ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) isn’t a newcomer. It's been used for decades in everything from car dashboards to power tool casings. Why? Because it offers a strange mix of rigidity and flexibility. It doesn’t crack under stress like acrylic, and it doesn’t warp unpredictably like lower-grade plastics. It’s the kind of material that works for both one-off projects and repeat industrial builds. And because it machines so well, it’s also a favorite for people doing CNC work or laser cutting. You get clean edges, low dust, and predictable results. If you’re vacuum forming, the stuff behaves like a pro—softens evenly, holds its shape, cools quickly.