Polymaker ABS Pro and ABS Max: Two High-Temp Engineering Filaments Tested

Polymaker added two new engineering-grade ABS filaments to its lineup this summer, and an independent tester just ran them through the full mechanical gauntlet. The short answer: ABS Max is the hotter hand, but ABS Pro is the easier print. Here is what the data says.

The Two New Additions

ABS Pro and ABS Max sit above Polymaker's existing PolyLite ABS in the product stack. Both are optimized for enclosed printers, but the Max demands an actively heated chamber while the Pro manages with a passive enclosure reaching 50C.

ABS Pro prints at 270-290C nozzle temperature with a 100-110C bed, and Polymaker validates speeds up to 250 mm/s. ABS Max runs hotter: 270-300C nozzle, 120C bed, speeds capped at 200 mm/s, and a 65C minimum chamber temperature. Both require a hardened nozzle for abrasive filaments.

Temperature Resistance Is the Main Event

The headline spec is the heat deflection temperature. ABS Pro hits approximately 106C. ABS Max reaches 180C. That gap matters for automotive brackets, engine bay components, or anything sitting near a hot end.

The independent temperature test bore this out. Under a 0.5 MPa load, ABS Pro deformed first, then ABS Max held longer before yielding. In a separate test with the filament's own weight as load, the same order held: Pro softened before Max.

Mechanical Properties Are Closer Than You Would Expect

When it comes to tensile strength, the two filaments are nearly identical. ABS Pro measured 35 MPa. ABS Max came in at 35.7 MPa. Notch impact strength: 30.5 kJ/m2 for Pro, 29.4 kJ/m2 for Max. The Max is slightly more brittle in impact tests, but the difference is small.

In shear, torsion, and bending tests, both filaments performed well within the expected range for ABS. The Pro actually came out slightly ahead in Charpy impact testing. Layer adhesion was comparable between the two.

Printability Favors the Pro

ABS Max is the harder material to print. Warping is more aggressive, bed adhesion needs a glue stick, and overnight prints carry more risk. The Pro printed cleanly on a textured PEI sheet without any adhesive in the same test conditions.

Both filaments show higher-than-average shrinkage. The Pro measured 0.43% linear shrinkage (59.57 mm versus a 60 mm design). The Max shrank slightly more at 0.48% (59.52 mm). Plan your dimensional tolerances accordingly.

Which One Do You Need?

If your printer has a passively heated enclosure and you want faster print speeds, ABS Pro is the right choice. It covers functional prototypes, enclosures, brackets, and clips at $24.99 per kilogram in 14 colors.

If you are printing automotive or industrial parts that see sustained heat, ABS Max justifies its $29.99 per kilogram price and its more demanding process requirements. The Max comes in six colors.

For users currently on PolyLite ABS who want better dimensional stability or higher temperature resistance, ABS Pro is the direct upgrade. If you need the heat resistance specifically, only the Max delivers it.

The Bottom Line

Polymaker filled a real gap with this launch. Users who needed more from ABS than PolyLite could deliver previously had to drop down to ASA or Fiberon materials. These two filaments give you a reason to stay in the ABS family, with acetone vapor smoothing compatibility and lower material cost.