3D printing in polycarbonate (PC)
PC is the material when a part gets warm, has to take impacts and still needs to hold its shape. We print PC parts in enclosed, heated build chambers so warping and layer splitting do not start in the first place.
Samples in 2 to 4 working days, series by arrangement
What PC is used for in print
PC pays off where PETG is too soft and ABS lacks temperature resistance.
Housings near heat sources
Electronics and sensor housings next to motors, power supplies or heaters.
Impact loaded covers
Guards and lids that have to survive knocks in operation.
Brackets under clamping load
Brackets under preload that must not creep.
Fixtures in warm zones
Nests and gauges at ovens, soldering stations or bonding processes.
Suitable materials
Plain PC for temperature and toughness, PC FR when flame retardance is required, PC-ABS as an easier to process compromise.
- PCPolycarbonate - high impact, high heat, transparent option.
- PC FR UL94Flame-retardant polycarbonate with UL94 V-0 rating.
- PC-ABSPolycarbonate-ABS blend - strength of PC, processability of ABS.
- PA12-CFCarbon-filled nylon 12 - the metal replacement workhorse.
What we need to know for a PC part
- 01Continuous and peak temperature at the point of use.
- 02Contact with solvents, cleaners or oils. PC is sensitive to some media.
- 03Where the part is bolted or clamped, so we can plan inserts and wall thickness.
- 04Whether a UL94 flammability rating is required.
Why PC prints often fail and how we avoid it
Polycarbonate shrinks more than PLA or PETG as it cools. In an open printer the upper layers cool faster than the lower ones, the part lifts at the corners or cracks between layers. A heated, enclosed chamber is therefore a requirement, not an option.
Moisture matters just as much. PC absorbs water from the air, and wet material causes bubbles, a rough surface and weak layer bonding. We dry the filament before printing and feed it from dry storage.
In design terms, generous radii instead of sharp inside corners and even wall thickness help. If you describe the application, we check the geometry before printing and suggest changes before any cost is incurred.
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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PC 3D printing FAQ
- How heat resistant is printed PC?
- Depending on grade, heat deflection sits at roughly 100 to 110 °C. What matters for design is temperature combined with load, so we ask for both.
- Is PC harder to print than PETG?
- Yes. PC needs high nozzle and chamber temperatures and dry material. That is why many in-house PC prints fail while it runs repeatably in a controlled production setup.
- Can PC be printed transparent?
- An FDM part will not be glass clear like a moulded one. It stays translucent. For light guides or windows we discuss alternatives.
- PC or PA12-CF?
- PC is tougher and more heat resistant, PA12-CF is stiffer, more dimensionally stable and chemically more robust. The choice depends on whether impact or stiffness is the problem.
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.
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.
Flame-retardant 3D printed parts: when UL94 V-0 is required
Anyone ordering a printed electronics enclosure gets asked about UL94 sooner or later. What the ratings mean, when V-0 is actually required, and which filaments meet it.