First print with ABS

[Johnathan Garrett @jgarrett My Robox is a Blue Commercial Version]

Hey all!

I have been putting off printing with ABS since I got the Robox because of all the things I kept reading about how difficult it can be to print with. Recently I got a few reels of ABS so I figured it was time to give it a shot. I loaded up the green ABS that came with the printer and set the quality to the standard Fine setting and pressed print. I am very happy with the result! Aside from a few horizontal lines that showed up towards the middle of the print, everything turned out beautifully. Does anyone know what could be causing those lines? I have printed a couple of things since and the lines always seem to show up in random locations. Any tips would be greatly appreciated!

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[click @click My Robox is a Green Kickstarter Limited Edition]

Nice finish. I definitively need to redo my nozzle opening and hope for the best (that head won’t explode)

PLA vs ABS - so far I’ve got two completely opposite views (which I treated as advice):

- why bothering with ABS as PLA does all as ABS but it is easier for it to stick to the bed which even can be not heated. No ‘toxic fumes’ either.

- PLA is for beginners as it is so easy to work with, but results a brittle and there’s almost inability for ‘fixing’ print afterwards (it is hard to work with prints in PLA in comparison to ABS).

And - I’ve got a ‘vibe’ from this forum that people who where switching from ABS to PLA and even works back again had issues with head seal blowing. All might be completely wrong impression - but it did put me off a bit. And some of the applications I intended to put 3D printer in use of almost suggested ABS over PLA…

So, now you going ABS route I’ll give PLA a go (just got sample pack + full roll of ColorFabb’s PLA/PHA)

[Pete @pete My Robox is a Blue Commercial Version]

tips:

ABS shrinks as it cools. This might ruin prints or cause other flaws such as lifted edges and cracks. The arms of your “Christ the Redeemer” might curl upward into the path of the nozzles.

Robox deals with this shrinkage by maintaining a high ambient temperature in the build chamber. Keep the door shut and experiment with the Ambient temperature.

If you have holes that can be drilled out later try just printing the part with starter holes, ABS machines well so drilling, shaping and sanding it works well.

Acetone is nasty stuff, it was commonly used in nail polish remover until kids started sniffing it. It is great for smoothing ABS parts, read up on it before using it yourself. Acetone vapour is commonly linked to 3D printing in ABS.

 

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