Polycarbonate is a great material because of its durability, strength and heat resistance. However, it is a difficult material to print. A lot of 3D printers are not able to handle polycarbonate.
Because of its high tendency to warp if certain requirements are not met. Fortunately, we have listed the best 3D printers for polycarbonate. These 3D printers are high-quality and have a high chance of successfully 3D printing polycarbonate.
The QIDI TECH X-Max meets all the requirements for polycarbonate 3D printing and more.
The QIDI TECH X-Plus is able to produce high quality 3D prints on 99 per cent of the time.
The Dremel Digilab 3D45 is a high-end 3D printer with advanced capabilities. And that includes 3D printing polycarbonate.
The QIDI TECH X-Max meets all the requirements for polycarbonate 3D printing and more.
The QIDI TECH X-Plus is able to produce high quality 3D prints on 99 per cent of the time.
The Dremel Digilab 3D45 is a high-end 3D printer with advanced capabilities. And that includes 3D printing polycarbonate.
Last update on 2020-01-19 at 16:15 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
| Name | Layer Height | Build Volume | |
|---|---|---|---|
| QIDI TECH X-Max | 0.05mm to 0.4mm | 300 x 250 x 300mm | Buy On Amazon |
| QIDI TECH X-Plus | 0.05mm to 0.4mm | 270 x 200 x 200mm | Buy On Amazon |
| Dremel Digilab 3D45 | 0.05mm to 0.4mm | 255 x 150 x 170mm | Buy On Amazon |
| BIBO 3D Printer | 0.05mm to 0.3mm | 210 x 185 x 160mm | Buy On Amazon |
Can PolyCarbonate Be 3D Printed?
Yes, but only a few 3D printers can handle polycarbonate. The rest require modding or trial and error. Before a 3D printer can print polycarbonate.
The 3D printer should be able to reach high temperatures, have a high temperature heated bed and should have an enclosed build chamber. Polycarbonate is a tricky material to 3D print. If the 3D printer is not able to meet these requirements.
The polycarbonate is not going to come out well and will be messy. However, successfully printing polycarbonate itself is rewarding. Because it is one of the strongest 3D printing materials. Gizmo Dorks is the recommended Polycarbonate filament type for 3D printing.
Benefits of PolyCarbonate
Here are a few benefits of polycarbonate 3D prints
Transparent
The transparency of polycarbonate makes it the go-to material for prototyping. The transparency also increases the beauty of the 3D prints. And if you are experienced you can 3d print blended polycarbonate.
Durable & Strong
Polycarbonate is a strong material and can withstand a large number of shocks and impacts. Stronger than ABS and PLA. Polycarbonate 3D prints last far longer than a lot of 3D printing materials. So if you want something strong and durable. Then polycarbonate is the best material for making that object.
Heat Resistant
Polycarbonate can withstand fairly high temperatures without deforming. The maximum it can withstand is 135 degrees Celsius.
Flexible
Polycarbonate is quite flexible. When it comes under force it doesn’t break. But rather bends.
Cons of PolyCarbonate
Polycarbonate is an awesome material to 3D print. But, it has its downsides too.
Moisture Absorption
Polycarbonate easily absorbs moisture from the air. This can mess up your 3D prints. Because the absorbed water vaporizes during prints creating bubbles which tends to reduce the durability and strength.
You also lose the transparency of the polycarbonate. Make sure to store the polycarbonate with a desiccant to prevent it from absorbing moisture.
High Print Temperatures Required
Polycarbonate requires high temperatures for it to extrude properly. The nozzle should be able to reach between 260-310 degrees Celsius.
The printer bed should also support heating and that should be above 80 degrees Celsius. Finally, an enclosure is required for constant temperatures for layers to adhere to each other well.
Easily Warps
If your 3D printer is not suited for printing polycarbonate or it’s not able to reach high and consistent temperatures. The chances of the polycarbonate deforming will be high. So you need to make sure everything is in order before starting.
Things To Know When Printing With Polycarbonate
Here are a few things to know about before you start 3D printing polycarbonate.
Extruder Temperature
Your extruder nozzle should be able to reach high temperatures. That is between 260 to 310 degrees Celsius.
Bed Temperature
The 3D printer should have a heated bed that can achieve a temperature of 80 degrees Celsius or higher.
3D Printer Enclosure
3D printers with enclosures are a must. This is to make sure that high temperatures are maintained during printing. This reduces the chances of warping in polycarbonate.
Moisture Absorption
Either you store the polycarbonate filament with a desiccant or you dry the filament before 3D printing. A polycarbonate that has absorbed moisture is not going to print well.
Here Are The Best 3D Printers For Polycarbonate
QIDI Tech X-Max
The QIDI Tech X-max is an awesome 3D printer. A great 3D printer for polycarbonate, PC carbon fibre and other filament types. This 3D printer has one of the highest accuracies and it’s able to print high detail 3D objects.
Furthermore, it has everything required to successfully 3D print polycarbonate (an enclosed area, high-temperature nozzle and a heated bed). The build plates can be removed. This allows you to print as soon as possible when you put the clean one in.
Also, the build volume is quite large (300x250x300) that allows you to make large 3D prints. Customer support for the 3D printer is great and responsive. They make sure everything is working on your side.
Overall, the QIDI TECH X-Max is a great 3D printer for not only polycarbonate but 3D printing in general. This is a solid device for professionals and beginners alike.
However, the 3D printer has a few issues. First of all, the hotend is a custom one which makes looking for an upgrade difficult. If you want an upgrade you have to get in touch with customer support.
Secondly, the touchscreen user interface has a few Chinese characters. So you have to experiment to know their functions. Lastly, the cooling fan is located in an odd place. And can get in the way if the 3D print has an overhang.
Even with these issues, the QIDI TECH X-max is a great value. One of the best 3D printers for polycarbonate.
Pros
High Detail 3D Prints
Removable Heated Build Plates
Great Customer Support
Decent Build Volume
Cons
Custom Hotend Set-up Makes It Difficult To Upgrade
Touchscreen User Interface Takes Some Time To Get Used To
Cooling Fan Located At Odd Location
Last update on 2020-01-19 at 16:15 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
QIDI TECH X-Plus
Made from the same company as the QIDI TECH X-Max. The QIDI TECH X-Plus is a great value 3D printer that is more affordable than the QIDI TECH X-max. You also receive amazing customer support from the company.
The QIDI Tech X-Plus fills the requirements of 3D printing polycarbonate. Moreover, it comes with two extruders. The first one can reach a maximum temperature of 250 degrees Celsius.
The second one is meant for high-performance materials like polycarbonate, carbon fibre and nylon. It can reach a maximum temperature of 300 degrees Celsius. Another cool thing about the 3D printer is that you can easily remove the 3D prints by bending the build plate.
Most 3D printers require a tool to remove it from underneath. And this might destroy the underside of the 3D printer. The QIDI TECH X-Plus can produce high-resolution 3D prints.
Thanks to its high accuracy and ability to extrude between 0.05 – 0.4 mm layer thickness. In short, your 3D prints are going to be beautiful and high quality. Moreover, it has a sturdy build. However, there is one downside the 3D printer has. And that is the touchscreen.
Because the 3D printer was made in China some of the characters are in Chinese. So you have to play around with it to know what their functions. Overall, the QIDI Tech X-Plus is one of the best 3D printers around.
A high-quality 3D printer that can easily handle polycarbonate and other high-performance materials. Highly-recommended for 3D printing.
Pros
High Detail 3D Prints
Easy To Set-up
Build Plate Allows 3D Printed Object To Be Easily Removed
Sturdy Build
Cons
Confusing Touchscreen Interface
Last update on 2020-01-19 at 11:16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Dremel Digilab 3D45
Here are a few things to know about the Dremel Digilab 3D45 before purchasing it. The spool holder doesn’t support standard size filaments. So you have to purchase Dremel filament types which are three times the normal price.
One way around this is by modding the device to use third party filaments. However, Dremel won’t help you if something happens when using a third party filament. Also, the camera feature that allows you to view 3D printing in real-time remotely is buggy. It shows a few frames per second and so it’s not reliable.
Now for what the Dremel Digilab 3D45 gets right. This 3D printer is very easy to set-up and no assembly needs to be done on your part. In short, it is a plug & play 3D printer. This makes it great for beginners or users who like to start printing right out of the box.
For 3D printing, this pretty much can produce high detail prints. A 50 micron 3D printer that can easily print figurines, miniatures and objects that require high resolution. Moreover, it fills the requirements of 3D printing polycarbonate. So you don’t have to worry about that.
The Dremel Digilab 3D45 has solid build quality. It is also quiet and doesn’t make a lot of noise when working. Customer support is great and responsive. They are super-helpful and try to solve your 3D printer problems to the best of their ability.
Overall, aside from the issues mentioned. The Dremel Digilab 3D45 is a solid printer for polycarbonate 3D printing.
Pros
Easy To Set-up & No Assembly On Your Part
Great Quality 3D Prints
Quiet & Solid Build Quality
Great Customer Support
Cons
Spool Holder Doesn’t Support Standard Size Filaments & Dremel
Filaments Are Expensive
Camera Feature Doesn’t Work Well
Last update on 2020-01-19 at 11:16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
BIBO 3D Printer
The BIBO 3D printer fills the requirements when it comes to polycarbonate 3D printing. That’s a high-temperature nozzle, enclosed area and a heated build plate. This increases the chances of having a successful polycarbonate 3D print.
Moreover, the 3D printer can produce high detail prints with above-average accuracy. It’s able to print a layer thickness of between 0.05 to 0.3 mm. Your 3D prints also come out clean. The dual extruders is a major plus.
Because you can produce several 3D prints in a short amount of time. When it comes to build quality, it is well-built. A solid 3D printer that is easy to repair. You should also know the 3D printer takes kindly to modding.
All in all, the BIBO is a fantastic 3D printer that has a fast response customer support. Regrettably, that BIBO is not perfect. The 3D printer is quite difficult to clean especially the corners. And the English documentation is confusing since it is written by the Chinese.
Still, the BIBO is one of the best 3D printers you can get for polycarbonate 3D printing.
Pros
Fast Response Customer Support
High Detail 3D Prints That Come Out Clean
Dual Extruders & Heated Bed
Well-Built, Easy To Use & Repair
Cons
Well-Built, Easy To Use & RepairCleaning Is A Challenge
Cleaning Is A Challenge
Last update on 2020-01-19 at 16:15 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Final Thoughts
A successful 3D printed polycarbonate right results in durable and beautiful objects. But to successfully print it your 3D printer should be able to achieve a high nozzle temperature, have a heated build plate and enclosed space.
Unfortunately, not many 3D printers meet these requirements. That’s it for the best 3D printers for polycarbonate.
