PC (Polycarbonate)
Polycarbonate is one of the strongest thermoplastic materials available for FDM printing. It combines extremely high impact resistance, heat resistance up to 110–130 °C, and natural transparency. PC is a demanding material to print, but delivers results approaching injection-molded quality.
Settings
| Parameter | Pure PC | PC-ABS blend | PC-CF |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nozzle temperature | 260–280 °C | 250–270 °C | 270–290 °C |
| Bed temperature | 100–120 °C | 90–110 °C | 100–120 °C |
| Chamber temperature | 50–60 °C (required) | 45–55 °C | 50–60 °C |
| Part cooling | 0–20% | 20–30% | 0–20% |
| Speed | 60–80% | 70–90% | 50–70% |
| Drying required | Yes (critical) | Yes | Yes (critical) |
Recommended build plates
| Plate | Suitability | Glue stick? |
|---|---|---|
| High Temp Plate | Excellent (required) | No |
| Engineering Plate | Acceptable | Yes |
| Textured PEI | Not recommended | — |
| Cool Plate (Smooth PEI) | Do not use | — |
PC requires bed temperatures of 100–120 °C. Cool Plate and Textured PEI cannot withstand these temperatures and will be damaged. Always use High Temp Plate for pure PC.
Printer and equipment requirements
Enclosure (required)
PC requires a fully enclosed chamber with stable temperature of 50–60 °C. Without this you will experience severe warping, layer separation, and delamination.
Hardened nozzle (strongly recommended)
Pure PC is not abrasive, but PC-CF and PC-GF require a hardened steel nozzle (e.g., Bambu Lab HS01). For pure PC, a hardened nozzle is still recommended due to the high temperatures.
Printer compatibility
| Printer | Suitable for PC? | Note |
|---|---|---|
| X1C | Excellent | Fully enclosed, HS01 available |
| X1E | Excellent | Designed for engineering materials |
| P1S | Limited | Enclosed, but lacks active chamber heating |
| P1P | Not recommended | Lacks enclosure |
| A1 / A1 Mini | Do not use | Open frame, temperatures too low |
PC requires active chamber heating for consistent results. P1S can give acceptable results with small parts, but expect warping and layer separation with larger parts.
Drying
PC is highly hygroscopic and absorbs moisture rapidly. Moist PC gives catastrophic print results.
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Drying temperature | 70–80 °C |
| Drying time | 6–8 hours |
| Hygroscopic level | High |
| Max recommended moisture | < 0.02% |
- Always dry PC before printing — even freshly opened spools may have absorbed moisture
- Print directly from a dryer box if possible
- AMS is not sufficient for PC storage — the humidity is too high
- Use a dedicated filament dryer with active heating
Signs of moist PC: loud popping sounds, bubbles on the surface, very poor layer bonding, stringing. Moist PC cannot be compensated with settings — it must be dried first.
Properties
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Tensile strength | 55–75 MPa |
| Impact resistance | Extremely high |
| Heat resistance (HDT) | 110–130 °C |
| Transparency | Yes (natural/clear variant) |
| Chemical resistance | Moderate |
| UV resistance | Moderate (yellows over time) |
| Shrinkage | ~0.5–0.7% |
PC blends
PC-ABS
A blend of polycarbonate and ABS that combines the strengths of both materials:
- Easier to print than pure PC — lower temperatures and less warping
- Impact resistance between ABS and PC
- Popular in industry — used in automotive interiors and electronics housings
- Prints at 250–270 °C nozzle, 90–110 °C bed
PC-CF (carbon fiber)
Carbon fiber reinforced PC for maximum rigidity and strength:
- Extremely rigid — ideal for structural parts
- Lightweight — carbon fiber reduces weight
- Requires hardened nozzle — brass wears out in hours
- Prints at 270–290 °C nozzle, 100–120 °C bed
- More expensive than pure PC, but provides mechanical properties close to aluminum
PC-GF (glass fiber)
Glass fiber reinforced PC:
- Cheaper than PC-CF with good rigidity
- Whiter surface than PC-CF
- Requires hardened nozzle — glass fibers are highly abrasive
- Somewhat less rigid than PC-CF, but better impact resistance
Applications
PC is used where you need maximum strength and/or heat resistance:
- Mechanical parts — gears, brackets, couplings under load
- Optical parts — lenses, light guides, transparent covers (clear PC)
- Heat-resistant parts — engine bays, near heating elements
- Electronics housings — protective enclosures with good impact resistance
- Tools and jigs — precise assembly tools
Tips for successful PC printing
First layer
- Reduce speed to 30–40% for the first layer
- Increase bed temperature by 5 °C above standard for the first 3–5 layers
- Brim is mandatory for most PC parts — use 8–10 mm
Chamber temperature
- Let the chamber reach 50 °C+ before printing starts
- Do not open the chamber door during printing — the temperature drop causes immediate warping
- After printing: let the part cool slowly in the chamber (1–2 hours)
Cooling
- Use minimal part cooling (0–20%) for best layer bonding
- For bridges and overhangs: temporarily increase to 30–40%
- Prioritize layer strength over aesthetics with PC
Design considerations
- Avoid sharp corners — round off with minimum 1 mm radius
- Uniform wall thickness — uneven thickness creates internal stresses
- Large flat surfaces are difficult — split up or add ribs
If you haven't printed PC before, start with a PC-ABS blend. It's much more forgiving than pure PC and gives you experience with the material without the extreme requirements. Once you master PC-ABS, move on to pure PC.
Post-processing
- Sanding — PC sands well, but use wet sanding for clear PC
- Polishing — clear PC can be polished to near-optical quality
- Gluing — dichloromethane bonding gives invisible joints (use protective equipment!)
- Painting — requires primer for good adhesion
- Annealing — 120 °C for 1–2 hours reduces internal stresses
Dichloromethane is toxic and requires extraction, chemical-resistant gloves, and safety goggles. Always work in a well-ventilated room or fume hood.