ABS
IntermediateAcrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene
ABS is the classic engineering plastic — durable, heat-resistant, and sandable/paintable. It requires an enclosure to prevent warping and emits fumes during printing. Despite its challenges, ABS remains essential for parts that need to withstand heat or mechanical stress.
⚠ IMPORTANT: Dry Your Filament Before Every Print
All filaments — including ABS — absorb moisture from the air. Printing with wet filament causes stringing, bubbling, weak layer adhesion, and poor surface finish. This is the single most overlooked cause of bad prints.
Always dry your filament per the manufacturer's recommendations printed on the spool label before printing, especially if the spool has been open for more than a few days or stored in a humid environment. Read our complete filament drying guide →
About the Temperatures & Speeds Listed Below
The print temperatures and speeds shown on this page are general industry ranges — not a one-size-fits-all prescription. Every printer brand and model has different capabilities. A Bambu Lab X1C can print PLA at 500 mm/s; an Ender 3 with a Bowden extruder performs best at 40–80 mm/s.
Always follow your specific printer manufacturer's recommended settings and the temperature range printed on your filament spool label. Start at the lower end of the range and dial in from there.
Material Properties
ABS Variants Explained
ABS isn't one material — it's a family. Every variant below starts from the same base chemistry but is modified for a different job. Click through for full settings and brand picks on each.
Best For
- Automotive parts
- Electronics enclosures
- High-temp environments
- Parts requiring post-processing
Avoid For
- Open-air printing
- Beginners
- Large flat parts without enclosure
Pro Tips
- 01Always use an enclosure — warping is the #1 failure mode
- 02Apply ABS slurry or hairspray to bed for adhesion
- 03Print in a well-ventilated area — fumes are significant
- 04Slow print speed (40mm/s) reduces warping
Dialed-In Print Profiles
These profiles are starting points based on community-tested settings for each printer. Your results may vary depending on your specific filament brand, ambient temperature, and printer condition. Always run a test print and adjust as needed. Speeds shown reflect what these printers are capable of — entry-level machines should use the lower end of any range.
⚠ Enclosure required. Close all doors and vents.
⚠ Adaptive Airflow System seals chamber. Excellent ABS results with carbon filter active.
⚠ Enclosure required. Close all doors and vents. Excellent ABS results.
Print Speed by Printer Tier
Print speeds vary dramatically by printer. The speeds listed in product specs (like "500 mm/s") are maximum capabilities — not recommended everyday speeds. Use this table as a general guide and always follow your printer manufacturer's recommended settings.
Enclosed chamber required. Use ABS or ASA profile in slicer.
Enclosure required. Reduce speed to minimize warping on large flat parts.
ABS is very challenging without an enclosure. Warping is the primary failure mode at any speed.
Quick Specs
Buy ABS Filament
Recommended brands: Hatchbox, eSUN, Polymaker, Bambu
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