Digital ABS vs Digital ABS Plus
Polymer · grade comparison
Digital ABS and Digital ABS Plus are both polymer grades. On the shop floor, Digital ABS welds better (poor vs not recommended) and Digital ABS Plus sits in a lower cost tier (high, $$$$) than Digital ABS (specialty, $$$$$).
Digital ABSChoose it when it will be welded.
Digital ABS PlusChoose it when cost is the deciding factor.
Digital ABS vs Digital ABS Plus: propertiesHow to read these bars
- One bar per material. A full bar is the highest value among all polymer grades in the FabDigit library; each bar is drawn as a share of that.
- The better value (by the usual engineering direction) is in bold. Rows with no direction — density, thermal conductivity — have no bold.
- Values are typical room-temperature figures for the condition named on each card.
- Confirm against the certified mill or resin datasheet before design release.
How to read these bars
- One bar per material. A full bar is the highest value among all polymer grades in the FabDigit library; each bar is drawn as a share of that.
- The better value (by the usual engineering direction) is in bold. Rows with no direction — density, thermal conductivity — have no bold.
- Values are typical room-temperature figures for the condition named on each card.
- Confirm against the certified mill or resin datasheet before design release.
Mechanical
Strength, stiffness, ductility and hardness at room temperature.
Flexural Modulus
Compressive Strength
Same in both: Elastic (Young's) Modulus 2.8 GPa0.41 Msi · Poisson's Ratio 0.38 · Tensile Strength (Ultimate) 57 MPa8.3 ksi · Elongation at Break 30% · Flexural Strength 70 MPa10.2 ksi · Izod Impact, Notched 72 J/m1.3 ft·lbf/in · Hardness, Shore D 86 Shore D · Hardness, Rockwell M 68 HRM
Physical
Density and transition temperatures.
Water Absorption (Saturation)
Same in both: Density 1.18 g/cm³0.04 lb/in³ · Glass Transition (Tg) 50°C122 °F · Water Absorption (24 h) 1.7%
Thermal
How each material carries heat and how hot it can run.
Heat Deflection Temp. @ 1.8 MPa
Thermal Conductivity
Specific Heat Capacity
Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C)
Same in both: Max Service Temperature (continuous) 50°C122 °F · Min Service Temperature -20°C-4 °F · Heat Deflection Temp. @ 0.45 MPa 63°C145 °F
Electrical
Conductivity and insulation.
Electrical Resistivity
Dielectric Strength
Dielectric Constant (1 MHz)
Volume Resistivity
Chemical & Environmental
Corrosion and environmental resistance (0–100 scores).
Corrosion Resistance
Same in both: UV / Weathering Resistance 20 / 100
Manufacturability
FabDigit workshop ratings (0–100 scores) — how each material behaves on the machine.
Machinability
Weldability
Polishability
Mold Shrinkage
Sustainability
Primary-production footprint per kilogram.
Embodied Energy (primary production)
Embodied Carbon (primary production)
Typical Recycled Content
Common Calculations
Ratios derived from the values above.
Same in both: Specific Strength (UTS / density) 49 kN·m/kg · Specific Stiffness (E / density) 2.4 MN·m/kg
Strength versus weight
Yield strength against density for every polymer grade in the FabDigit library; the compared grades are highlighted. Up and left is stronger for its weight.
Manufacturing and finishing
| Capability | Digital ABS | Digital ABS Plus |
|---|---|---|
| 3D printing | Yes | — |
| Default condition | Standard | — |
| Relative cost | $$$$$ Specialty | $$$$ High |
| Min. machined wall | — | — |
| Best machined surface | — | — |
| Conductive Coating | Yes | — |
| Dyeing (Nylon) | Yes | — |
| EMI Shielding Coating | Yes | — |
| Painting | Yes | — |
| Primer Coating | Yes | — |
| Soft Touch Coating | Yes | — |
| Tinted Coating | Yes | — |
| UV Coating | Yes | — |
| Vacuum Metallization | Yes | — |
| Waterproof Coating | Yes | — |
Digital ABS vs Digital ABS Plus — frequently asked
What is the difference between Digital ABS and Digital ABS Plus?
Digital ABS and Digital ABS Plus are both polymer grades. On the shop floor, Digital ABS welds better (poor vs not recommended) and Digital ABS Plus sits in a lower cost tier (high, $$$$) than Digital ABS (specialty, $$$$$).
Which is cheaper, Digital ABS or Digital ABS Plus?
Digital ABS Plus is the lower-cost material: it sits in the high tier ($$$$) while Digital ABS is specialty ($$$$$). Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Which is easier to machine, Digital ABS or Digital ABS Plus?
Digital ABS Plus, by a small margin. Both rate good for machinability — 60/100 against 55/100 for Digital ABS; for welding the order is Digital ABS first (poor, 15/100) then Digital ABS Plus (not recommended, 5/100).
Ready to make it?
Upload a CAD file and FabDigit prices the part in Digital ABS and Digital ABS Plus side by side — material, machining time, tolerance and finish in one quote. Certified material data ships with the order on request.
Typical handbook values for the conditions named above, normalised for comparison. Hardness on non-Brinell scales is converted approximately for charting only. Request certified data with your order for design-critical properties.