Polycarbonate 3d Printing

It s a naturally transparent thermoplastic with high impact resistance and excellent heat resistance.

Polycarbonate 3d printing.

The pc 3d printing polycarbonate material offers accuracy durability and stability producing strong parts that can withstand functional testing. Polycarbonate filament absorbs moisture from it surroundings and thus needs to be dried before printing. When it comes to strength polycarbonate truly is the king of 3d printer filament dramatically out performing other materials in strength tests in an informal material strength test airwolf 3d printed a series of hooks using a variety of 3d printing materials. These tips will help you reduce the chances of common 3d printing issues associated with polycarbonate such as warping stringing and oozing.

Use a proper build surface pei is the best build surface for polycarbonate. As a 3d printing filament it s heat resistance is both a benefit and a problematic characteristic as it is even more prone to warping and splitting than abs filament. The material is prone to warping and shrinkage so it s imperative that a consistent temperature be maintained. Polycarbonate warps a lot even more than abs and layers often split if you 3d print polycarbonate under the wrong conditions the key to minimizing warping is a high temperature heated bed effective heated chamber or enclosure to keep heat in and good layer adhesion.

Download our free cheatsheet to get 100 reliable 3d prints. Moreover polycarbonate materials tend to have a higher glass transition temperature which indicates better high temperature performance. Polycarbonate 3d printing can be difficult if you don t take the proper precautions. The bed should ideally be between 135 and 150 c.

This makes polycarbonate 3d printing an excellent choice for making functioning prototypes especially where transparency and non conductivity are desired. Another option that people consider is build tak. It is not delicate and won t deform or break when handled. This makes a heated bed essential.

Polycarbonate is also available in a filament form which can be used with 3d printers to create prototypes using computer aided design files. In addition pc can stand up to wear and tear. How to succeed when 3d printing polycarbonate. The strongest 3d printing material.

Polycarbonate 3d printing guide and tips. The best build surface while 3d printing with polycarbonate is pei. Polycarbonate also denoted as pc is a strong durable and tough material.