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ABS CNC Machining Services
Professional ABS CNC Machining Services
ABS CNC Parts Precision machining for prototypes and production. Tight tolerances, fast turnaround, and quality for automotive, electronics, and consumer products and services.
Material Overview
What is ABS Plastic?
ABS stands for Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene and is one of the most engineered thermoplastic materials used for CNC machining due to the property of being cost-effective and having a perfect blend of attributes.
Work with this thermoplastic is quite easy, as it is perfect for CNC machining milling, turning, along with drilling operations without much hassle.
Key Properties
Excellent impact resistance.
Superior machinability.
Good dimensional stability.
Cost-effective solution.
Easy to bond & paint.
Excellent surface finish.
ABS Composition
15-35%
Acrylonitrile
Chemical & heat resistance
5-30%
Butadiene
Impact & toughness
40-60%
Styrene
Surface & rigidity
Gallery of Custom ABS Plastic Parts
Check out our collection of custom ABS machining parts that provide quality, durable solutions tailored to your needs.
Technical Data
ABS Material Properties
Detailed specifications for CNC machining grade ABS plastic per ASTM standards
| Property | Value | Test Method |
|---|---|---|
| Tensile Strength | 29.6 – 60 MPa (4,300 – 8,700 psi) | ASTM D638 |
| Flexural Modulus | 2.1 – 2.4 GPa (305,000 – 348,000 psi) | ASTM D790 |
| Impact Strength (Notched Izod) | 200 – 400 J/m (3.7 – 7.5 ft-lb/in) | ASTM D256 |
| Heat Deflection Temperature | 88 – 100°C (190 – 212°F) @ 1.8 MPa | ASTM D648 |
| Density | 1.04 – 1.07 g/cm³ (0.038 – 0.039 lb/in³) | ASTM D792 |
| Shore D Hardness | 75 – 85 | ASTM D2240 |
| Coefficient of Thermal Expansion | 73 – 108 µm/m·°C (41 – 60 µin/in·°F) | ASTM D696 |
| Operating Temperature | -20°C to 80°C (-4°F to 176°F) | — |
| Dielectric Strength | 15 – 17 kV/mm | ASTM D149 |
| Water Absorption (24hr) | 0.2 – 0.4% | ASTM D570 |
Our Capabilities
ABS CNC Machining Capabilities
Using sophisticated technology as well as knowledge to build precision plastic components.
CNC Milling
We offer 3, 4, and 5-axis CNC machining to accommodate complex designs in ABS plastic. We take care of the details, ins and outs, as well as any complicated abs undercuts and tight tolerances.
Max Size
1200*600*500mm
Tolerance
+/- 0.005 in.
5-axis
Available
CNC Turning
We offer a fully equipped CNC turning and lathe system to create cylindrical and rotated ABS plastic components, achieving a fine finish and perfect alignment.
Max Diameter
300mm
Max Length
600mm
Live-tooling
Available
Precision Tolerances
We provide tight tolerances, helping functional prototypes as well as production-grade ABS components. We maintain a high standard of quality which ensures constancy with any quantity of parts.
Standard
+/- 0.005 in.
Precision
+/- 0.002 in.
Ultra
+/- 0.001 in.
Material Overview
ABS Material Grades and CNC Machining
Different ABS grades for different applications
General Purpose ABS
Best for standard applications and generally accepted as having balanced properties.- Machinability and surface finishing excellent.
- Tough impact and resistance.
- Cost efficient.
- Can be easily bonded, painted and plated.
High-Impact ABS
Best for applications requiring protective housing and enhanced impact durability.- Protective impact resistance is ideal.
- Increased butadiene content ideal for protective enclosure.
- Suitable in rugged industrial and protective housing applications.
Flame Retardant ABS
Best for applications requiring flame resistance and electronics compliance.- Self-extinguishing properties are ideal.
- UL94 V-0 flame rating ideal for any safety-critical components and applications in electronics and electrical.
Heat Resistant ABS
Best for under-hood automotive parts.- Ideal automotive grade.
- Has a higher HDT with an HTD up to 110°C (230°F).
- Keeps appliances and other parts protected in high temperature environments.
ESD-Safe ABS
Best for electronic components due to static dissipative capabilities.- Ideal for electronics handling.
- Offers electrostatic discharge protection applicable in electronics manufacturing and clean room environments.
Machine Grade ABS
Best for CNC optimized workloads with tight tolerance applications.- Low to no internal stress.
- Dimensional stability is excellent.
- Superior chip formation ideal for precision parts.
Surface Finishing Options
Finishing options for ABS prototype machining
As-Machined
This is the least expensive option. Expect full tool marks, as this is done straight out the of the machine.
Ra 1.6 – 3.2 µm
Sanded
This option has tool marks abrasion to a dull matte finish via progressively sanding.
Ra 0.8 – 1.6 µm
Polished
Surface is worked to a semi-gloss sheen or high-gloss via machine or hand polishing.
Ra 0.4 – 0.8 µm
Vapor Polished
This finish is quite glossy and clear. Also, very flexible to works done via acetone vapor.
Ra < 0.4 µm
Painted
A combination of primer, topcoat, and UV protection paint can be applied.
RAL/PANTONE
Plated
Finish can be decorative or functional by chroming, nickel, or other metal plating.
Metallic finish
Customer Success Stories
ABS CNC Machining Case Studies
Spanning automotive, electronic, medical, and consumer industries. See how we’ve assisted leading companies tackle and solve complex machining challenges.
Automotive Industry
Substitution of Injection Molded Dashboard Components with CNC Machined ABS
AutoTech Components Inc. – Tier 1 Auto Supplier | MI, USA
±0.003″
Tolerance
110°C
HDT Rating
Ra 0.8μm
Surface Finish
2,400
Units / Year
The Challenge
AutoTech required 200 prototype dashboard trim assemblies for fit/form/function testing for 8 separate vehicle configurations within 18 months. Key hurdles:
- Custom injection mold tooling lead times of 12 weeks and costs over $85,000.
- Parts are complex, with 14 snap-fit features and tolerances of ±0.003″.
- A class A surface finish required for interior components.
- Heat resistant ABS (HDT 110°C) needed for thermal conditions.
Our Solution
- Bridge Manufacturing: Proposed machining from heat resistant ABS stock to allow quick iterations without permanent tooling investment.
- Material: Chose automotive grade ABS with 110°C HDT.
- Process: Created a custom 5-axis CNC machining program to snap-fit each of the 14 features in a single operation.
- Finishing: Used vapor polishing to achieve a class A surface finish of Ra 0.4 µm.
Medical Devices
ABS UL94 V-0 Enclosure for Point-of-Care Diagnostic Equipment
MedDiagnostics Corp. – FDA-Registered Manufacturer | CA, USA
UL94 V-0
Flame Retardant
±0.002″
Sealing Tolerance
500
Annual Units
ISO 13485
Certified
The Issue
MedDiagnostics needed to scale up production for their FDA 510(k) approved blood analyzer. Complexities included:
- UL94 V-0 flame retardant ABS needed for IEC 60601-1 compliance.
- Sealing surfaces must meet ±0.002″ for IP54 ingress protection.
- Complete lot traceability and certification mandatory for FDA DHF.
- Annual demand of 500 units—too low for injection molding costs.
How We Did It
- Sourcing: Sourced certified UL94 V-0 flame retardant ABS with traceable materials.
- Precision: Achieved ±0.002″ on sealing surfaces via precision machining.
- Verification: Developed CMM inspection program with 32-point measurement routine.
- Documentation: Provided full DHF package: CoC, material certs, inspection reports, FAIR.
Robotics
Lightweight High-Impact ABS End Effectors for Collaborative Robots
RoboArm Dynamics – Industrial Robotics Manufacturer | OH, USA
35%
Weight Reduction
420 J/m
Impact Strength
±0.002″
Mounting Tolerance
1,200
Parts/Year
The Challenge
RoboArm Dynamics upgraded their cobot line to meet ISO 10218-1 safety standards. Existing aluminum end effectors were too heavy for force-limited operation.
- Collision Safety: High impact strength needed to absorb collision energy.
- Precision: ±0.002” tolerances required for gripper mounting interfaces.
- Environment: Factory operating temps of -10°C to 60°C.
Our Solution
- Material: Selected High-Impact ABS (420 J/m notched Izod).
- Design: Used internal ribbing geometry to retain stiffness while achieving 35% weight reduction vs aluminum.
- Production: Precision boring for gripper mounting and automated CMM inspection deployed.
- Logistics: Set up a monthly Kanban delivery program for 8 end effector configurations.
Material Engineering
ABS vs Polycarbonate: Data-Driven Selection for Test Equipment
TechInstruments LLC – Industrial Equipment | CO, USA
ABS
Selected Material
28%
Cost Savings
40
Test Samples
Pass
All Tests
The Dilemma
TechInstruments needed housings for a new line of portable test equipment. They were undecided between ABS and Polycarbonate based on:
- Impact: Must withstand 1m drops onto concrete.
- Chemical: Previous housings cracked near screw bosses due to cleaners.
- Budget: Needed durability but had budget constraints.
- Temp: -20°C to 50°C operating range.
Our Process
We conducted a structured evaluation producing 20 identical housings in both materials:
- Drop Test: IEC 60068-2-31 (1 meter drops at 6 orientations).
- Chemical: Tested resistance to industrial solvents/IPA.
- Stress: Analyzed screw boss stress using torque testing.
Quality Assurance
Certifications & Quality
Rigorous quality control for every ABS machined part
ISO
9001
ISO 9001:2015
Quality Management System Certified
ISO
13485
ISO 13485
Medical Device Quality Management
AS
9100D
AS9100D
Aerospace Quality Management
ITAR
REG
ITAR Registered
Defense & Export Compliance
Pricing
Pricing and Lead Times for ABS Plastic Machining
Understand our prices with no hidden or unexpected costs.
Part Complexity
More time is required for simple, moderate, or complex geometries.
Size & Material Volume
More time is needed for larger parts, as they require more material.
Grades of ABS Selected
Specialty grades (FR, ESD, Heat Resistant) are more expensive.
Surface Finish Requirements
Additional finishing requires more processing time.
Tolerance Requirements
More precision and time are needed for tighter tolerances.
Order Quantity
Discounts for larger quantities starting from 25+ units.
ABS Engineering Toolkit
Calculate Weight, Tolerances & Estimated Costs
Want To Start Your ABS Project?
Join the list of hundreds of companies that trust Lecreator with their ABS CNC machining. Instantly get a quote or speak to one of our engineers for your specific needs.
Get Your Quote NowCNC Machined ABS Parts FAQs
CNC machining ABS is when computer-controlled machinery is used to produce ABS finished products. ABS is an ideal material to be used for prototyping and final product manufacturing as it has great mechanical properties, ideal for many consumer products, as it is tough and strong. These properties also make it suitable for many other industries, like automotive, aerospace, and many more. CNC machining ABS can produce high quality prototypes with high precision and are highly accurate when it comes to mass production.
CNC milling ABS is done with common machining strategies that include slotting, facing, and profiling, which are done on 3 or 5 axis mills. ABS is a common thermoplastic that has a good rate of machinability, meaning it will be much easier to create than other thermoplastics. Proper rates, speeds, and evacuation will create a smooth final product.
The final tolerances of precision-machined ABS parts depend on numerous factors such as overall part size and machine production setup, ranging to ±0.005". With secondary processing such as sanding, vapor smoothing, and annealing, machining surface finishes also achieve excellence. Consider manufacturability, wall thickness, and heat deflection to guarantee that functional demands are achieved, and determine any final part values for using parts.
Machine Shops rely on experienced machinists to efficiently create prototypes and production runs of custom ABS parts at a reasonable cost. In such cases, small to medium volumes or CAD designs that are expensive in injection molding are ideal for low-cost CNC machining, tech to your needs. Although injection molding can be cost-effective for larger volumes, machinists can provide prototypes and low-cost iterations, quick assignments, and small end-use parts.
CNC machining ABS results in more accurate and stronger parts with better surface finish than some 3D printing processes, which makes it better for functional prototyping and for end-use applications. 3D printing is better for timeliness and for more complicated shapes or low-cost iterations, and then there is injection molding for mass production when parts have high complexity and varying geometries. 3D printing is used in the initial design phase, CNC machining in the production of functional prototypes of sufficient quantity, and injection molding in the targeted high-use applications.
Certainly! ABS is highly suitable to use in combinations of metal and plastic assemblies because it is highly durable. It is common that accurately designed ABS parts are mounted to metal brackets or other metal fastening systems; it is advisable to make the mating thermal configuration so that stress will not be problematic.
For heat resistance and impact strength of ABS to be improved, use good carbide tooling and appropriate spindle speeds while using coolant to prevent melting. In the design of the part, minimize the stress concentrators, use rounded corners and if volumes will be high and high service temperatures are to be expected, alternate cycles may be used. Choose design features that distribute loads to keep tensile strength and impact resistance. These are applicable for end-use enclosures and casings.
For small to medium volume runs, production machining is preferable if high tolerances, good surface finish, and quick turnaround is desired. Production machining of ABS works best when the part is to be functional, when precision is necessary, or when the cost of injection molding is high. It fits design requirements in the automotive and consumer goods industry, aerospace prototyping, and any applications that require high-quality end-use parts that need quick turnaround and good mechanical properties.
