Polycarbonate 3D Printing Service
Get instant online quotes on Polycarbonate 3D printed parts. Free shipping on all US orders. ISO 9001:2015, ISO 13485, and AS9100D certified.
Get instant online quotes on Polycarbonate 3D printed parts. Free shipping on all US orders. ISO 9001:2015, ISO 13485, and AS9100D certified.
Polycarbonate (PC) is a thermoplastic with excellent mechanical properties and some of the best temperature resistance of any common FDM 3D printing plastic. PC can be subjected to high levels of plastic deformation without breaking. It is useful for both end-use parts and functional prototypes in the medical and automotive industries.
Polycarbonate printing can be more difficult than other standard FDM plastics due to its high glass transition temperature. This means the print must be done at a far higher temperature than other standard plastics like PLA or ABS. PC is also a good electrical insulator wherein some grades of polycarbonate can be sterilized with various standard processes making it ideal for food or medical applications.
Standard polycarbonate has excellent mechanical properties that far exceed those of other popular high-strength plastics like ABS. This makes polycarbonate ideal for functional prototypes and manufacturing tools as well as end-use parts.
FDM PC Properties
| Tensile Strength (MPa) | Elongation at Break (%) | Hardness (Rockwell) | Heat Deflection Temperature (℃) | Glass Transition (℃) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 68 | 4.9 | 116 | 136 | 160 |
As the name suggests, PC-ABS plastic combines these two popular plastics to create a material that contains properties of both. It has the high strength and temperature resistance of polycarbonate while maintaining some of the flexibility of ABS. 3D printing in PC-ABS is ideal for end-use parts that need to be flexible and don’t need to focus on temperature resistance.
FDM PC-ABS Properties
| Tensile Strength (MPa) | Elongation at Break (%) | Hardness (Rockwell) | Heat Deflection Temperature (℃) | Glass Transition (℃) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 | 3 | 106 | 109 | 126 |
This version of PC is biocompatible under ISO 10993 USP class IV and can be either gamma- or EtO-sterilized. The ability to be sterilized, coupled with PC’s mechanical and thermal properties, makes this variant ideal for medical device prototyping and food packaging.
FDM PC-ISO Properties
| Tensile Strength (MPa) | Elongation at Break (%) | Hardness (Rockwell) | Heat Deflection Temperature (℃) | Glass Transition (℃) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 58 | 3 | 92 | 135 | 88 |
Standard: Support structures are removed and some light sanding is performed at the support locations. FDM parts will generally show clear layer lines known as stepping. If a smooth surface finish is required right off the machine, then they should consider other 3D printing technologies.
Custom: Custom surface finishes like painting and additional sanding can be requested.
Cost-saving Design Tips To save money with Polycarbonate printing, follow these cost-saving design tips: DFM: Polycarbonate 3D printing with FDM technology requires special considerations when designing parts. FDM machines construct parts from the bottom up, so large overhangs will require support. Large internal cavities are not ideal as support structures cannot be removed. This can, however, be overcome with special soluble supports, though these add complexity and cost to the design. In addition to this, care must be taken when designing load-bearing components as FDM parts are generally weakest in the Z-axis due to the bond strength between layers. Material Choice : PC is a relatively low-cost plastic but is still more expensive than other commodity thermoplastics like PLA or ABS. It should only be used if the resulting part needs to be strong or resistant to high-temperature conditions.