Polycarbonate 3D Printing Explained: Strength, Heat, and Flexibility скачать в хорошем качестве

Polycarbonate 3D Printing Explained: Strength, Heat, and Flexibility

Polycarbonate is one of the strongest 3D printing materials available today, combining high heat resistance, rigidity, and durability, but how does it actually perform in real-world conditions? In this video, we break down everything you need to know about printing with polycarbonate (PC) filament, using 3DXTECH’s 3DXMAX PC as our baseline. From its mechanical properties to its quirks on the print bed, we run it through the ringer with real-world use cases, stress testing, print tips, and burn tests. Polycarbonate isn’t just another strong filament. It’s an engineering thermoplastic used across industries from riot shields and automotive tooling to aerospace and medical enclosures. The reason is simple: it offers a rare balance of heat resistance (up to 135°C under load), high impact strength, and dimensional stability. In other words, it’s built to last, even in the toughest environments. We compare PC against other common materials like ABS, ASA, CF-Nylon, and PPA, breaking down when and why to use polycarbonate instead. Unlike ABS, it doesn’t deform at lower temps. Unlike nylon, it doesn’t absorb moisture and warp. And compared to exotic polymers like PEEK and ULTEM, it’s far easier to print without sacrificing performance for most use cases. Whether you’re designing functional brackets, protective housings, thermal enclosures, or even camera grips, PC might be your best option. In fact, one of our favorite Vision Miner parts of all time is a polycarbonate grip designed for a Sony A6500 rig. It’s been through field shoots, high heat, and five years of travel still going strong. We also dive into professional testing: UTM strength testing Flexural tests (ASTM D790) Z-axis layer adhesion benchmarking Burn tests for flame resistance and self-extinguishing properties Real-world field examples from customers in the automotive, medical, and drone sectors Want numbers? You got them. Tensile Strength: 62 MPa Flexural Strength: 78 MPa Heat Deflection Temp: 135°C Glass Transition Temp: 147°C Elongation at Break: 7% Flexural Modulus: 2200 MPa Surface Resistance: 10¹³ ohms We printed every test part on the 22 IDEX — our industrial-grade high-temp printer — using stock PrusaSlicer profiles, Nano Polymer Adhesive, and a controlled heated chamber. Even with extreme part geometries and no supports, we got clean, professional-grade results, straight off the bed. Polycarbonate is tough to beat for: Drone mounts and payload clamps Automotive line fixtures Diagnostic machine housings Lab enclosures Light rail safety covers Field-deployable optical components Thermal test rigs and electronics housings If your project needs strength, precision, and heat resistance — but you don’t want to mess with $400 spools of aerospace polymer — this might be the perfect balance. We even tested different infill orientations, annealing possibilities, and older versus fresher filament to see how the material performs under real-world conditions. The results speak for themselves. Bottom line: Polycarbonate is no longer a niche filament. If you’ve got the right setup and application, it’s one of the most versatile, professional-grade materials you can use on an FDM printer. At Vision Miner, we specialize in Functional 3D printing, especially high-performance plastics like PEEK, ULTEM, PPSU, PPS, CFPA, and more. We also have extensive experience with 3D scanners and a whole array of solutions available for purchase. If you’re interested in using functional 3D printing and materials in your business, feel free to reach out, and we can help you make the right choice for your application. Call 833-774-6863 or email [email protected], and we’re here to help! Follow Us ►Facebook:   / visionminer   ►Instagram:   / visionminer   ►Twitter:   / visionminer   ►TikTok:   / visionminer   00:00 Introduction 00:36 Some 3D Printed Parts in PC 03:57 Polycarbonate vs ABS, ASA, Nylon, ULTEM™ 04:42 Where is Polycarb Used in Industry? 05:54 Technical Specifications 08:19 3D Printer Specs for PC 09:25 Real-World Testing 10:53 Hand Break & Bend Test 11:45 Torque Test 15:39 22 IDEX 3D Printer for Polycarbonate 17:43 UTM Tensile Strength Text 20:09 UTM Flexural Strength Test 21:34 Flammability Testing 25:54 Microscope Analysis 31:19 Final Results 32:25 Nordhaven 86