How do you tell it's ABS or PLA? I've ordered some ABS filament from UlitMachine. It was delivered to me today, and the package also had several feet of orange and clear filaments. While I appreciate the free sample, I wish they'd told me what type of plastic these were... Is there a way to know whether they are ABS or PLA before trying to melt them and extrude them? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,238732,238732#msg-238732 Thu, 18 Jun 2026 03:28:47 -0400 Phorum 5.2.23 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,238732,238999#msg-238999 Re: How do you tell it's ABS or PLA? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,238732,238999#msg-238999
It says "Samples", not "Sample", so I believe it's referring to both samples.

So, I got the plastic type wrong. LOL. Man, I'm a king of guessing-the-plastic-type-wrong.

If anyone is not certain about what type of filament you have, please come and ask me - it will be most likely NOT the type I tell you. LOL]]> Yamster Reprappers Fri, 23 Aug 2013 16:41:33 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,238732,238985#msg-238985 Re: How do you tell it's ABS or PLA? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,238732,238985#msg-238985 appdev007 Reprappers Fri, 23 Aug 2013 15:56:56 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,238732,238984#msg-238984 Re: How do you tell it's ABS or PLA? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,238732,238984#msg-238984 iquizzle Reprappers Fri, 23 Aug 2013 15:52:26 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,238732,238981#msg-238981 Re: How do you tell it's ABS or PLA? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,238732,238981#msg-238981 appdev007 Reprappers Fri, 23 Aug 2013 15:32:06 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,238732,238973#msg-238973 Re: How do you tell it's ABS or PLA? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,238732,238973#msg-238973
I printed it at 220 C. I first tried 230 C, but it was popping at when it came out of the nozzle - maybe some moisture in the filament? It was forming a big blob at the nozzle tip when idle... what a mess.

Anyway I printed some test piece at 220C without a fan... so it'd better be ABS, since if otherwise that would mean I've printed PLA at 220 C without even a fan! The result was quite good. Definitely better print quality than PLA with which I had inconsistent extrusion issue (I have another posting about it, so sorry about making you read it twice - if you did see the other posting).

Also compared to the other white cheap ABS I tried before (whole 2.2 lb of it!) the printing quality of this orange ABS is better, too. It's actually a bit shiny, too - I thought the surface of ABS was dull.

The only complain I have is that it's so gooey and sticky when melted, even after lowering the temperature to 220 C, it is still a bit of messy to deal wtih.

I wonder if this gooey characteristic is common among ABS or from the pigment used for orange coloring...]]> Yamster Reprappers Fri, 23 Aug 2013 15:19:23 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,238732,238946#msg-238946 Re: How do you tell it's ABS or PLA? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,238732,238946#msg-238946 sheck626 Reprappers Fri, 23 Aug 2013 13:46:36 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,238732,238890#msg-238890 Re: How do you tell it's ABS or PLA? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,238732,238890#msg-238890
I kinda wish they would have sent me some ABS samples with my PLA so I could try out ABS. I had to order a whole spool to figure out if my printer could handle it.]]> appdev007 Reprappers Fri, 23 Aug 2013 10:47:23 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,238732,238747#msg-238747 Re: How do you tell it's ABS or PLA? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,238732,238747#msg-238747
So, I guess they sent me ABS filament samples. Come to think of it, that only makes sense since I ordered a batch of ABS filament - they probably wanted to show me the other cool colors.

Thanks!]]> Yamster Reprappers Fri, 23 Aug 2013 01:48:47 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,238732,238738#msg-238738 Re: How do you tell it's ABS or PLA? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,238732,238738#msg-238738
You can also do a quick burn test with a lighter.

PLA will smell sweet. ABS Defenatly not.

PLA seems harder to burn, and my sample just seems to caramize while burning.
ABS turns black and gives off black smoke.

Hope this helps.]]> Komb' Reprappers Fri, 23 Aug 2013 01:14:20 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,238732,238732#msg-238732 How do you tell it's ABS or PLA? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,238732,238732#msg-238732
It was delivered to me today, and the package also had several feet of orange and clear filaments.

While I appreciate the free sample, I wish they'd told me what type of plastic these were...

Is there a way to know whether they are ABS or PLA before trying to melt them and extrude them?]]> Yamster Reprappers Fri, 23 Aug 2013 00:48:43 -0400