Getting the Perfect ABS Print Temperature for 3D Printing Success

ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) is one of the most popular and commonly used materials in 3D printing. Compared to PLA, ABS offers greater strength, durability, flexibility and higher heat resistance. However, printing with ABS can be tricky if you don’t get the temperature right.

Finding the ideal ABS print temperature is crucial for getting good layer adhesion, minimizing warping and delivering high-quality 3D printed parts. This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about dialing in the perfect temps for ABS 3D printing.

What is the Recommended ABS Print Temperature Range?

The recommended ABS print temperature can vary slightly between different 3D printer manufacturers and ABS filament brands. However, a good general guideline is:

• Extruder Temperature: 220°C – 260°C (428°F – 500°F)
• Heated Bed Temperature: 80°C – 110°C (176°F – 230°F)

Printing in the middle of these ranges is a good starting point for ABS. For example, an extruder temp of 240°C and bed temp of 100°C works well for many setups.

You may need to fine-tune from there to find the ideal temperatures for your specific machine, ABS filament and environmental conditions. Having an enclosed 3D printer or chamber can allow printing ABS at the lower end of the recommended temp range.

Why Temperature is Crucial For ABS 3D Printing

Dialing in the right nozzle and bed temperature is key to success with ABS because it has a relatively high glass transition temperature of around 105°C compared to PLA which is around 60°C.

This means you need high extruder temps to keep the ABS filament flowing smoothly and molten so it can be extruded from the nozzle. If the temperature is too low, you’ll get clogs and poor layer adhesion.

Additionally, ABS has a tendency to warp and lift off the print bed as it cools and contracts. Maintaining a hot bed temperature keeps the first layers adhered throughout the print to prevent warping.

Higher ambient temperatures from an enclosure also help reduce cooling and shrinkage which causes warping. So temperature control is essential for getting dimensional accuracy and avoiding delamination with ABS 3D printing.

Factors That Influence Optimal ABS Print Temperatures

There are several variables that impact the ideal extruder and bed temperatures for printing ABS:

1. 3D Printer Model

Different 3D printers have varying levels of temperature control precision, max temps, hot end designs and more. For example, industrial machines can handle pushing ABS to the top of the temp range, while some hobbyist printers may need to print closer to 220-235°C to avoid issues like filament oozing.

2. ABS Filament Properties

Not all ABS is created equal. The exact composition and additives used by filament manufacturers can affect thermal properties. Some ABS blends are designed to print at lower temps. Premium filaments may allow pushing the upper end of the temp range for maximum interlayer adhesion.

3. Ambient Temperature

Printing ABS in a cool room around 15-25°C will require hotter extruder and bed temps compared to a heated chamber at 40-60°C. Warping is a bigger issue with drastic temperature drops in open air. An enclosure helps sustain heat so you can potentially reduce temperatures slightly.

4. Cooling Fans

Fans generally are not recommended for ABS because rapid cooling increases shrinkage stresses. However, minimal fan may help with bridging or overhangs. If you do use a cooling fan, higher temps can offset the additional cooling.

5. Print Speed

Faster prints limit how much each layer cools before the next layer is deposited. Slower speeds mean layers cool more before the next layer, so higher temps are advised to enhance adhesion between layers.

6. Model Geometric Complexity

Prints with intricate details, small features and overhangs require more heat than simple cube shapes to flow into all crevices and overhangs without sagging or warping.

Bed Adhesion Tips for ABS

In addition to temperature, several bed adhesion strategies will improve ABS 3D printing results:

• Use a PEI print surface sheet or ABS/ABS+ slurry for maximum adhesion. Other options are BuildTak, Kapton tape, and high-temp painter’s tape.
• Thoroughly clean the bed surface to remove any oils or grease that could inhibit first layer bonding.
• Ensure the bed is hot before printing the first layer. Allow a few minutes for the entire bed to reach temp.
• Level the bed precisely. Then live adjust the nozzle height during the first layer to optimize “squish” and adhesion.
• Try an enclosure or chamber to keep ambient temps higher.
• Optimize cooling settings. Minimal or no fan for the first few layers is recommended.
• Increase extrusion width on the first layer if adhesion seems weak. Wider lines adhere better.

Signs of Temperature Issues With ABS 3D Printing

Here are some key trouble signs that can arise from incorrect ABS print temperatures and how to fix them:

Warping/Detaching from Print Bed

ABS shrinking as it solidifies combined with cooler temperatures can cause corners to lift and warp. Increase bed heat and use an enclosure to keep ambient temperatures higher. Also ensure the bed surface is clean.

Layer Splitting

Layers separating or splitting apart is primarily caused by low extruder temperature. Increase nozzle temperature in 5-10 degree increments until layer adhesion improves. Slowing down the print speed can also help.

Stringing or Oozing

Excess material stringing between sections or oozing blobs are signs of extruder temperature being too hot. Lower the nozzle heat in increments of 5-10 degrees to minimize oozing. Retraction settings can also reduce stringing.

Clogged Nozzle

Filament not melting adequately due to low temperatures prevents flow and causes clogs. Gradually increase extruder heat until the filament flows smoothly again. Disassemble and clean nozzle if needed.

Elephant Foot

A widened, flared base indicates the first layer is too hot or getting over-extruded. Try lowering bed heat 5-10°C. Adjusting first layer height and width can also help.

Poor Layer Adhesion

Layers separating or splitting is a sign of low extruder temp. Bumping up nozzle heat 5-10°C at a time will improve bonding between layers. Slowing print speed can also enhance interlayer adhesion.

How to Determine Ideal ABS Print Temperatures

To dial in your perfect ABS print temperatures, we recommend this process:

1. Start with Recommended Temp Range: Use 220-260°C extruder and 80-110°C bed temp as a baseline. Midpoints around 240°C/100°C are reasonable starting points.
2. Consider Filament Guidelines: Refer to the temperature guidance provided by your ABS filament manufacturer and adjust accordingly.
3. Test Print a Model: Print a calibration model like a cube or Benchy boat. Assess first layer adhesion, overhangs, bridging, warping and layer bonding.
4. Tune Temperatures Gradually: Increase nozzle and/or bed temp in increments of 5-10°C if you see any defects like poor adhesion, warping or layer splits.
5. Try an Enclosure: Use or make an enclosure if you haven’t already. The boosted ambient temps may allow reducing nozzle/bed temps slightly.
6. Optimize Cooling: Reduce or eliminate fan, especially for first layers. Consider minimal fan for bridging if needed.
7. Tweak Speed: Slow down speed if layer adhesion needs improvement after temp adjustments. Faster speed if oozing/dripping becomes an issue.
8. Refine Bed Leveling: Adjust bed height/nozzle squish to get the first layer dialed in optimally. Consider a layer of ABS/ABS+ slurry for max adhesion.
9. Test Complex Model: Print something more complex and detailed to ensure proper flow into small features and overhangs.
10. Take Notes: Record your optimized temps and settings to save them as presets for future ABS prints.

It may take some trial and error with test prints to zero in on the sweet spot temperatures for your specific setup. But once dialed in, taking notes will save you a lot of hassle down the road.

Tips for Getting the Best ABS Print Quality

Beyond temperature, here are some additional tips for getting great quality ABS 3D prints:

• Dry ABS filament before use if needed – moisture in the material can cause popping and extrusion problems.
• Try an all-metal hot end for pushing ABS to the higher end of the temperature range if needed.
• Print the first layer slower for better adhesion – 20mm/s or less is recommended.
• Optimize retraction settings (4-6mm at 20-40mm/s) to prevent stringing and oozing.
• Experiment with slightly slower print speeds for improving layer bonding.
• Use minimal infill (15% or less) and avoid 100% infill to reduce internal stresses.
• Add a cooling fan at layer 2+ if overhangs/bridging are problematic. Start fan at low speed.
• Minimize drafts around the printer to maintain ambient temperatures.
• Print one model at a time to limit internal heat buildup.

Troubleshooting Warping Issues With ABS

Warping is one of the most frustrating issues with ABS 3D printing. Here are some key factors that can cause warping and how to fix them:

• Ambient Temperature Too Low – Use an enclosure or chamber to keep surrounding air at 50-60°C.
• Bed Temperature Too Low – Increase bed temp in 5° increments. 100-110°C is recommended.
• Bed Surface Cleanliness – Clean the bed thoroughly with isopropyl alcohol to maximize first layer adhesion.
• Filament Absorbed Moisture – Dry ABS filament before printing to prevent popping and lift off.
• Poor First Layer Adhesion – Level the bed super accurately. Squish the first layer more by adjusting Z offset.
• Inadequate Bed Leveling – Re-level bed and check Z offset. Adjust knobs/screws mid print if needed.
• Cooling Fan Too High – Eliminate cooling fan for first 2-4 layers, then use minimal fan if needed.
• Lack of Enclosure – Add an enclosure or chamber to sustain ambient temps. DIY options can work.
• Bed Temperature Dropping – Insulate the underside of the heated bed to maintain target temp.
• Too Much Part Cooling – Increase extruder temp to compensate for active cooling. Minimize fan.
• Thin Walls – Modify model to thicken very thin features prone to warping. Slow down print.

Leveraging an Enclosure for ABS Printing

One of the best ways to achieve ABS 3D printing success is using an enclosure or chamber. Benefits include:

• Keeps ambient air temperature in the 50-60°C range to prevent excessive part cooling and shrinkage.
• Allows reducing extruder/bed temps slightly (5-10°C) versus open air printing.
• Minimizes warping and layer separation issues.
• Prevents small ABS part from being knocked loose or damaged.
• Improves dimensional accuracy by sustaining heat.
• Contains odors emitted from heated/melted ABS material.

DIY options like using cardboard or Reflectix insulation sheets can work if you don’t have a dedicated 3D printer enclosure. Some machines like the LulzBot TAZ Workhorse come with enclosures included also.

Alternatives Filaments If ABS Proves Too Tricky

While dialing in good ABS print results is very achievable, it does require more tweaking than PLA. If you find yourself constantly fighting with warping, cracking, layer adhesion issues, you may want to consider using an alternative higher-temp filament instead, such as:

• ASA (acrylic styrene acrylonitrile) – Very similar properties to ABS but less prone to warping.
• PETG (polyethylene terephthalate glycol-modified) – Easier first layer adhesion than ABS. Good temperature resistance and strength.
• TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) – Flexible and durable. Great for applications needing rubber-like properties.
• Nylon (polyamide) – Excellent layer bonding, warping resistance, strength and thermal properties.

Conclusion

Tuning in the ideal extruder and heated bed temperatures is crucial to success when printing with ABS filament. Following the recommendations in this guide will help you identify and dial in the perfect temps for minimizing warping while maximizing interlayer adhesion and overall print quality.

Focus on small incremental adjustments, take good notes, be patient and don’t be afraid to experiment. Getting ABS 3D printing working well consistently just takes some upfront calibration. But once you nail down your optimal temperature sweet spot, you’ll be rewarded with durable, professional-quality ABS printed parts.