ABS Lessons (Patreon)

ABS Lessons

ABS can be a real challenge when it comes to tall and square objects, and just generally getting good adherence. My best luck for now is with blue tape, which lasts for 2-4 replications. I tried Kapton and ABS juice at 90C with a large brim but that first layer is always trouble. Blue tape gives a better start and is less likely to pull up here. The room is 15-20C with some airflow, so uneven cooling is always a concern. A hood might help. Later I may try an acrylic bed, as extruding onto cold surfaces intrigues me. I prefer PLA for its ease and overall quality. The surface finish is often like satin. These gears are glowing PLA which has a nice plasticine finish and strength enough for gears. ABS is more durable and can tolerate higher temperatures, so it's perfect for extruder parts. These gears are going to be robust. But PLA is fine for all other parts. Here I'm also showing off the (glowing PLA) cosmetic z couplers that hide the plastic hose connecting the z threaded rods. Apart from being cosmetic they also make it easier to adjust the z rods during the first layer.