Sheet in ABS 1220x610 mm natural

An ABS sheet is the plastic the workshop reaches for when the part has to take a knock without cracking. The material is built on acrylonitrile, butadiene and styrene, and it is the butadiene phase that gives the toughness. The result is a plastic that combines stiffness with impact resistance in a way few other materials in the same price class do. The tensile strength is around 32 MPa and the ball indentation hardness about 74 N/mm². The density is 1.05 g/cm³, which makes the sheet easy to handle even in larger formats and in thicker material. You get a material that feels solid in the hand but does not turn heavy in the finished construction.

On temperature, ABS works best in a normal workshop and indoor environment. Continuously the material takes up to 75 degrees, briefly it handles around 100 degrees, and downwards it works to about minus 20. Within that span the sheet keeps its impact resistance and stiffness without going soft or brittle. Water absorption is low, about 0.2 percent, so the sheet holds its dimensions well even when the humidity varies between seasons and buildings. The fire rating is HB. One thing to keep in mind is that ABS is not UV stable without an additive. In direct sunlight over time the material yellows and turns brittle, so for outdoor use you should pick a stabilized grade or protect the surface with lacquer or film.

What really makes ABS popular on the workshop floor is the machining. The material mills, turns, drills and saws cleanly without chipping, and the chips release nicely so it is easy to keep the area around the machine clean. It can be bonded with solvent-based adhesives, which actually melt the surfaces together into a strong joint, and welded with hot gas. When heated the sheet becomes formable without going floppy, which makes it a pleasure for vacuum forming and bending covers and guard plates. The surface takes color, print and lacquer well, and it can be sanded and polished to an even finish. Since the material is softer than metal the work goes quickly and the tools last a long time.

Typical uses for the sheet format are machine covers, control panels, fronts and enclosures where it has to look tidy and at the same time take daily handling and the odd knock. Prototypes and fitting pieces in design work are another classic area. You quickly mill a working model, try the fit and adjust before you move on to metal or a more expensive engineering plastic. Interior parts, shelves, fixtures and shims in lighter constructions also work well. ABS turns up everywhere someone wants a stiff material that is not brittle and does not cost too much. Signs, holders and simple housings for electronics belong here too.

When you choose thickness, think about the balance between stiffness and weight. Thinner sheets are easy to form and bend but give way under load, while thicker material gives steadiness to panels and semi load-bearing parts. If the part is going to be lacquered or printed, the base color matters less, but for visible parts it is worth thinking the finish through from the start. Store the sheets flat and dry so they do not take the shape of the surface underneath or draw moisture into the edges. We cut the sheet to your dimensions, so you avoid working out the waste and handling half sheets for no reason. If you need help judging whether ABS is enough or whether the part calls for something tougher, more heat resistant or UV stable, get in touch and we will go through the conditions together and find the right grade for the job.

Compared with an acrylic sheet, ABS is tougher and takes an impact better, but it is not crystal clear and therefore belongs where function comes before seeing through it. Against a PE sheet, ABS wins on stiffness and on the fact that it can actually be bonded and lacquered, while PE in return takes more chemicals. That trade-off is worth making before you order. If you instead need a crystal clear material for a hatch or a window, acrylic or polycarbonate is the way to go, but for a steady and impact resistant cover ABS is hard to beat.

In natural and 1220x610 mm it gives you a little more to work with when the parts get bigger.