3D Printed ABS

we get asked all the time about different types of plastics — which one’s best, what’s tough, what’s safe, what works indoors, outdoors, in the workshop, or even in a factory. One of the big names that keeps coming up is Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene, or as most people know it, ABS plastic.

So let me walk you through what it is, why it’s so widely used, where it shines, and where you’ve got to be a little careful with it. And of course, I’ll tell you how we can help whether you’re running a business or just a bloke trying to fix something at home.

🔧 What Exactly Is ABS Plastic?

ABS is a sturdy, impact-resistant plastic. It’s made by mixing together three things: acrylonitrile, butadiene, and styrene. Sounds complicated, but the end result is a material that combines the strengths of each ingredient:

Styrene gives it a nice shiny surface and strength.

Acrylonitrile adds chemical resistance and hardness.

Butadiene makes it tough and impact-resistant.

Put all that together and you’ve got a plastic that can take a knock, handle day-to-day abuse, and still keep going strong. That’s why it’s everywhere.

🚗 Where Do You See ABS Used?

If you drive a car, open a laptop, or pick up a games console — you’ve already handled ABS today.

It’s used in:

Car parts – dashboards, trim, panels, brackets.

Electronics – housings for TVs, keyboards, power tools.

3D printing – one of the go-to materials for hobbyists and professionals.

Food packaging – thanks to its heat resistance.

Medical devices – where strength and hygiene are important.

It’s versatile, it’s strong, and it keeps costs down compared to metals or specialist plastics.

👍 The Good Bits About ABS

There’s a reason industries rely on it:

Strong and tough – it doesn’t crack easily.

Resistant to chemicals – oils, acids, and cleaners don’t break it down quickly.

Heat resistance – it can take higher temperatures without deforming.

Lightweight – much lighter than metal, which saves cost and fuel in cars and machinery.

Affordable – it delivers good performance without costing the earth.

For businesses, that balance of toughness and price is a big win. For everyday customers, it means affordable, long-lasting products.

⚠️ The Drawbacks You Should Know

ABS isn’t perfect, and I’ll always be straight with people about that. The biggest issue is what happens when it’s heated.

When you’re 3D printing ABS, for example, it gives off toxic fumes. That means you can’t just set up a printer in the living room — you need ventilation, or better yet, an enclosed setup with a filter.

Another drawback is sunlight. Leave ABS outdoors for long periods and UV exposure will make it brittle. I’ve seen it plenty of times — looks fine one summer, and the next it just snaps like dry twigs. If you want something to last outside, I’ll usually recommend PETG or ASA instead.

🏭 How We Work With ABS at Mitchellsson

This is where we come in. At Mitchellsson, we don’t just talk about plastics — we use them every day. Whether it’s designing replacement parts, prototyping a new product, or helping a company save money on low-volume manufacturing, ABS is often one of the first materials we’ll consider.

What we do:

3D CAD design – we’ll design your part from scratch or replicate a broken one.

3D printing – strong ABS parts for prototypes, tools, or components.

Advice on materials – if ABS isn’t right, we’ll suggest alternatives like PETG, ASA, or polycarbonate.

Post-processing – sanding, priming, or resin coating for extra strength or a nicer finish.

The beauty of our setup is that we can help anyone. A big industrial client needing hundreds of parts? No problem. A homeowner with a snapped clip on a kitchen appliance? We’ll sort it out. We’re here to save people time, money, and stress.

👨‍🔧 Why Businesses and Everyday Folks Come to Us

For businesses, it’s about efficiency and cost savings. Injection moulding ABS parts can run you £5,000 to £10,000 just in tooling before you even make the first piece. With us, you can get a working ABS part for a fraction of that price, test it, tweak it, and then decide if you want to scale up.

For the man on the street, it’s about accessibility. Maybe you can’t find a replacement part online, or maybe what you need doesn’t even exist anymore.

 We can take a broken sample, redesign it in CAD, and print a replacement that works just as well — often better.

I’ve seen customers save hundreds, even thousands, by letting us reproduce one small but vital ABS component. That’s the power of this material combined with the right know-how.