What corner lift looks like
The corners of an ABS print curl up off the bed as it prints, or layers split apart partway up. Large flat parts are the worst: the edges lift and the whole print peels free.
Why ABS lifts
ABS shrinks as it cools. The lower layers cool and contract while the upper layers are still hot, which pulls the corners up. Simplify3D's warping guide describes corner lift as a thermal problem, and Polymaker's PolyLite™ ABS product page lists the bed and nozzle temperatures that reduce it. The main fixes are a hotter bed, less cooling, and keeping the print in warm, still air.
Bed, enclosure and drying settings
- Bed temperature — set it to 90–100 °C for PolyLite™ ABS; too cool a bed is the most common cause of corner lift. (PolyLite™ ABS)
- Nozzle temperature — print at 245–265 °C; a too-cool nozzle under-bonds the layers and invites splitting. (PolyLite™ ABS)
- Enclosure — keep the print in warm, still air. Heat up the build plate for 10 minutes before starting so the chamber has time to warm; for parts bigger than fist-size Polymaker recommends an enclosed printer at about 40–50 °C chamber temperature. (PolyLite™ ABS)
- Part cooling fan — keep it off or very low for ABS; many users disable external cooling fans entirely, since cooling makes the contraction worse. (Simplify3D warping guide)
- Dry the filament — dry ABS at 70 °C for 6 hours before printing; moisture worsens layer splitting. (PolyLite™ ABS)
Checking corners stay down
Print a flat, thin rectangle (or a calibration cube) with a brim. If the corners stay down for the whole print and the part pops off only after the bed cools, the settings are right. If a corner still lifts, raise the bed temperature within the 90–100 °C range and seal the enclosure before touching the nozzle temperature.