Maya Ellison
ABS plastic is a popular material for 3D printing, owing to its versatility, strength, and heat resistance. It is used to make a wide range of products, from toys and automotive parts to medical devices and household goods. Printing on ABS plastic can be done through various methods, including UV printing, pad printing, and screen printing. Before printing on ABS plastic, it is important to prepare the surface by cleaning it with alcohol and a lint-free cloth, ensuring it is free of dust, dirt, grease, or fingerprints. This guide will explore the different techniques and considerations for printing on ABS plastic to achieve high-quality and durable results.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Chemical Composition | Divided into pure ABS and composite polymers |
| Colour | Yellowish opaque (but transparent varieties exist) |
| Temperature Resistance | Up to 103°C (up to 113°C for some brands) |
| Operating Environment | Well-ventilated area or using a fan |
| Angle | Exceeding 45-70° requires support structures |
| Warping | Increase build surface temperature by 10ºC to 110ºC for the first few layers |
| Surface | Relatively smooth and glossy |
| Adhesion | Good adhesion properties for inks |
| Durability | Tough and impact-resistant |
| Versatility | Easily moulded into various shapes |
| Consistency | Produced with consistent material properties |
| Processing | Easy to process during manufacturing |
| Cost | More cost-effective than some other high-performance plastics |
| Strength | High strength |
| Heat Resistance | High heat resistance |
| Post-Processing | Easy post-processing |
| Maintenance | Clean and adjust tension |
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What You'll Learn
Preparing ABS plastic for UV printing
ABS plastic is a thermoplastic made from acrylonitrile, butadiene, and styrene. It is lightweight, strong, impact-resistant, and heat-resistant. It is also scratch-resistant and recyclable, making it a durable and cost-effective choice for UV printing.
When preparing ABS plastic for UV printing, it is important to consider the following steps:
Firstly, ensure your work area is well-ventilated as printing with ABS produces a strong odour, along with harmful VOCs and UFPs.
Secondly, load your ABS plastic into the printer tray or bed, making sure it is flat and secure. You can use clamps or magnets to hold it in place.
Thirdly, choose the right printer settings by adjusting parameters such as ink type, resolution, speed, and temperature according to your needs. It is recommended to do a test print to check the quality and accuracy before proceeding.
Next, align your image with the ABS plastic. You can use software or a manual guide to position your image correctly. Most printers will also have a preview function to help you visualise the final product.
Finally, once you are happy with the setup, you can start printing. The UV light will instantly cure the ink on the ABS plastic, eliminating the need for drying or coating.
After printing, finish your product by removing any masking tape or excess ink. You can also polish or varnish your product to enhance its appearance and protection.
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Adjusting printer settings
Temperature Settings:
The printing temperature for ABS plastic typically ranges from 230°C to 250°C. Starting at 240°C is recommended, and adjustments can be made in 5-degree increments based on the desired print quality and part strength. Refer to the manufacturer's guidelines for specific temperature requirements.
To prevent warping, ensure the build plate temperature is set higher, around 90°C. This will help the first layer of the print adhere properly. For the initial layers, consider increasing the build surface temperature to 110°C to prevent separation from the bed.
Print Speed and Cooling:
Adjust the print speed according to your requirements. However, keep in mind that ABS doesn't require cooling during printing. It is advisable to turn off the cooling fan entirely to prevent rapid cooling and minimise warping.
Bed Adhesion:
Prepare the build surface with a thin layer of ABS slurry or adhesives like Kapton tape to ensure good adhesion. This will help the ABS stick well to the build plate.
Ventilation:
Printing with ABS can release harmful VOCs and UFPs. Ensure your printer is in a well-ventilated area, or use a fan to dissipate fumes.
Support Structures:
When printing models with angles exceeding 45-70 degrees, use support structures. These can be printed with the same plastic as the model or with special support materials if your machine supports multiple filaments. Insoluble support materials can be removed with tools, while soluble ones can be dissolved in water or specific solvents.
Maintenance:
Clean the filament-touching drive gear and ensure proper tension. Use a wire brush to clean the pinch wheel, and check for any particles in the extruder tip that might cause jamming.
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Loading and aligning ABS plastic
Loading the ABS Filament:
- Ensure your 3D printer is designed to work with ABS filament. ABS requires higher printing temperatures than some other materials, so your printer should have a heated build chamber or heated bed to prevent warping.
- Check the filament diameter: ABS filament is commonly available in 1.75mm and 2.85mm diameters. Ensure your printer is compatible with the filament size.
- Load the ABS filament into the printer according to the instructions provided for your specific printer model. This typically involves feeding the filament through the extruder and ensuring it is securely in place.
Aligning and Preparing the Print Bed:
- As ABS tends to shrink and expand with temperature changes, it is crucial to use a heated bed with a temperature between 90-110°C to prevent warping and improve adhesion.
- Consider adding a brim or raft to your print, especially when printing larger parts or those with a small contact area on the bed. A brim is a thin layer of plastic that helps adhesion, while a raft is a thicker structure that can be snapped off after printing.
- If your printer does not have a heated chamber, use an enclosure or cover to maintain a stable temperature and reduce warping. Alternatively, ensure the printer is in a well-ventilated area to manage the strong odour and fumes produced during printing.
Adjusting Printer Settings:
- Due to ABS's tendency to warp, consider increasing the build surface temperature by 10ºC for the first few layers to ensure better adhesion.
- Adjust the infill density and shell thickness settings: Higher infill percentages and more perimeters improve the strength of the printed object. However, this will increase print time and material usage.
- Ensure proper print orientation: Align forces with the layer direction to maximise part strength.
ABS printing can be more challenging than some other materials, but by following these instructions and making any necessary adjustments, you can successfully load and align ABS plastic for 3D printing.
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Curing ink with UV light
Before curing ink with UV light on ABS plastic, you need to prepare the surface properly. First, clean the surface of the ABS plastic with alcohol and a lint-free cloth to remove any dust, dirt, grease, or fingerprints that may affect the print quality. Next, dry the surface with a hairdryer or an air gun to prevent moisture or condensation from interfering with the curing process. Finally, prime the surface with a clear or coloured primer spray to improve the adhesion and durability of the ink.
Once the ABS plastic surface is prepared, you can begin the UV printing process. Align your image with the plastic using software or a manual guide, and use a preview function to see how the image will look before printing. As you start printing, the UV light will instantly cure the ink on the ABS plastic. There is no need to wait for it to dry or apply additional coatings.
UV-curing can also be used in combination with other printing methods, such as direct ink writing, to create complex shapes with high-speed steel parts. In this process, metal powders are mixed with photosensitive resins, which then form a robust cross-linking network under UV light irradiation, bonding the powder particles together. This results in a high-quality print with good adhesion and coverage.
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Finishing your product
Once you have prepared your ABS plastic for printing, you can proceed to print on it. Choose the right printer settings for your ABS plastic. You can adjust the parameters such as ink type, resolution, speed, and temperature according to your needs and preferences. You can also use a test print to check the quality and accuracy of the print before proceeding to the final product.
Load your ABS plastic into the printer tray or bed. Make sure that it is flat and secure. You can use clamps or magnets to hold it in place if necessary. Align your image with your ABS plastic. You can use software or a manual guide to position your image correctly on your ABS plastic.
When printing models with elements that exceed an angle of 45–70 degrees, it is necessary to use structures that support the overhanging elements. Such structures can be printed using the same plastic as the model itself, but when the machine is capable of printing with multiple filaments, special support materials can be used. Insoluble materials are relatively strong and can be removed only with tools such as knives or wire cutters. This must be done carefully as there is a risk of damage to the model or accidental removal of small elements. When using soluble materials, the risk of damage is lower. The support structures dissolve in water (PVA) or with special solvents that do not affect ABS, such as limonene (HIPS), isopropyl alcohol (isopropanol), or a 1:1 mixture of both.
If you are using UV printing, cure your ink with UV light. The UV light will instantly cure your ink on your ABS plastic. You do not need to wait for it to dry or coat it with anything else. Finish your product by removing any masking tape or excess ink. You can also polish or varnish your product if you want to enhance its appearance or protection.
If you are using a 3D printer, you will need to be aware that ABS is prone to warping as it cools from the extrusion temperature to room temperature. This can be alleviated by increasing the build surface temperature by 10ºC to 110ºC for the first few layers. This will keep the first few layers hotter, keeping them stuck to the bed. Doing the same thing with your extruder’s temperature for the first few layers can also help the first few layers adhere to the build surface.
Additionally, ABS is known to produce a strong odour, along with harmful VOCs and UFP’s. If you are not printing using a printer with an enclosed build area, aim to at least print in a well-ventilated space, free from people and pets. Opening a window can help prevent harmful VOCs and UFP's from building up.
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Frequently asked questions
ABS plastic is one of the most popular materials for UV printing. It is strong, impact-resistant, heat-resistant, and versatile. It is also cost-effective and has good adhesion properties for inks.
Clean the surface of the ABS plastic with alcohol and a lint-free cloth. Dry the surface with a hairdryer or an air gun. Prime the surface with a primer spray. Mask the areas that you do not want to print on with masking tape.
Printing on ABS plastic can be tricky due to its tendency to warp. To prevent this, increase the build surface temperature by 10ºC to 110ºC for the first few layers. Adjust your printer settings, including ink type, resolution, speed, and temperature. Use a test print to check the quality before proceeding. Cure your ink with UV light. Finish your product by removing any masking tape or excess ink, and consider polishing or varnishing.
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