Polycarbonate (PC)
Polycarbonate for High-Heat, High-Impact Parts
Very tough, with a heat limit of roughly 110–130 °C.
Polycarbonate is the toughest unfilled plastic we print. It absorbs impacts that would crack most other materials, and typical published heat-deflection temperatures for printable PC grades fall at roughly 110–130 °C at low load — higher than ASA or ABS.
That makes it a good pick for guards, covers and brackets near heat, parts that take knocks on a production floor, housings for electronics that run warm, and vehicle parts that sit in direct sun.
It's also one of the hardest materials to print well. PC is printed hot, in an enclosure, from dried filament, and large parts can warp. Its chemical resistance is weaker than people expect — many solvents and some cleaners attack it — so tell us what the part will be exposed to.
Polycarbonate in Texas heat
In a closed car in summer
Yes
Outdoors, year-round
With paint or a coating
If a part sits on a dashboard or near a heat source and has to stay rigid, polycarbonate and carbon-fiber nylon are the FDM materials with the most margin.
Where Polycarbonate works
- Guards and covers near heat sources
- Impact-prone parts on production floors
- Vehicle parts exposed to sun
- Housings for electronics that run warm
- Fixtures that sit near hot processes
Where to use something else
- Solvent or harsh-cleaner exposure
- Long-term outdoor use without paint or coating
- Large, thin, flat parts (warping)
Designing parts in Polycarbonate
- Printed PC is not optically clear like molded polycarbonate sheet — expect translucent at best.
- Generous fillets reduce stress concentrations and warping.
- If chemicals are involved, carbon-fiber nylon is often the better choice.
Polycarbonate questions
Is 3D printed polycarbonate clear?
No. Printed PC is translucent at best because of the layer structure. For a clear window, we'd design around a cut sheet or a molded part.
Polycarbonate or carbon-fiber nylon?
Both handle heat. PC is tougher on impact and gentler on mating parts; carbon-fiber nylon is stiffer, more dimensionally stable and more chemical-resistant. Tell us the load, temperature and chemicals and we'll recommend one.
Why does PC cost more than PETG?
The material costs more, prints slower and hotter, and needs drying and an enclosure. Most of the difference is machine time, not plastic.
Services that use Polycarbonate
Compare with
- Nylon & Carbon-Fiber Nylon — Our toughest, stiffest FDM materials — carbon-fiber grades are commonly rated 150 °C or more at low load.
- ASA — UV-stable and good to roughly 85–100 °C — the default for parts that live outside.
- ABS — The classic housing plastic: roughly 85–100 °C heat limit, and it can be vapor-smoothed.
- PLA vs PETG vs ASA vs Nylon
Check your part
- Instant Quote Estimate
A ballpark price from size, material and quantity.
- STL Viewer
Open an STL in the browser and check its size before you send it.
Need a part in Polycarbonate — or not sure it's the right one?
Send your file and tell us where the part will live. A person quotes every job, usually within one business day, with a material recommendation if a different one would serve you better.
Get a QuoteHeat figures are typical published heat-deflection ranges for common filament grades at low load (0.45 MPa), not measurements of our parts. Real values vary with brand, colour, print orientation, part design and — for nylon — moisture. If a number matters to your application, tell us and we'll talk through margin and testing.