filament to print with due to the relative low cost, high strength and ability to withstand high temperatures (around 100°C is when it will start to soften). Below we will run through how to print with ABS Filament and explain some of the caveats with this wonderful material.
Given the right environment ABS can be a joy to print with but how do you get said environment?
How to Print ABS in an enclosure
The secret of how to print with abs is to print in an enclosure. While is it possible to not use one we strongly recommend you do. ABS is extremely sensitive to temperature fluctuations. Like nudie runs, ABS performs better in hotter environments and will shrink in colder ones. Enclosures will also stop drafts of wind which can make the temperature suddenly drop and warping. As each layer is placed it starts to cool and shrink. If you can control the ambient temp around the print the filament will shrink within a threshold which will not affect it.
We don't use any additional heating systems. The heated print bed is set to 100°c and left for 10 minutes before a print is started. Our ABS Filament performs extremely well with a nozzle temp of 235°C. When the bed and nozzle are at operational temperatures the ambient temperature in the enclosure sits between 35 and 45°C. All our printers are in separate Lack Enclosures so we can control the temperature individually depending on what filament we are using.
As well a creating a stable environment for ABS the enclosure also protects the 3D Printer from dust. Previously we had dust settle on the axis rods which created black grease on the end of the rods.
We don't use any additional heating systems. The heated print bed is set to 100°c and left for 10 minutes before a print is started. Our ABS Filament performs extremely well with a nozzle temp of 235°C. When the bed and nozzle are at operational temperatures the ambient temperature in the enclosure sits between 35 and 45°C. All our printers are in separate Lack Enclosures so we can control the temperature individually depending on what filament we are using.
As well a creating a stable environment for ABS the enclosure also protects the 3D Printer from dust. Previously we had dust settle on the axis rods which created black grease on the end of the rods.
When ever you are switching between filament it is really important to check on your layer height. First we want to start with a level printing bed. While there are common ways to adjust your bed level we recommend seeking the advised way from your printer manufacturer. Once done you can run your printers first layer configuration wizard. It is imperitive that the layer height is correct. Too far away from the printing bed and the molten filament will curl up and potentially form a glob on your nozzle. Too close and you risk clogging your nozzle or scaring the bed. The perfect layer has some squish and no free play between the nozzle and the first layer. The nozzle should be lower enough to be constantly touching the first layer. If your nozzle is too high then it will look as if the nozzle is pouring the filament onto the printer bed. The good news is once you do this a few times and dial in your layer height correctly, you will get an 'eye' for it and be able to do it faster and with more confidence.
How to Print ABS at the correct temperature
We strongly recommend printing a temperature tower to work out the optimum temperature for your printer. Your printer nozzle temp will vary between filament types. The temp tower will take around 2 hours to print and give you a great visual breakdown on the best nozzle temp. Generally we suggest a nozzle temp of 235°.
Heated Bed Temperature - To help minimise warping a heated printer bed is a must. Good layer adhesion starts with a printer bed temp of 100°. On wider prints this temperature will help keep your print from separating from the bed and curling up. Keeping ABS Filament printing on the hotter end of the scale will help reduce delamination where the layers split or crack apart. Having the nozzle around 235° and bed at 100° will help keep your enclosure ambient temperature around 40°, slowing the part cooling and reducing the shrinking.
Heated Bed Temperature - To help minimise warping a heated printer bed is a must. Good layer adhesion starts with a printer bed temp of 100°. On wider prints this temperature will help keep your print from separating from the bed and curling up. Keeping ABS Filament printing on the hotter end of the scale will help reduce delamination where the layers split or crack apart. Having the nozzle around 235° and bed at 100° will help keep your enclosure ambient temperature around 40°, slowing the part cooling and reducing the shrinking.
