Know Your Materials: Digital ABS Plus

Digital ABS Plus™ benefits from newly improved mechanical performance. Parts made with this material will have better impact strength in addition to its previously well-known attributes of high-temperature resistance, toughness and superior finish.

Digital ABS Plus materials simulate standard ABS plastics in combining high temperature resistance and high toughness. Parts printed with Digital ABS Plus offer an impact resistance of 90-110J/m and an initial heat deflection temperature (HDT) of 58–68°C (136–154°F) upon removal from the printer. These properties make Digital ABS Plus suitable for printing parts that require high impact resistance, strength and dimensional stability.

Printing Technology: PolyJet 

Stratasys 3D printers powered by PolyJet Photopolymers provide levels of detail and realism in their finished products that exceed other 3D printing technologies. It is the only technology with the ability to both simulate a variety of materials and engineering plastics and combine colors and material into one finished product. Their fine resolution makes complex shapes, intricate details and smooth surfaces possible. 

PolyJet 3D Printing works by jetting layers of liquid photopolymer onto a build tray and instantly curing them with UV light. The fine layers build up to create a precise 3D model or prototype. Models are ready to handle right out of the 3D printer, with no post
curing needed.

>> Compare PolyJet printers that can use this material 

Helpful Tips and Tricks To Remember

As with any 3D printing material, there are some important things to note when printing with Digital ABS Plus that will help you get the most out of the material:

• The arrangement of the parts on the build tray affects the quality of the printed parts, so if surface matching is required, place all matching surfaces face up.
• Photobleaching involves exposing printed parts to intense fluorescent light. The yellow tint of the material fades naturally over time, but you can greatly accelerate this process by using a suitable photobleaching treatment. (After only 24 hours, there is tint reduction of 90%)
• Thermal treatment of Digital ABS Plus parts in a programmable oven improves their heat resistance. It is important to note, the actual thermal resistance depends on the part’s geometry. (See application note below for full details)
• Cross-contamination of materials can cause micro-cracks which adversely affect the mechanical properties of printed parts. To avoid micro-cracks simply run the Head Cleaning Wizard and Wiper Cleaning Wizard after a print job has completed or before starting a new job.

>> Read the complete Application Note from Stratasys 

Learn more about Digital ABS Plus

This article is just meant as an introduction to this material. For additional details and specifics about all that it can do, take a look at some of our related content:

• Download the Digital ABS Plus material data sheet
• Download the PolyJet Systems and Materials Matrix

Want to learn more about which Stratasys 3D printing material is right for your application? Download our 3D Printer Material Guide below.