Looking For Printing ABS Tips  

RE: Looking For Printing ABS Tips

Here are my thoughts on ABS.

In general, I've found that ABS sticks better than PLA and, unless you are doing very small parts or parts without a significant footprint, no adhesion help is needed.  However, with large footprints, glue stick may be needed as a release agent.  I found this out the hard way on one of my first ABS prints with my new Prusa, as I got impatient and used a metal tool to pry an object from the plate.  It came off, but with a couple of patches of the 'membrane' coating. 🙁

I've never tried the ABS slurry.  Never had the need.

I've found that ABS seems to work better if the printer is warmed up and stabilized, both on the bed and nozzle.  I'll set to pre-heat, then give it 10 minutes and then start the print.

I see you are using an enclosure, so this next one may not be needed, but I've found that ABS works better with a draft shield.  This particularly prevents drooping on thicker models.

I just started using ABS on the textured sheet and it works quite well.  I can say I'm confident doing ABS prints on both the smooth and textured sheets.

I've found that ABS is very good for small detailed parts such as trim and detail (window frames, doors, railings, fire escapes, etc.) on model railroad buildings.  The textured sheet gives a very nice first layer on these.

ABS is also good for items that will be used in a hot car, as PLA has a much lower melting temperature.

RE: Looking For Printing ABS Tips

You could also check out ASA, is the new ABS.

RE: Looking For Printing ABS Tips

Hi,

So it seems my textured plate and some glue stick and I should be good. I'm going to be printing a new cooling fan shroud, so the footprint is small. My biggest worry should be warpage due to the hollow passages and fitment to the extruder.

I already have the ABS and it's a lot cheaper than ASA at this point in time. I'm not sure if my printing skills are good enough yet to justify such an expensive material. But I'm sure I will at least try ASA in the future if I see the need. It sounds like a good filament.

Thanks for the advice!

RE: Looking For Printing ABS Tips

Posted by: @dalee1002000

Hi,

So it seems my textured plate and some glue stick and I should be good. I'm going to be printing a new cooling fan shroud, so the footprint is small. My biggest worry should be warpage due to the hollow passages and fitment to the extruder.

I already have the ABS and it's a lot cheaper than ASA at this point in time. I'm not sure if my printing skills are good enough yet to justify such an expensive material. But I'm sure I will at least try ASA in the future if I see the need. It sounds like a good filament.

Thanks for the advice!

A while back I printed spare extruder parts in the event I had a BOD meltdown.  I printed the fan shroud on the smooth sheet with black Hatchbox ABS with no glue.  It popped right off with some gentle flexing after cooling.

One thing it looks like I forgot to mention above, with ABS, do let the print sheet cool before removing the print.  When the print finishes, I'll remove the plate using a towel and set it aside to cool, while keeping the machine on preheat for the next ABS part.  With the textured sheet, the ABS prints seem to fall right off after cooling.  With the smooth sheet, one semi-gentle bend usually pops it right off.

RE: Looking For Printing ABS Tips

Hi,

Thanks for the extra advice. I do tend to be a bit impatient when removing prints. 😊  I will let things cool before removing the part. What other parts did you print in ABS? I was going to use PETG for most of the rest. As I didn't think heat would be as big an issue.

RE: Looking For Printing ABS Tips

I've used ABS for several things, until recently all on the smooth sheet.  I did spares of all of the extruder parts, to have them in case of a Blob Of Death.  When I upgraded the fan shroud I did both the original and the remixed one in PC Blend, mainly as an excuse to try it out.  I used the remixed one and put the original in the crash kit in case I need it.

I've used ABS for things like wall brackets, where there will be a moderate load, and I'm re-printing a clock case that I'm doing for my wife's car in ABS since I've heard of PLA deforming in hot cars.

I've used black (Hatchbox) and white (Reprapper) ABS for various trim pieces for some model RR buildings and it does a very good job with those.

The model railroad diner shown in the thread below is mostly Hatchbox silver ABS.  I was given a portion of a spool of it from someone who said she will never ever have use for a full spool of it and it seemed to work very well.

https://forum.prusa3d.com/forum/english-forum-awesome-prints-hall-of-fame/eat/#post-230464

RE: Looking For Printing ABS Tips

Hi,

That print of the diner is fantastic! 3D printing and model railroading were meant for each other I think. I'm aiming for using it to create model steam engines. As an old and now retired Toolmaker, I've made them out of metals like brass, steels, and cast iron. I have a mill, lathe, and other metal working tools. But printing plastics is a new challenge for me. Model Engineering is a great hobby whether steam engines or railroading!

I'm going to use Zyltech filament. I've had decent luck using their PLA and PETG so I thought I would try the ABS. It's cheap and has free shipping for the US.

RE: Looking For Printing ABS Tips

Thank you.

I'm retired too, systems engineer.  I've had Lionel trains since I was a boy, and when I retired and we built our new house we did a room in the basement specifically for a permanent table and layout.  I know enough about machine work to be dangerous, but I took to 3d printing after seeing a demo at a train show some years ago.

Yes, I agree, model railroading and 3d printing go hand in hand.

The one thing I can't figure out is why more 3d equipment vendors (printers, filaments, etc.) don't go to the train shows.  Each show seems to have one or more vendors who have a working 3d printer and a whole table full of models to sell, with the printer going and easily exhausting the attention span of anyone watching.  😉  I would think that there would be (more) money to be made and customers to acquire by selling the printers and supplies at the train shows.  They always have vendors selling tools and such.