3RDAX™ ABS-CF15 Carbon Fiber 1.75mm

3RDAX™ ABS-CF15 Carbon Fiber 1.75mm 3D Printing Filament

ABOUT THIS FILAMENT
ABS-CF takes the toughness, heat resistance, and post processing versatility of standard ABS and reinforces it with Carbon Fiber to improve stiffness, reduce flex, and increase dimensional stability. It keeps the functional nature that makes ABS useful for workshop, automotive, and engineering style parts, while giving printed parts a more rigid feel and cleaner technical finish.

Compared to standard ABS, the Carbon Fiber reinforcement helps parts hold their shape more consistently and reduces the amount of flex in the finished print. It can also help mask visible layer lines and give parts a more matte surface finish, making it useful where both function and appearance matter.

ABS-CF is still more demanding to print than PLA or PETG and should be treated like a higher temperature functional material. It benefits from good printer preparation, stable temperatures, and proper bed adhesion, but rewards that effort with strong, stiff parts suited to practical use.

WHERE IT WORKS BEST
ABS-CF works best for functional parts where stiffness, heat resistance, and dimensional stability are more important than flexibility or impact absorption. It is well suited to brackets, mounts, housings, jigs, fixtures, tooling, automotive parts, and workshop components where standard ABS may still have too much flex.

It is also useful for parts that need a cleaner matte finish while still keeping the post processing advantages of ABS. Parts can still be sanded, drilled, glued, painted, or machined, making it practical for both rough workshop use and more refined finished components.

For users wanting a stiffer version of ABS without moving into nylon, Polycarbonate, or more specialised materials, ABS-CF is a strong middle ground.

WHERE IT COMES FROM
ABS-CF starts with ABS, a petroleum based thermoplastic made from acrylonitrile, butadiene, and styrene. Each part contributes something different to the material. Acrylonitrile helps with chemical and heat resistance, butadiene adds toughness, and styrene contributes rigidity and surface finish.

That base material is then reinforced with chopped Carbon Fiber, which changes the way the material behaves by increasing stiffness, reducing flex, and improving dimensional stability. This reinforcement gives ABS-CF its more rigid structural feel compared to standard ABS.

Like other Carbon Fiber filled materials, the trade off is that ABS-CF is usually less flexible and can be less impact resistant than the base material. It is best chosen when rigidity, shape retention, and a cleaner technical finish matter more than maximum toughness.

PRINTING WITH IT
ABS-CF prints much like standard ABS, but with the added abrasion that comes with Carbon Fiber reinforcement. It still benefits from an enclosed printer, stable temperatures, and reduced airflow around the machine, especially on larger parts where warping or layer separation can still occur.

Because of the abrasive Carbon Fiber content, a hardened nozzle is essential. Brass nozzles are not recommended, as wear will quickly affect print quality and dimensional accuracy.

Good bed adhesion remains important, particularly on larger prints or parts with sharp corners. A suitable build surface rated for higher temperatures and a good adhesive can make a major difference, and products like Dimafix are useful for reducing lift and improving first layer hold.

ABS-CF also produces noticeable fumes while printing, so reasonable ventilation is recommended. Cooling should generally be kept low, as too much airflow can reduce layer adhesion and increase the chance of warping.

MATERIAL COMPATIBILITY
ABS-CF performs best as a single material print and bonds reliably to itself when printed correctly.

For supported prints, materials designed for higher temperature printing environments are usually the most suitable pairing. HIPS is commonly used with ABS based materials because it better matches the printing temperature range and can provide cleaner support separation depending on the setup.

Like standard ABS, it does not naturally pair well with PLA or PETG due to the difference in print temperatures and material behaviour. Because of the Carbon Fiber content, support tuning may also need some adjustment compared to standard ABS.

BASE, CARBON OR GLASS?
Standard ABS remains the better all round option when toughness, impact resistance, and post processing flexibility are the priority. It is often the safer choice for parts that may take knocks, vibration, or repeated handling.

ABS Carbon Fiber shifts the balance toward stiffness, reduced flex, and dimensional stability. It gives parts a cleaner matte finish and a more rigid structural feel, making it better suited to brackets, mounts, housings, fixtures, and parts where shape retention matters more than flexibility.

ABS Glass Fiber, if offered in future, would sit slightly differently again. Glass Fiber reinforcement generally improves stiffness and dimensional stability while often retaining a different toughness balance and surface feel compared to Carbon Fiber.

For functional ABS parts where rigidity, dimensional stability, and a cleaner technical finish are the priority, ABS-CF is the better fit.

TECHNICAL DATA
Material Type: ABS-CF15
Diameter: 1.75 mm ± 0.03 mm
Net Weight: 1 kg
Composition: Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene, Carbon Fiber (15%)
Density: 1.10 g/cm³
Approx. Length per kg: 378 m
Certifications: CE and RoHS compliant

This filament does not have a full Technical Data Sheet at this stage.

PRINT SETTINGS
Nozzle Temperature: 240 to 260°C
Bed Temperature: 90 to 115°C
Enclosure: 45 to 60°C
Nozzle Type: Hardened steel required
Cooling: Minimal cooling recommended
Drying: 6 - 8 Hours @ 80 - 85°C
Build Surface: PEI, glass, textured plate, or suitable high temperature print surface
Bed Adhesive: Recommended for larger parts or difficult geometries