Polycarbonate (PC) 3D Printing Service

FDM 3D Printing Service

PC — Maximum Toughness.
High Heat Resistance.

Polycarbonate is the toughest and most heat-resistant standard FDM material we offer. 117°C HDT, 55 MPa tensile strength, natural optical transparency, and excellent dimensional stability make it the choice for demanding engineering applications.

Get Instant Quote

±0.2mm Tolerance

117°C HDT

2 Colours

FDM · PC

Polycarbonate 3D printed parts including spur gears, an impeller, a tee fitting and brackets by Dwart Industries — 117°C HDT — the highest of our standard FDM materials

3D printed polycarbonate lead screw actuator with printed threads, gear drive and gusseted base — Printed threads and gears that hold their form under load

Black 3D printed polycarbonate control arm link with bolt holes at both ends — 55 MPa tensile strength — a printed machining replacement

Glossy black 3D printed polycarbonate manifold, spur gears and gusseted L-bracket — 34.8 kJ/m² impact strength — takes a hit without cracking

Tap an image to enlarge · swipe for more →

2–5 Days Turnaround

260×260×260 mm Max Part Size

0.1 mm Min Layer Height

Pan-India Delivery

About PC (Polycarbonate)

PC (Polycarbonate) is an exceptionally tough, dimensionally stable engineering thermoplastic. Its 117°C heat deflection temperature and 145°C glass transition temperature allow it to function in environments that destroy PLA, PETG, and even ABS — making it the top-of-range standard FDM material in our lineup.

We use Bambu PC — a formulation designed for reduced shrinkage and superior dimensional stability, printed on enclosed, high-temperature-capable FDM machines with chamber heating and glue bed preparation. Its 1.20 g/cm³ density and 55 MPa tensile strength make it ideal for demanding structural and thermal applications.

PC is naturally transparent — Clear PC parts can be post-processed to high optical clarity. It is inherently tough with 34.8 kJ/m² impact strength (XY) and maintains its properties from sub-zero temperatures up to ~115°C in service.

High-Temperature Enclosures Heat-exposed enclosures, lamp housings, and thermal barriers

Optical Components Lenses, light guides, diffusers, and transparent covers

Structural Components High-load brackets, frames, and structural supports

Automotive Components Headlight lenses, under-hood parts, and sensor housings

Medical Equipment Housings Sterilisation-compatible parts and diagnostic device enclosures

Material Properties

Property	XY In-Plane	Z Through-Layer	Standard
Tensile Strength	55 ± 4 MPa	34 ± 3 MPa	ISO 527
Young's Modulus	2110 ± 40 MPa	1450 ± 60 MPa	ISO 527
Breaking Elongation	3.8 ± 0.3 %	2.1 ± 0.4 %	ISO 527
Bending Strength	108 ± 4 MPa	55 ± 2 MPa	ISO 178
Bending Modulus	2310 ± 70 MPa	1620 ± 80 MPa	ISO 178
Impact Strength — Unnotched	34.8 ± 2.1 kJ/m²	9.0 ± 0.4 kJ/m²	ISO 179
Impact Strength — Notched	7.5 ± 1.3 kJ/m²	—	ISO 179

XY = in-plane (along print layers) · Z = through-layer (perpendicular to build direction) · Values are typical; actual results depend on layer height, infill, and geometry.

Property	Value	Test Method
Density	1.20 g/cm³	ISO 1183
Melting Temperature	228 °C	DSC, 10 °C/min
Glass Transition Temperature	145 °C	DSC, 10 °C/min
Vicat Softening Temperature	119 °C	ISO 306
Heat Deflection Temp (1.8 MPa)	117 °C	ISO 75
Heat Deflection Temp (0.45 MPa)	112 °C	ISO 75
Max Continuous Service Temp.	~115 °C	—
Print Temperature	260–280 °C	—
Bed Temperature	90–110 °C	—
Max Print Speed	< 300 mm/s	—
Water Absorption Rate	0.25%	25 °C, 55% RH

Property	Value
Composition	Polycarbonate (PC)
Origin	Petroleum-based
Optical Clarity	Naturally transparent in Clear colour
Odour During Printing	Odourless
Skin Hazard	None
Chemical Stability	Stable under normal conditions
Solubility in Water	Insoluble
Acid Resistance	Not resistant
Alkali Resistance	Not resistant
Oil & Grease Resistance	Resistant to most oils and greases

Performance Ratings

Heat Resistance10/10

117°C HDT — highest of all standard FDM materials

Tensile Strength8/10

55 MPa XY — strongest standard FDM in our lineup

Optical Clarity9/10

Clear PC polishable to excellent light transmission

Impact Resistance7/10

34.8 kJ/m² unnotched — genuinely tough

Ease of Printing4/10

Needs enclosure, high temps, glue bed, and pre-drying

Dimensional Stability8/10

Low shrinkage formulation for tight tolerances

Available Colours

Clear

Jet Black

✦ 2 stock colours available (Clear and Jet Black). Contact us for custom colour requirements on bulk orders.

Design Guidelines for PC

Wall Thickness

Min 1.2 mm

Aim for 2–3 mm on structural parts

Overhangs

Max 45°

Beyond 45° requires support structures

Fit Clearance

0.3–0.5 mm

For mating parts and snap-fits

Min Hole Size

2 mm dia.

Smaller holes may partially close

Text / Emboss

Min 0.8 mm

Raised text: 0.8 mm tall, 1.5 mm wide

Tolerance

±0.2 mm

Typical achieved across all geometries

Part Orientation

Load-aligned

Align layers with primary stress direction

Infill Options

5–100%

Gyroid pattern for optimal strength/weight

Post-Processing

Sand + Paint

120–800 grit, then filler primer + paint

Not sure if PC is right for your application?

For most functional parts under 80 °C, ABS or Hyper ABS is more printable and cost-effective. For flexible parts, TPU 95A is available. For maximum stiffness and strength at high temperatures, PA6-CF (carbon fibre nylon) is our top engineering material.

Common Applications

High-Temperature Enclosures

Optical & Light Guides

Structural Brackets

Automotive Lighting

Medical Device Parts

Sensor Housings

Load-Bearing Parts

Transparent Covers

Industrial Components

Functional Prototypes

Compare Similar Materials

You are here Max heat & clarity

ABS

Easier to print, 84°C ↑ Ease of printing

PETG

Easiest engineering print ↑ Printability

PA6-CF

Max stiffness & strength ↑ Carbon fibre strength

Frequently Asked Questions

PC is the choice when you need the highest heat resistance and structural strength from a standard FDM material. Ideal for high-temperature enclosures, optical components, automotive lighting, load-bearing brackets, and any engineering application where ABS or PETG reach their limits.

PC has a heat deflection temperature of 117°C and a glass transition temperature of 145°C — significantly higher than any other standard FDM material we offer. PC parts can be used in car interiors, near heat sources, in industrial environments, and for parts that must survive sterilisation cycles.

Clear PC has excellent natural transparency. As-printed, layer lines reduce light transmission, but the surface can be sanded and polished progressively (up to 2000 grit + polish) to achieve near-optical clarity. This makes it suitable for light guides, lenses, and diffusers where glass-like appearance is needed.

PC requires high nozzle temperatures (260–280°C), a heated bed (90–110°C), an enclosed chamber, and glue bed preparation. Without these conditions, it warps severely. Our machines are fully equipped for PC printing, but we recommend discussing your geometry with us first for large flat parts.

PC offers higher transparency and better impact resistance, while PA6-CF (carbon fibre nylon) provides far superior stiffness (5460 MPa bending modulus vs 2310 MPa for PC) and higher strength (151 MPa bending strength). For maximum structural performance, PA6-CF is the superior material. PC is the better choice when optical clarity or high impact toughness are the priority.

3D Printing Services