PC

Printability of PC filament

PC is a material reserved for advanced 3D printing users. It requires a lot of conditions to be met during printing.  It usually requires a very high printing temperature but most PC filaments contain additives that enable the filament to be printed at lower temperatures. PC is prone to warping and has a high tendency to oozing during printing. PC is also highly hygroscopic, meaning that cracks and bubbles can appear during the printing process if the filament isn't dried well. To summarize: 

• Use an enclosure, ideally heated chamber
• Be sure to have the filament dried before printing or dry it following the drying instructions of the manufacturer, keep the filament dry, and ideally have it in the PolyBox or something equivalent.
• Use a special adhesive like Magigoo PP or BuildTak
• Slightly increase your standard retraction distance and speed to prevent oozing

From our experience, the material seems to stick the best with slow thick extrusions on the first layer. We recommend using a first layer height of 100-150%, a first layer width of 12-150%, and a first layer speed of 15-30%. Additionally, setting the first layer to print 30°C hotter can greatly improve the first layer adhesion.

 Virgin PC has a high glass transition temperature (Tg) and thus can be used in high-temperature applications. However, having a high Tg can make it very difficult to print using desktop printers, as these are usually not equipped to cater to the high printing temperatures required to print virgin PC. Virgin PC in fact tends to warp considerably when printed at an insufficient bed temperature (<130 ºC), in non-heated enclosed chambers without the use of an appropriate bed adhesive.

PC mechanical and thermal properties

PC is a high-strength material designed for use in harsh conditions and engineering applications. Its heat deflection and impact resistance are both extremely high. The typical glass transition temperature of polycarbonate is 150°C. This indicates that it can retain structural integrity up to that temperature, making it ideal for high-temperature applications. This material is very tough, meaning that it is bendable without breaking. The strength and toughness of PC make it an ideal FDM material for the production of functional prototypes as well as end-use part, nonetheless, the material does present some printing challenges

Tips and other notable benefits of PC

PC is a 3D printing material that is known for its impact resistance and transparency. The polycarbonate filament can withstand temperatures between -150°C and 140°C, allowing for a wider range of applications.

Browse all PC (polycarbonate) filaments in stock in our warehouse in Senec, Slovakia. For comparison, see also ABS and CF/GF.