Sheet in ABS Reg 2100x1200 mm black

ABS Reg is recycled ABS, that is, the same tough and stiff base plastic but made from recycled raw material instead of virgin plastic. That makes the sheet good value when the part has to work mechanically and you do not need a spotless surface finish. You get the ABS properties at a lower cost and with a smaller material footprint into the bargain. The density is around 1.06 g/cm³ and the fire rating is HB. For many workshop parts the difference against newly made ABS is in practice only the price and a slightly darker shade.

Mechanically ABS Reg behaves like ordinary ABS. The material is impact resistant and takes knocks without cracking, while it is stiff enough to hold its shape in panels and covers. The toughness that the butadiene phase gives is still there. What you should know is that the color in recycled material can vary a little between batches, and that the surface often has a darker shade with traces of mixed pigments. That rarely matters for hidden parts, parts that are going to be painted or components where the function is what counts. For visible and color-matched parts, newly made plastic is a better choice.

ABS Reg works best indoors, exactly like ordinary ABS. Without UV protection the material should not sit in direct sunlight over time, since it then yellows and turns brittle. The machining is the familiar kind. The sheet mills, saws, drills and turns cleanly without chipping, can be bonded with solvent adhesive and can be heat formed into curved guards and covers. The chips release nicely in the machine, and the material is soft enough to work quickly while the tools last. The surface takes paint and print, so you can paint away shade differences if looks matter.

This is a natural choice for machine covers, guard plates, mounting plates and enclosures where function and price come before looks. Prototypes and fitting pieces are another rewarding area, since you can mill a model cheaply and throw it away with a clear conscience if the design changes. Fixtures, shims, templates and interior parts in lighter constructions work just as well. Choosing Reg over newly made ABS is also an easy way to keep the use of virgin plastic down without giving anything up mechanically. For internal use and hidden parts it is often the obvious choice.

Remember to allow for some color variation if several sheets are going to sit visibly next to each other, and order everything at once if the look has to be uniform. For hidden or painted parts you do not need to think about the shade at all. Choose thickness according to how much stiffness the part needs, and store the sheets flat and dry. We cut the material to your dimensions so you avoid waste. If you are wondering whether ABS Reg is enough for your part or whether the look calls for newly made plastic, get in touch and we will help you weigh price against finish.

Compared with newly made ABS the difference is in practice the price and the appearance. The mechanics are the same, so for a cover, a guard or a fixture that is out of sight anyway the shade means nothing. That is exactly why the Reg grade exists: putting virgin plastic into a part nobody is going to look at is wasteful, both for the wallet and for the material use.

In practice you work with ABS Reg just as with ordinary ABS. Same tools, same feeds, same adhesives and same heat forming. The only difference in handling is that you should not expect an even, light base surface, but a darker and somewhat more varied shade. If the part is going to be painted it makes no difference at all, and if it is going to be hidden it matters even less.

Store the sheets flat and dry, and order together if several are going to sit visibly side by side. We cut the material to the right size so you can get going right away. If you want an even, light base surface then newly made ABS is the right choice, but for everything that is going to be painted or hidden anyway, the Reg grade is both cheaper and easier on virgin plastic.