TissueDB/Materials/ABS
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License: CC-BY-2.0 by Creative Tools
ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) is a rigid, durable thermoplastic polymer used in 3D printing. Supplied as filament for FDM printers; print temperature typically 230–250 °C with a heated bed. Acetone vapour smoothing yields a fused surface finish. Its hardness suits it to the rigid parts of surgical simulators — standing in for bone and firm cartilage.
Tissues
| Tissue | Visual | Tactile | Recipe | Simulator | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bone | 3D print at 230–250 °C with heated bed. | Cranial Burr Hole and Craniotomy Simulator (Bakhshi) | Rigid; gives the hard resistance of bone. | ||
| Cartilage | 3D-printed (FDM). | White UW Cricothyrotomy Simulator, D'Auria Cricothyrotomy Simulator | |||
| Thyroid Cartilage | 3D-printed (FDM). | Lee 2021 | |||
| Cricoid Cartilage | 3D-printed (FDM). | Lee 2021 |
Alternatives
| Alternative | Best For | Trade-offs |
|---|---|---|
| PLA | Named as a possible substitute by the developers of the Injection Laryngoplasty Simulator (Lee), who printed the cartilage framework in ABS and report that consumer-grade printers and other filaments, including PLA, gave no substantial loss of quality.[1] | Tested by that team for that framework only; not evaluated here for other ABS uses. Not interchangeable for drilled bone models — the humeral and tibial fracture-fixation builders require PLA and expressly forbid ABS, having measured ABS at Shore 76D against cortical bone at 79D–93D. |
Used In Simulators
| Simulator | Purpose | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cranial Burr Hole and Craniotomy Simulator (Bakhshi) | Cranium | The cranium is printed in ABS so that trainees drill it with the same perforator and craniotome used in theatre. See the simulator page for build detail.[2] |
| White UW Cricothyrotomy Simulator | Larynx | 3D-printed ABS larynx, combined with a cardboard trachea and a bicycle-inner-tube skin. See the simulator page for build detail.[3] |
| D'Auria Cricothyrotomy Simulator | Larynx with a mobile cricothyroid joint | 3D-printed ABS larynx with a mobile cricothyroid joint. See the simulator page for build detail.[4] |
| Lee Injection Laryngoplasty Simulator | Structural framework and negative injection mould | Rigid 3D-printed structural framework, and a reusable four-piece negative injection mould printed in ABS. See the simulator page for build detail.[1] |
References
[edit source]- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lee M, Ang C, Andreadis K, Shin J, Rameau A. An open-source three-dimensionally printed laryngeal model for injection laryngoplasty training. Laryngoscope 2021;131(3):E890–E895. DOI: 10.1002/lary.28952. PMID: 32750164.
- ↑ Bakhshi SK, Ahmad R, Merchant AAH, Noorali AA, Abdul Rahim K, Shaikh NQ, Afzal N, Lakhdir MPA, Shamim MS, Haider AH. Development, outcome and costs of a simulation-based neurosurgery bootcamp at the national level. BMC Medical Education 2022;22:896. DOI: 10.1186/s12909-022-03965-9. PMID: 36578075.
- ↑ D'Auria D, Persia F. Automatic evaluation of medical doctors' performances while using a cricothyrotomy simulator. 2014 IEEE 15th International Conference on Information Reuse and Integration (IRI 2014), Redwood City, CA, 13–15 August 2014:514–519. DOI: 10.1109/IRI.2014.7051932.
- ↑ D'Auria D, Persia F. A Framework for Real-Time Evaluation of Medical Doctors' Performances While Using a Cricothyrotomy Simulator. In: Data Management Technologies and Applications. DATA 2014. Communications in Computer and Information Science. Springer, Cham, 2015:182–198. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-25936-9_12.
Overview
Sold as filament on spools for FDM printers, most commonly in 1.75 mm and 2.85 mm diameters on 1 kg spools; also available as sheet, rod and pellets. Filament is stocked by 3D-printing suppliers and general online marketplaces, typically around US$20–30 per kilogram for standard grades. ABS does not spoil, but it is hygroscopic: keep spools sealed with desiccant, because damp filament prints with bubbling and poor layer adhesion. Printing needs an enclosed printer and a heated bed; acetone vapour smooths the printed surface.
Synonyms
- Common names: ABS plastic, ABS filament, ABS print material
- Regional names: Plástico ABS (Spanish/Portuguese), Plastique ABS (French), ABS樹脂 (Chinese)
- Forms: ABS filament, ABS sheet, ABS rod, ABS pellets, ABS pipe
- Chemical/Technical terms: Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, ABS terpolymer, ABS thermoplastic
Clinical Context for Simulation
ABS is used for the parts of a simulator that must stay rigid and survive repeated use. In the simulators listed on this page it forms the drilled cranium, the printed larynx and the reusable injection mould — parts that hold their shape under real instruments, rather than parts that deform like tissue.
Processing & Preparation
Print with a heated bed and an enclosed chamber, which prevents the warping and layer separation ABS is prone to in open air. Extrusion needs calibrating separately from PLA, as ABS is more viscous. A bed adhesion aid helps large flat parts stay down. Acetone vapour smoothing fuses the outer layers into a continuous surface where a smooth finish matters.
Safety Considerations
ABS gives off styrene and other fumes while printing, so print in a ventilated space and do not run an unenclosed printer in an occupied room. Fully set prints are inert and safe to handle repeatedly in training. ABS is petroleum-based and not biodegradable.
| Authors | Arturopelayo |
|---|---|
| License | CC-BY-SA-4.0 |
| Cite as | Arturopelayo (2026). "TissueDB/Materials/ABS". Appropedia. Retrieved August 4, 2026. |