3D Printed ABS
ABS – Tough, Functional and Built to Last
Overview
ABS is one of those materials we’ve all come across, even if we didn’t realise it. It’s in car dashboards, power tool casings, plumbing fittings — because it’s strong, impact-resistant, and doesn’t wear down easily. In the 3D printing world, it’s a solid option for parts that need to take a knock, be heat-resistant, and survive actual use — not just sit on a shelf.
I’ve used ABS plenty of times when the job needed something strong but didn’t justify the price of injection moulding. One customer came to me with a broken train lever clip — couldn’t find replacements anywhere. We reverse-engineered it, printed it in ABS, and saved them thousands. Job done.
Key Technical Specifications (Typical Values)
• Tensile strength: 40–50 MPa
• Elongation at break: 10–30%
• Impact resistance: High
• Heat deflection temperature: 90–105°C
• Density: ~1.04 g/cm³
• UV resistance: Poor – can go brittle outdoors
• Surface finish: Matte, with post-process options
• Chemical resistance: Good (acids, alkalis, oils)
ABS isn’t perfect for everything, but when you need a rigid, impact-resistant part with decent heat resistance — it’s still one of the best all-rounders.
Why Engineers Use ABS
You turn to ABS when the part has to do a job. It’s a great material for:
• Structural parts under light to medium loads
• Housings that need some heat resistance
• Snap-fits and clips that won’t snap the first time you use them
• Prototyping for injection-moulded products
• Mounts, brackets, and covers for industrial settings
It’s more durable than PLA, more stable than PETG under pressure, and more affordable than Nylon.
Real-World Applications
Here’s where we’ve used ABS in real customer jobs:
• Replacement mechanical parts for older equipment
• Electrical housings and control panel brackets
• Machine guards and protective caps
• Functional prototypes for automotive components
• Fixtures and jigs for repeat-use on assembly lines
We even offer post-processing — sanding, resin coating, or primer — if a customer wants a near-finished look or extra strength.
What to Watch Out For
ABS has its quirks — and if you don’t know what you’re doing, you’ll waste time and material. We’ve learnt what it takes to get it right:
• Needs a heated bed and enclosed chamber to avoid warping
• Emits fumes — needs proper ventilation
• Doesn’t love moisture or sun — keep it indoors
• Layer adhesion is strong, but cracking can happen if cooled too fast
We print it based on the part’s real-world use. If it’s a daily-use component, we’ll go high infill and reinforce stress points. If it’s decorative, we optimise for surface finish and speed.
Why Buyers Choose ABS
For manufacturers, ABS hits the sweet spot:
• Affordable without sacrificing durability
• Ideal for low- to mid-volume production
• Strong enough for real-world use
• Can be chemically smoothed for presentation models
• Easy to sand, drill or post-process
And because there’s no tooling involved, you’re not locked into anything. Change the design? No problem — we’ll just reprint it.
Why We Use It at Mitchell & Son
ABS is one of those materials we trust. We’ve used it to solve real issues — not just design problems, but production headaches and sourcing nightmares. Like the customer who needed clips for a train lever — they were facing a £5,000+ bill for moulding, and we solved it for a couple hundred using ABS.
That’s what we do — take the job, make it work, and save our customers money in the process.
SOME INFOMATION ABOUT THE MATERIAL
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.
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