Heat resistant 3D printed parts
When a part sits in an engine bay, next to a heater or in a warm plant, temperature decides the material. We choose between PC, fibre filled polyamides and PPA-CF by service temperature and load.
Material recommendation with the quote
Use in warm environments
Typical places where standard filaments go soft.
Engine bay and drivetrain
Brackets, cable guides and covers in vehicles.
Oven and dryer environment
Workpiece carriers and brackets near heat processes.
Electronics with waste heat
Housings for power supplies, drivers and power electronics.
Hot air and soldering
Fixtures at soldering stations and shrink processes.
Suitable materials
PC up to about 110 °C, fibre filled polyamides such as PA6-CF and PPA-CF for higher temperatures under load.
- PPA-CFAerospace-grade carbon-filled PPA. The top of the FDM pyramid.
- PA6-CFCarbon-filled PA6 for high loads and abrasion resistance.
- PCPolycarbonate - high impact, high heat, transparent option.
- PC FR UL94Flame-retardant polycarbonate with UL94 V-0 rating.
- PA12-CFCarbon-filled nylon 12 - the metal replacement workhorse.
Details for warm locations
- 01Continuous temperature and short peaks, ideally measured.
- 02Mechanical load at that temperature. An unloaded part tolerates more.
- 03Contact with oil, fuel or coolant.
- 04Fixing method. Bolted joints can relax when warm.
Temperature and load belong together
Datasheets often state a single temperature. In practice what counts is the force acting at that temperature and for how long. A cable holder at 100 °C without load is uncritical, a preloaded clamp at the same temperature is not.
We therefore ask for temperature and load and size walls, ribs and fixings accordingly. Metal threaded inserts help keep bolted joints from relaxing when warm.
If you are unsure what temperature actually occurs, we print an inexpensive trial part before the series is made.
Manufacturing data at a glance
- Location
- Schleswig, Germany
- Part size
- up to approx. 250 x 250 x 250 mm, larger parts split and joined
- Quantities
- 1 to several thousand, no minimum order quantity
- Tolerances
- approx. ±0.2 mm for PLA, PETG and carbon grades, ±0.3 mm for ABS, ASA and PC
- Layer height
- 0.10 to 0.30 mm
- Materials
- 20 engineering filaments from PLA to PA12-CF and PC FR
- File formats
- STEP, STL, 3MF, OBJ, IGES up to 200 MB
- Lead time
- 2 to 4 working days for samples, 4 to 15 working days for series
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Heat resistant parts FAQ
- Which material handles the most heat?
- In our range PPA-CF and PA6-CF are the most heat resistant materials under load. Exact values depend on the grade and are listed in the datasheet.
- What does heat deflection temperature mean?
- The temperature at which a test bar deflects by a set amount under a defined load. It is a good comparison value, not a guarantee for your part.
- Can a printed part be annealed?
- With some materials annealing improves heat resistance, but the part shrinks slightly. We only plan it when the dimensional change is manageable.
- Is PETG suitable for warm environments?
- Up to about 70 °C. Above that it softens. PETG is not suitable for engine bays or near ovens.
Read next
Polycarbonate in FDM printing: when the difficult material pays off
Polycarbonate has a reputation for being difficult to print, yet more and more industrial customers ask for it. Rightly so, because where temperature and impact resistance count, few filaments come close.
PETG Temperature Resistance: How Hot Can It Get?
Around 70 degrees unloaded, far less under load. The practical temperature limits of PETG parts.
PC vs Nylon vs Nylon CF: Which Filament Should You Actually Use?
Moving beyond PLA means choosing between PC, Nylon and CF-Nylon. Each has real trade-offs in strength, heat resistance, printability and cost. Here is what to pick and why.