What Are the Optimal Settings for Hatchbox ABS? (Temperature & Print Speed)

The type of filament you’re using is one of the main factors determining the values for an essential chunk of the print settings, such as the nozzle temperature and the bed temperature, due to each type of plastic having a different chemical composition that gives it distinct characteristics.

On the other hand, while less mentioned and does not create differences as drastic as the differences between different filament types, the brand of the filament is also a factor to keep in mind, with each manufacturer using a unique combination of materials to produce the filament.

In today’s article, we will be focusing on finding the optimal settings for the Hatchbox brand of ABS filament in particular, which will allow you to take your prints a step further by creating the best environment possible for the filament through the fine-tuning of the print parameters.

So, what are the optimal settings for printing Hatchbox ABS?

Below, you can find the optimal print settings we recommend using for printing with Hatchbox ABS, which are in line with the manufacturer’s recommendations:

• Nozzle (Print) Temperature – 210 to 240 degrees Celsius
• Bed Temperature – 55 to 85 degrees Celsius
• Print Speed – 30 to 70 millimeters per second
• Filament Diameter – 1.75 millimeters or 3.00 millimeters

Next up, we will dive deeper into finding the optimal print settings for Hatchbox ABS and go through the processes of permanently saving these settings in popular slicers, such as Cura and PrusaSlicer, which makes it possible to reuse the configuration whenever necessary.

What Are the Optimal Settings for Hatchbox ABS? 

Even though they contain the same base material, which is ABS, the ABS 3D printing filaments manufactured by distinct companies can have different material compositions, which change the optimal settings you should use with each one.

According to the specifications on the manufacturer’s website, a printing temperature range of 210 to 240 degrees Celsius, a print speed range of 30 to 70 millimeters per second, and a bed temperature range of 55 to 85 degrees Celsius are optimal for printing with Hatchbox ABS filament.

As it’s possible to find Hatchbox ABS with filament diameters of both 1.75 millimeters and 3 millimeters, ensure that you pick the one that your 3D printer can accommodate (1.75 mm is the most common, with printers such as the Ender 3 using this size) and that your slicer settings are configured accordingly.

Finally, we highly recommend running a series of test prints with different print speeds, bed temperatures, and nozzle temperatures that fall in the recommended ranges, observing the results, and finalizing the values that work the best before moving forward with printing.

How to Save Hatchbox ABS as a Custom Profile and Material in Cura?

With so many distinct brands and types of filaments available, the best way to preserve the unique configuration for a particular combination is to create a custom material and a profile to go with it in Cura, which will allow you to switch between filaments whenever you need.

By following the steps below, you can add Hatchbox ABS as a custom material in Cura that you can reuse later:

1. Click the Prepare tab next to the Preview and Monitor tabs.
2. Bring up the Material and Nozzle Size settings by clicking the pane in the middle.
3. Click the dropdown labeled Material and choose the Manage Materials option.
4. Click Generic ABS from the list on the left, and click Duplicate, which will act as the foundation for the material you’re creating.
5. Choose the new material you have created from the list on the left.
6. Type Hatchbox into the Brand input and 1.75 mm (or 3 mm, depending on your filament) into the Diameter input.
7. Switch to the Print Settings section.
8. Fill the default values, such as the nozzle temperature, that you intend to use with Hatchbox ABS into the corresponding inputs.

For the non-material configuration, you will need to create a custom profile that contains the settings you plan to use when you print with Hatchbox ABS by going through the following process:

1. Go to the Navigate tab in Cura.
2. Bring up the Print Settings by clicking the pane located on the right.
3. If you see a button labeled Custom, click it. Else, skip this step.
4. Click the dropdown menu next to the Profile label, and select Manage Profiles.
5. Duplicate a profile on the list, and name it Hatchbox ABS.
6. Click the Activate button to activate the profile.
7. Make the necessary Hatchbox ABS-specific configuration through the print settings dialog.
8. Click the Profile dropdown, and select the “Update profile with current settings/overrides” button to save the current settings into the profile.

Now that you have both the material and the profile in place, you can activate them whenever you want to use Hatchbox ABS, which will load all the configurations you have performed earlier.

How to Save Hatchbox ABS as a Custom Preset in PrusaSlicer?

PrusaSlicer also makes it possible to save your configuration in the form of a custom preset, similarly to Cura, which you can then use the load the settings back whenever necessary.

Here is a step-by-step guide we recommend following to save Hatchbox ABS as a custom preset in PrusaSlicer:

1. Navigate to the Filament Settings Section of PrusaSlicer through the corresponding tab.
2. Click the Save button, represented by the floppy disk icon.
3. Type Hatchbox ABS into the box to determine the preset’s name.
4. Modify the parameters such as Filament Diameter, Filament Density, Filament Cost, Spool Weight, Nozzle Temperature, and Bed Temperature accordingly.
5. Click the Save button once more.
6. Click the OK button without modifying the name this time, which will save the settings you have adjusted to the custom preset you have created.

With the custom preset ready to go, you will be able to find the option to activate it through the Filament dropdown menu under the Plater tab of PrusaSlicer, along with other custom presets you have created, and the pre-made presets that exist by default.

Wrapping Up

While it’s still possible to achieve outstanding results by using the generic ABS settings, there is no reason not to optimize the printing process with the precise values supplied by the manufacturer for a better final product, especially considering that the process is pretty effortless.

To quickly recap, a range of 210℃-240℃ for the print temperature, 55℃-85℃ for the heated bed temperature, 30-70mm/s for the print speed, and finally, 1.75 mm or 3.00 mm, depending on the variant you have at hand, for the filament diameter are the recommended settings for printing with Hatchbox ABS.

Even though picking any arbitrary value in these ranges should yield successful results in most cases, narrowing these ranges down and obtaining the best print quality possible is only achievable through extensive testing and adaptation, as each 3D printer and scenario are unique.

Happy printing!

Mike Davies

Mike started his 3D printing journey with the Anet A8 when it first came out back in 2017, and has been obsessed with 3D printers ever since. Nowadays, he primarily uses his Ender 3 to print functional parts that make his life more convenient whenever possible.