ACRYLONITRILE BUTADIENE STYRENE (ABS)

ABS Home

About ABS Material

Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene, or ABS, is a widely used CNC plastic, which meets the needs of many industries because of its material properties and accessible cost. ABS is one of the best machinable plastics with a low raw material cost. Both of these factors have led to the use of the material for many prototyping applications, as well as certain end-use applications.

Materials

Quick Overview

ProcessesLead TimeColorTolerancePriceApplications
CNC MachiningAs fast as 3 daysWhite & available in all major colors.With drawing: as low as +/- 0.005 mm No drawing: ISO 2768 mediumQty & Precision dependentImpact-resistant applications, production-like parts (pre-injection molding)
3D Printing2-4 Days based on sizeWhite & available in all major colors.FDM - 150 µm
SLA - 40 µm
Lowest in marketStrength & complex geometries
Injection Molding20-30 DaysWhite & available in all major colors.As low as +/- 0.030 mmQty & Precision dependentHigh strength, Good surface finish.
Materials

Design Recommendations

Services NameMax SizeMin SizeMin ThicknessUndercutsRadii Depth
For CNC MachiningMax Part Size: 600 mmMin End Mill Size: 0.8 mmMin Wall Thickness: 0.5 mmUndercuts: Square profile, full radius, dovetail profilesRadii: Depth: Depth must not exceed 12x drill bit diameter. For end mills, depth must not exceed 10x tool diameter.
For 3D PrintingMax Part Size: 500x500x500 mmMin Hole size : 1 mmMin Wall Thickness: 1 mmMin Feature Size : 3 mmRecommended fillet & Chamfer angles : > 45 Deg
For MoldingMax Part Size: 500x500x500 mmMin Hole size : 0.5 mmMin Wall Thickness: 0.5 mmRibs should be 40-60% the thickness of outer walls and should still maintain draftMinimum draft angle of 0.5°, or up to 5°, for faces with medium textures
FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

ABS has a strong resistance to corrosive chemicals and/or physical impacts. It is very easy to machine and has a low melting temperature making it particularly simple to use in injection molding manufacturing processes or 3D printing on an FDM machine. ABS is also relatively inexpensive (prices, currently around $1.50 per pound, typically fall somewhere between those of Polypropylene  (“PP”) and Polycarbonate (“PC”). ABS plastic is not typically used in high heat situations due to its low melting point.  These characteristics lead to ABS being used in a large number of applications across a wide range of industries.

 

There are few factors when to choose VC or FDM.

  • When quantity is greater than 150 units.
  • When we need good strength & surface finish than FDM

For complex geometries FDM is cheaper.

For simple geometries like rods, sheCNC machining is cheaper. 

OUR VALUABLE

Clients

Think3D has been a great partner for us in supplying COVID-19 test cartridges on-time despite the pandemic challenges. When we came up with a new requirement needing a workforce of more than 25 people, think3D took up the challenge and arranged the workforce within 2 days. I highly recommend think3D for any manufacturing needs.
 

Sanket Srivatsav
Production In-Charge, Molbio

As a professor doing research on new materials, I needed a strong industry partner to assist us. think3D perfectly fit that bill. think3D team is highly knowledgeable on all manufacturing technologies and the team is very prompt in responding to all our requests. My research has been very successful, thanks to think3D team.


Dr. Karthik Chetan V
Asst. Professor, BITS Pilani

We found issue with one part at the time of assembly and needed a quick replacement. think3D team has quickly responded to our request, redesigned the part and printed it using metal 3D Printing and delivered in 3 days time. The part came out really well and the design was better than that of the actual one.


Rama Krishna
Senior Manager (IMM), BDL