User:Arturopelayo/TissueDB ABS review 2026-11-11
Review draft — ABS Materials page. Prepared 11 November 2026. This is proposed copy for ABS Materials page.
ABS material draft · STL-to-ABS guide draft · Printing hub draft
_v01.jpg)
License: CC BY 2.0 by Creative Tools.
ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) is a rigid thermoplastic. In filament printing, a compatible printer heats a strand of ABS and deposits it in layers. ABS can warp or shrink as it cools.[1] The examples below use ABS for rigid anatomical components and other parts of surgical simulators. Material identity alone does not establish anatomical accuracy or the required feel during training.
Working with ABS and STL files
An STL file describes a model's three-dimensional surface. A slicer combines the model with the selected printer and print settings to produce instructions for that machine.[2] Confirm that the simulator's build instructions specify ABS. A file extension or an unspecified “3D-printed” part does not identify the material.
Follow From an STL File to an ABS Print for the illustrated workflow, model downloads, printer setup, layer preview and checks on the finished component. The guide also explains what to give a printing service. Use 3D Printing Guides to choose the route that matches the specified material and process.
Match the model version, filament and settings to the simulator and actual printer. Resolve missing or conflicting requirements before printing. A completed print does not by itself establish the simulator's training performance.
Tissues
[edit | edit source]| Tissue | Visual | Tactile | Simulator | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bone | Cranial Burr Hole and Craniotomy Simulator (Bakhshi), Thoracoscopic Diaphragmatic Hernia Repair Simulator (Barsness) | The Bakhshi cranium is printed in ABS for drilling with a perforator and craniotome. Follow the relevant simulator's build instructions for its material and printing requirements.[3] | ||
| Cartilage | White UW Cricothyrotomy Simulator, D'Auria Cricothyrotomy Simulator | 3D-printed (FDM). 3D-printed ABS larynx, combined with a cardboard trachea and a bicycle-inner-tube skin.[4] The D'Auria build is a 3D-printed ABS larynx with a mobile cricothyroid joint. See the simulator page for build detail.[5] | ||
| Thyroid Cartilage | Lee 2021 | 3D-printed (FDM). Part of the rigid 3D-printed structural framework. See the simulator page for build detail.[6] | ||
| Cricoid Cartilage | Lee 2021 | 3D-printed (FDM). Part of the rigid 3D-printed structural framework. | ||
| (Structural — reusable negative injection mould, not tissue simulant) | Lee 2021 | 3D-printed (FDM) in ABS. A reusable four-piece negative injection mould printed in ABS, alongside the rigid structural framework. See the simulator page for build detail. |
Simulation Requirements
[edit | edit source]- Printer and filament: Confirm that the printer supports the selected ABS product. Use its supported nozzle, bed, build surface, enclosure and cooling settings. Do not copy a PLA profile or treat one ABS temperature range as suitable for every printer.
- Emissions: Use the workshop's specified extraction or other emission controls. An enclosure helps manage the print environment; it must also work with controls for airborne particles and vapours. Do not disable extraction to keep the print warm.[7]
- Model and fit: Use the specified dimensions, orientation, wall thickness, infill and supports. After cooling, check dimensions and mating parts against the simulator's requirements. Record any agreed adjustment; do not automatically enlarge the model to compensate for shrinkage.
- Finishing: Follow the build's specified finishing process. Acetone smoothing can alter dimensions and fine details; it is not a routine step in the beginner workflow.[8]
Troubleshooting
[edit | edit source]- Corners lift or layers split: Check the selected ABS profile, build-surface preparation and printing environment with the operator. Reprint damaged components after resolving the cause.
- The part is the wrong size or does not fit: Check the source dimensions, units and any recorded scale change. Measure the cooled part. Do not force it into the assembly.
- Supports obscure an opening or damage a surface: Compare the sliced preview with the source design. Confirm that supports can be removed without altering required anatomy or fitting surfaces.
- A part prints successfully but feels wrong during training: Recheck the material, walls, infill and orientation against the simulator's instructions. Printing success does not replace the developer's acceptance checks.
Alternatives
[edit | edit source]| 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. | An alternative for one build is not permission to change another. The Medical Makers tibial model requires PLA and explicitly excludes ABS.[9] Use each simulator's specified material and verify the result. |
References
[edit | edit source]- ↑ Prusa Research. ABS. Manufacturer guidance on printing conditions, warping and shrinkage. Accessed 11 November 2026.
- ↑ UltiMaker. The UltiMaker Cura workflow explained. Accessed 11 November 2026.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ NIOSH. Approaches to Safe 3D Printing: A Guide for Makerspace Users, Schools, Libraries, and Small Businesses. November 2023, Publication 2024-103, sections 3 and 4. Accessed 11 November 2026.
- ↑ Prusa Research. Improve your 3D prints with chemical smoothing. 25 June 2020. Accessed 11 November 2026.
- ↑ Medical Makers. Prepare 3D Print Files. Material requirements for the adult male tibial models. Accessed 11 November 2026.
| Authors | Arturo Pelayo |
|---|---|
| License | CC-BY-SA-4.0 |
| Cite as | Arturo Pelayo (2026). "User:Arturopelayo/TissueDB ABS review 2026-11-11". Appropedia. Retrieved November 12, 2026. |