ABS Print Stress Whitening Fix - ABS Stress Melt

[Demosth]

When printing ABS, sometimes the parts adhere so well that removing the parts from your build plate can cause white, or light colored stress marks on your parts. I first attempting to sand away these stress marks before doing some research and finding out that they can easily be removed with just a little bit of heat.

While any heat gun should suffice, I opted to use my Soldering Rework Station heat gun, then set the temp to just above the ABS melt point, I landed on 300C as a happy medium between speed and control. If the the heat is too hot, you could easily warp you part, especially for thinner parts. Slowly moving the heat gun over the surface of the part made all the marks magically disappear!





White Stress Marks


White Stress Marks Gone!

[danielson761729]

I’ve found a very careful rub with some Acetone does exactly the same trick.

 

i just use some kitchen roll and wipe the part over the messy bit, within seconds it’s looking great.

 

thanks for the info :-). 

[Demosth]

Great idea! - Although I am sure my wife appreciates not having the smell of acetone in the house!  Either way, this is a fantastic additional idea to have in the arsenel!

[GalvanicGlaze]

I use a kitchen style blowtorch at a distance as I couldn't be bothered getting the heat gun and plugging it in