Custom ABS Injection Molding
ABS is the default for cosmetic housings: it takes paint and texture better than almost any other plastic, it is stiff enough for enclosures and cheap enough for high volume. The result depends on uniform walls and clean gates, because ABS shows sink and flow lines readily on gloss surfaces.
Free Consultation24h
Rapid Quote
100 pcs
Molding MOQ
SPI A-1 to A-3
Surface Finish
to 100 degree C
Heat Deflection
Materials
| Grade | Properties | Typical Applications |
|---|---|---|
| General Purpose ABS | Balanced impact, stiffness and surface finish with easy processing and good paint acceptance. The most common grade for housings, enclosures and consumer goods. | Housings, enclosures, consumer goods, brackets, covers |
| ABS PC Blend | Higher heat and impact resistance than plain ABS while keeping good finish and processability. Used where the part is warm or dropped, and covered in detail on our ABS PC blend page. | Power tool cases, automotive interior, equipment housings |
| Flame Retardant ABS (UL 94 V-0) | Listed to UL 94 V-0 at a defined wall thickness, giving ignition resistance for enclosures around live conductors. Available halogen free or brominated. | Electrical enclosures, connector surrounds, control housings |
| Glass Filled ABS | Increased stiffness and dimensional stability at higher cost, with more weld lines and tool abrasion. Used where the part must hold shape under load. | Structural brackets, load bearing frames, appliance bases |
| Plating Grade ABS | A resin composition that accepts electroplating for a real metal layer, used where a chrome or bright trim is specified. | Decorative trim, bright bezels, automotive and appliance ornament |
| Tinted and Limited Clarity ABS | Translucent or tinted grades for light covers and indicators where full clarity is not required but colour and toughness are. | Light covers, indicator windows, tinted housings |
Process Parameters
| Parameter | Standard Range |
|---|---|
| Melt Temperature Window | 210 to 260 degree C depending on grade and filler |
| Mould Temperature | 40 to 80 degree C, higher for gloss and larger cosmetic parts |
| Injection Pressure | 600 to 1,300 bar depending on flow length and wall |
| Recommended Wall Thickness | 1.5 to 3.0 mm uniform to avoid sink and warp |
| Mould Shrinkage | 0.4 to 0.7 percent depending on grade and flow direction |
| Clamp Force Requirement | 2 to 5 tonnes per square centimetre of projected area |
| Cycle Time | 20 to 60 seconds per part depending on wall and size |
| Part Tolerance | plus or minus 0.05 mm standard, tighter by agreement |
| Draft Requirement | 0.5 to 1.5 degree on vertical faces, more on textured surfaces |
| Maximum Moulded Part Size | up to 800 x 600 x 400 mm |
Surface Finishes
Texture (VDI 3400)
Mould-textured matte or satin grip surfaces, the default cosmetic finish and the most forgiving for production stability and fingerprint hiding.
SPI Polish (A-1 to A-3)
High-gloss optical-quality surfaces for premium housings, requiring a steel cavity and good venting for defect free gloss.
Wet Painting
Matte, satin or gloss coating in any colour with ultraviolet resistance. ABS accepts paint well, which is why it dominates branded cosmetic housings.
Pad and UV Printing
Logos, part numbers and markings applied after moulding; pad printing for detail, UV for permanent high contrast marks.
Chrome Plating
Electroplating on plating grade ABS for a real metal layer, used on decorative trim and bright bezels where the specification calls for metal.
Laser Etching
Permanent serial and date coding etched into the surface, used for traceability on industrial and electronic parts.
Design for Manufacturing (DFM)
- Keep uniform wall thickness of 1.5 to 3.0 mm to avoid sink marks and warpage, because ABS shows thick-section defects readily
- Apply 0.5 to 1.5 degree draft on all vertical faces, more on textured surfaces, for clean ejection without scuffing the finish
- Use ribs at no more than 60 percent of wall thickness to stiffen parts without sink on the opposite face
- Locate gates away from cosmetic surfaces and thin sections, because ABS flow lines and gate vestige are visible on gloss
- Design for 0.4 to 0.7 percent shrinkage and add radii of at least 0.5 mm to reduce stress and sink at feature roots
- Plan paint or plate acceptance at material selection, since some grades accept coating better than others
- Keep cosmetic and structural requirements on separate faces where possible, so the gloss cavity is not compromised by a functional feature
- Control weld lines away from loaded sections, because ABS weld lines are a planned weakness if they cross a bracket root
- Consider EMI shielding and inserts early if the part houses electronics, because painting and plating options interact with the shield
- Upload STEP, IGES or DXF and receive a free material and DFM review within 24 hours covering wall, draft, gate and finish
Tooling & Capacity
| Type | Lead Time | Suitable For |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminium Soft Tooling | 2 to 3 weeks | 25 to 1,000 pieces, pilot runs and design validation where surface finish can be matte |
| Production Steel Tooling | 4 to 6 weeks | Annual volumes above roughly 10,000 pieces and any gloss or plated ABS cavity |
| Polished Steel Tooling | 4 to 6 weeks | Gloss and high appearance housings where the cavity finish defines the part finish |
| Multi-Cavity Tooling | 5 to 7 weeks | Volume programmes where cycle time dominates and a balanced fill is required |
Quality Assurance
- Resin grade is verified on incoming material against the supplier certificate, and the lot number is recorded
- The nozzle melt temperature is checked, since a machine setting is not the true material temperature
- First article inspection with a dimensional report is done before the rest of the ABS run is released
- Each cavity is checked for wall thickness and shot weight to catch short shots and flash early
- Every setup change is visually inspected for sink, splay, burn and flow marks
- Colour is measured and recorded against the reference and delta E is reported per lot
- Paint or plate adhesion tested where the part is decorated, since coating failure is a field complaint
- ABS moulding lot traceability is kept per production run, with the supplier certificate filed against it
- Each ABS lot ships with a dimensional report, material certificate and Certificate of Origin
- SGS, Bureau Veritas or TUV inspection is arranged at any stage on request for ABS moulded parts
Applications
- Housings and bezels for consumer electronics products
- Automotive interior trim and surrounds
- Power tool and appliance enclosures
- Toys and sporting goods
- Enclosures for laboratory and diagnostic equipment
- Industrial brackets and covers
- Cosmetic packaging and dispensers
- Lighting bodies and reflector surrounds
- Structural frames and load bearing brackets
Why Choose FHY Precision
ABS moulded in house with the full grade range: general purpose, flame retardant, glass filled and plating grade, so the grade is matched to finish and load
Finish control that ABS is known for: texture, SPI polish, paint, print and plate all quoted with the moulding on one purchase order
Uniform wall and clean gate discipline that keeps sink and flow lines off cosmetic faces
Free ABS material and DFM review within 24 hours, including grade selection where the best choice is not obvious
Aluminium tooling gives pilot quantities from 25 pieces before production steel
Painting, printing and plating coordinated so two suppliers never each blame the other for a cosmetic failure
Resin lot traceability is maintained, and SGS, Bureau Veritas or TUV inspection is available on request
China moulding capacity at factory-direct rates and no trading layer in the chain
FAQ
1. What is the difference between ABS and PP?
ABS is stiffer, more cosmetic and takes paint and plate far better, but it costs more and is less chemical resistant. PP is cheaper, lighter and more chemical resistant but harder to finish cosmetically. For a painted or gloss housing ABS wins; for a chemical resistant container PP wins. We compare both against your cost and finish targets at review.
2. How does ABS compare with PC for an enclosure?
ABS is cheaper and easier to finish cosmetically; PC is clearer, tougher at low temperature and more heat resistant. Where the housing is painted or textured and not transparent, ABS is usually the better economy. Where it is dropped, near heat or transparent, PC or ABS PC is the better choice. We size the decision from impact and temperature.
3. Do you mould ABS PC blend as well?
Yes, and we cover it on a dedicated ABS PC blend page because the processing is different enough to deserve its own treatment. In short, ABS PC adds heat and impact over plain ABS and needs careful drying and shear control. If your part is warm or dropped, mention it at review and we will compare plain ABS against the blend with numbers.
4. Do you supply UL 94 V-0 rated material?
Yes, we mould flame retardant ABS listed to UL 94 V-0 at a defined wall thickness, and we supply the resin maker documentation for the grade used. To be precise, the listing belongs to the resin grade rather than to our factory, so what we provide is the correct grade and its supporting paperwork.
5. When should I use glass filled ABS?
Only when stiffness and dimensional stability govern the design and paint finish is secondary, because glass adds weld lines and cost and abrades tooling. For most housings plain or flame retardant ABS is enough; glass filled is for a bracket or frame that must hold shape under load.
6. Can ABS parts be painted or plated?
Yes, and ABS is the best mainstream plastic for both. Wet paint in any colour with ultraviolet resistance, pad or UV printing for marks, and electroplating on plating grade ABS for a real metal layer. Because we mould and finish in one workflow, coating failure is our responsibility end to end rather than split between suppliers.
7. How do you avoid sink marks on ABS housings?
Uniform walls between 1.5 and 3.0 mm, ribs at no more than 60 percent of wall thickness, and gates placed away from cosmetic faces. Sink is a wall-thickness problem before it is a process problem, so we fix it at design review rather than by tuning the machine after tooling exists.
8. What wall thickness should I design for?
1.5 to 3.0 mm uniform for most housings. Thicker sections sink and warp and add cycle time for no strength gain; where extra stiffness is needed, ribs do it cheaper. Thin sections below 1.0 mm risk short shots on large gloss parts and need a steel tool with good venting.
9. What tolerances can I hold on ABS parts?
Plus or minus 0.05 mm standard on critical features, tighter by agreement. The practical limit is shrinkage at 0.4 to 0.7 percent and warpage from uneven walls, so we review which dimensions are critical at DFM stage and mark them on your drawing before tooling.
10. How long does ABS tooling take?
Aluminium soft tooling takes 2 to 3 weeks and suits pilot and low volume work. Production and polished steel tooling takes 4 to 6 weeks. Multi-cavity tools for higher volume take 5 to 7 weeks. Trial moulding and first article approval add about a week before release.
11. What is your minimum order quantity for ABS parts?
Standard moulding MOQ is 100 pieces. For pilot runs we machine aluminium soft tooling and produce from 25 pieces, which is the fastest way to get painted or textured ABS parts in hand before committing to steel.
12. What draft do you need on ABS?
0.5 to 1.5 degree on vertical faces, and more on textured or gloss surfaces because they grip the part on ejection. Under drafting drags the surface and can scuff a polished cavity, so we confirm draft at DFM review rather than discovering it after the first shot.
13. Can you mould ABS automotive interior parts?
Yes. General purpose and ABS PC grades are widely used for interior trim and surrounds. We select the grade for the heat and impact load, control gloss and texture to the specification, and keep lot traceability. Where a bright trim is specified we use plating grade ABS and plate in the same workflow.
14. Can ABS be used for medical or laboratory equipment?
Yes for enclosures and housings of laboratory and diagnostic equipment, using grades selected per the applicable requirement and with full resin documentation and lot traceability. The material approval belongs to the resin grade, so we provide the correct grade and its supporting paperwork plus clean process controls.
15. Is ABS recyclable and can you use regrind?
ABS is recyclable and we can mould regrind where the specification allows, drying and verifying it first. For cosmetic and painted parts we mould virgin grade and keep the regrind stream separate so there is no cross contamination. The resin certificate and lot record tell you exactly what went into the run.
16. Do you arrange third-party inspection for ABS parts?
Yes. We arrange SGS, Bureau Veritas or TUV at any stage you specify, including incoming resin verification, dimensional checks and coating verification. For electrical and automotive programs this is often what your end customer needs, so we build the inspection point into the order.