What Is ABS Resin? A Practical Comparison with Polycarbonate (PC)

Why Material Selection Matters in Mechanical Design

Material selection is not just a specification detail.
It directly affects part performance, machinability, cost, and scalability into production.

Among engineering plastics, ABS and polycarbonate (PC) are two of the most commonly used materials for CNC-machined prototypes and production parts.

This article covers:

• The structure and properties of ABS resin
• Key advantages and limitations of ABS
• A practical ABS vs PC comparison from a CNC machining perspective

What Is ABS Resin?

ABS is a thermoplastic polymer composed of three monomers:

• Acrylonitrile (A): improves mechanical strength and heat resistance
• Butadiene (B): rubber component that enhances impact resistance
• Styrene (S): provides dimensional stability, machinability, and surface finish

Thanks to this balanced composition, ABS is widely regarded as a
general-purpose engineering plastic with excellent machinability and surface quality.

It is commonly used for enclosures, housings, mechanical covers, and functional prototypes.

Key Characteristics of ABS Resin

Advantages of ABS

1. Adequate heat resistance for general applications
ABS has a heat deflection temperature (HDT) of approximately 70–100°C, which is sufficient for most indoor and industrial use cases.

2. Good impact resistance
The butadiene component provides strong impact resistance, including stable performance at lower temperatures.

3. Excellent CNC machinability
ABS is one of the easiest plastics to machine. It supports:

• CNC milling and turning
• Tight tolerances with minimal tool wear
• Clean edges and stable dimensional accuracy

It also bonds well and supports surface finishing and plating, making it suitable for parts where appearance and fit matter.

4. High material versatility
ABS can be compounded with additives such as glass fiber or heat-resistant modifiers, allowing it to scale into more demanding applications.

Limitations of ABS

1. Limited weather resistance
Standard ABS degrades under prolonged UV exposure, leading to discoloration and reduced mechanical properties.

For outdoor applications, ASA or other weather-resistant plastics are recommended.

2. Flammability
ABS is inherently flammable.
For applications near heat sources, flame-retardant ABS grades should be considered.

ABS vs Polycarbonate (PC): CNC Machining Comparison

Heat Resistance

• ABS: HDT approx. 70–100°C
• PC: HDT approx. 120–130°C

PC maintains mechanical stability at both high and very low temperatures (down to around –100°C).

Impact Resistance

PC offers significantly higher impact strength than ABS, which is why it is commonly used in protective components and safety-critical parts.

However, PC is more prone to surface scratching during handling and machining.

Chemical Resistance

PC is vulnerable to alkaline environments.
For parts exposed to detergents or cleaning agents, ABS is often the more reliable choice.

ABS vs PC

ABS vs PC – CNC Machining Overview

For CNC-machined parts, ABS is ideal when cost, surface quality, and machinability are priorities, while PC is better suited for high-impact, high-temperature, or transparent components.

CNC Machining Services with Process Scalability

Engineering plastics such as ABS and PC are well suited for CNC machining when dimensional accuracy and surface quality are required.

Creallo provides an AI-driven custom manufacturing platform that evaluates:

• CNC machinability of ABS, PC, and other plastics
• Real-time pricing based on geometry, tolerance, and volume

When necessary, parts are reviewed by manufacturing engineers to confirm the most appropriate material and machining strategy.

If CNC machining is not optimal due to geometry or quantity, alternative processes such as vacuum casting or sheet metal fabrication can also be considered.

This approach helps reduce unnecessary redesign cycles during prototyping and ensures a smoother transition from prototype to production.

Using consistent data and quality criteria, manufacturing volumes can be scaled flexibly without disrupting the development workflow.

From design to production. Fast and accurate.

If you are developing CNC-machined plastic parts using ABS or PC, explore Creallo’s custom manufacturing services to streamline your process.

Related links: 

CNC Design Guidelines & Key Considerations >> 

Full List of Supported CNC Materials >>