<p>Make sure that your acetone is actually acetone. According to <a href="http://usglobalimages.stratasys.com/Main/Files/SDS/P430_ABS_M30_ABS_Model/400626_0002_REV_A_EN.pdf" rel="noreferrer">the MSDS</a>, ABSPlus-P430 is indeed "ABS resin" so acetone smoothing should work. Some companies sell confusingly-labeled products that might be mistaken for acetone, but are actually "eco-friendly" alternatives such as 2-butoxyethanol. While these alternatives work for some of the uses for which acetone is normally used (such as cleaning or degreasing), they don't work for smoothing ABS.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-08T14:20:09.113Z
2017-11-08T14:20:09.113Z
Tom van der Zanden
<p>I am using a STRATASYS Fortus 250mc to 3D print some parts. I have read a lot on internet and also on some scientific literature that Acetone dissolves ABS and cold/hot vapor has been successfully used to smoothen the surfaces. But it doesn't work for me.</p>

<p>I followed the instructions: soaking some papers with Acetone and putting the parts in a closed container with a fan for some time. But it had no effects. Then I tried dipping the parts in Acetone and I observed that they do not react to the substance at all!</p>

<p>Has anybody ever had a similar experience? Maybe ABSPlus-p430 is not soluble with Acetone? in that case what is a solvent for it?</p>

<p>I asked the same question <a href="https://goo.gl/HNvgYH" rel="nofollow noreferrer">here on Reddit</a>.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-08T12:46:49.343Z
Where did you get your acetone? Are you sure it actually *is* acetone? I have once been sold "eco-friendly bio-acteone" which turned out to be, well, not acetone but something else entirely.
Tom van der Zanden
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-08T12:48:19.387Z
I did not buy it myself. our technician gave it to me. how can I make sure it is really Acetone or not?
Foad
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-08T12:50:59.283Z
I'm not sure of any tests you could do, but perhaps there's some information on the bottle? Do you have a datasheet? Supplier information?
Tom van der Zanden
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-08T12:51:52.347Z
The bottle is not the original one. I'm going to bug the technician :)
Foad
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-08T13:59:06.960Z
@TomvanderZanden this was apparently the problem. The material given to me seemed to be a environment friendly Acetone  used for painting.
Foad
<abs><smoothing><vapor-smoothing><acetone>
Acetone smoothing not working on ABSPlus-P430
Foad
# Acetone smoothing not working on ABSPlus-P430

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-11-08)

I am using a STRATASYS Fortus 250mc to 3D print some parts. I have read a lot on internet and also on some scientific literature that Acetone dissolves ABS and cold/hot vapor has been successfully used to smoothen the surfaces. But it doesn't work for me.

I followed the instructions: soaking some papers with Acetone and putting the parts in a closed container with a fan for some time. But it had no effects. Then I tried dipping the parts in Acetone and I observed that they do not react to the substance at all!

Has anybody ever had a similar experience? Maybe ABSPlus-p430 is not soluble with Acetone? in that case what is a solvent for it?

I asked the same question [here on Reddit](https://goo.gl/HNvgYH).

**Tags:** abs, smoothing, vapor-smoothing, acetone
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Where did you get your acetone? Are you sure it actually *is* acetone? I have once been sold "eco-friendly bio-acteone" which turned out to be, well, not acetone but something else entirely.  
> **username_0**: I did not buy it myself. our technician gave it to me. how can I make sure it is really Acetone or not?  
> **username_1**: I'm not sure of any tests you could do, but perhaps there's some information on the bottle? Do you have a datasheet? Supplier information?  
> **username_0**: The bottle is not the original one. I'm going to bug the technician :)  
> **username_0**: @TomvanderZanden this was apparently the problem. The material given to me seemed to be a environment friendly Acetone  used for painting.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2017-11-08. Score: 5 | Accepted answer

Make sure that your acetone is actually acetone. According to [the MSDS](http://usglobalimages.stratasys.com/Main/Files/SDS/P430_ABS_M30_ABS_Model/400626_0002_REV_A_EN.pdf), ABSPlus-P430 is indeed "ABS resin" so acetone smoothing should work. Some companies sell confusingly-labeled products that might be mistaken for acetone, but are actually "eco-friendly" alternatives such as 2-butoxyethanol. While these alternatives work for some of the uses for which acetone is normally used (such as cleaning or degreasing), they don't work for smoothing ABS.


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