ABS: density, print temperature and when you need it
ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) is the same plastic used for appliance housings and LEGO bricks. It is heat-resistant and tough, but demanding to print: without an enclosure, model corners tend to lift off the bed (warping).
Key properties
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Density | 1.04 g/cm³ |
| Nozzle temperature | 230–250°C |
| Bed temperature | 95–110°C |
| Part cooling | off or minimal |
| Shrinkage | significant — the source of warping |
| Enclosure required | yes, strongly recommended |
ABS is noticeably lighter than PLA and PETG (1.04 g/cm³ vs 1.24 and 1.27) — for the same model volume an ABS part weighs less, so material consumption in grams for the same geometry is lower.
When to use it
- Parts that will run warm (near electronics, in a car) — ABS's heat resistance is clearly higher than PLA's.
- Parts that get acetone vapor smoothing afterwards — ABS is the only mainstream material that finishes this way.
- Housings and functional parts where impact strength across temperature swings matters.
When to pick something else
- No enclosure and the printer sits in a draft — warping is practically guaranteed; PETG is the wiser pick.
- A one-off print with no mechanical or chemical post-processing — PETG gives similar strength with less risk of a failed print.
- A part permanently outdoors — ASA has better UV resistance with the same printing workflow.
Pros and cons
Pros: heat resistance well above PLA/PETG, machines well and takes acetone vapor smoothing, impact-resistant.
Cons: strong odor while printing (styrene) — ventilation required; warps without an enclosure and a 100°C+ bed; UV makes unstabilized ABS brittle and yellow over time.
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How it affects your print cost
Heating the bed to 95–110°C (vs 50–60°C for PLA), often plus a heated chamber, is the most energy-hungry combination among common materials — worth budgeting separately in your electricity line. On the other hand, ABS's lower density partially offsets this on the material side: the same part by volume comes out lighter and therefore cheaper in grams of filament.