I am new to the game and have been printing for a couple weeks now. but i am now working with abs and could use a few tips on making better finished products. I have completed a few prints with the abs, but they are sloppy. Any tips would be greatly appreciated.
Hey @Maidyn, welcome! Since you’re new to 3D printing, you might find our introduction to 3D printing page useful. Check it out here. You’ll find everything you need to know about different technology used as well as materials. Hope it helps!
Check this URL it’s a comprehensive guide for beginners you should like it - if you want to get more about 3D printing you can also visit http://blog.zmorph3d.com/ hope I helped you a little!
Welcome to the 3D printing world! ABS can be a finicky material. Remember it likes to print hot, and remain hot! reduce any drafts, and enclose your build area as much as possible. The above links that others posted are great reading material!
If your printer is enclosed, your extruder should be between 230-250, always start low and up your temps by about 5C. For ABS I usually keep my bed at about 100C.
Like others have mentioned here, ABS can be hard to print, because of warp and it needing the environment controlled. I started with PLA for a good 6 months (I did try some ABS at first and it warped a lot), then went to PETG, which doesn’t have the warping or environment issues of ABS. PETG has good high temp properties of ABS, and the parts will last longer than PLA. I originally printed all my printer upgrade parts (fan holders, cable chain, filament guides) in PLA. Now I have recently printed most of these parts in ABS, which has gone much easier for me than when I first tried ABS. I think there is something to be said about learning your printer and the software while printing with a easier material like PLA first.
I generally print ABS at 230 and start the bed at 110 then down to 100 after some layers. Not sure if the bed temp change is helping but I read it somewhere. Doesn’t seem to hurt.