Tough, Heat-Resistant FDM Engineering Plastic
When a part softens in ABS, polycarbonate is the usual next step. Our polycarbonate 3D printed parts are rated to about 138°C, held to ±0.15mm per 100mm and printed up to 914 × 609 × 914mm in a single piece. Before anything prints, an engineer checks the load, heat and chemicals the part will face. Send your file for a free online polycarbonate 3D printing quote.
We print finished polycarbonate parts from your files. We don't cut polycarbonate sheet, sell filament or build computers.
Polycarbonate, or PC, is a tough, heat-resistant engineering thermoplastic. It's the plastic family behind machine guards, headlamp lenses and electrical housings. In 3D printing, PC filament is melted and laid down layer by layer on industrial FDM equipment. The heated build chamber keeps the part dimensionally stable as it cools.
The finished part holds its shape to about 138°C, well above ABS or ASA. It is strong and stiff, insulates electrically, and can be drilled and tapped. Three limits matter: it prints in white only, it isn't rated for long-term sun exposure, and a printed part is far less impact resistant than moulded polycarbonate sheet.
Quantix 3D Printing runs polycarbonate 3D printing Australia-wide as one national PC 3D printing service, with the same team, build envelope and tolerance whichever state or territory you order from.
Polycarbonate has a reputation built on safety glasses and riot shields. A 3D printed part earns some of that reputation, but not all of it.
So, is 3D printed polycarbonate strong? For a printed plastic, yes. Here's what changes when it's built in layers:
Many requests for clear polycarbonate 3D printing start with a drawing that says "PC" and a part that needs to be see-through. Our polycarbonate prints in opaque white. Layered FDM can't produce a glass-clear part in any material, and resins sold elsewhere as "polycarbonate-like" are photopolymers that only imitate PC.
When a part has to be see-through, we use these materials instead:
| Material | Process | Clarity | Heat rating | Max single piece | Choose it for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transparent Resin | SLA | Clear after finishing | ~60°C | 600 × 600 × 400mm | Lenses, light guides, flow and fit models |
| Transparent Acrylic | Material jetting | Clear | ~80°C | 284 × 184 × 203mm | Small, detailed clear parts that run warmer |
| Vero Clear (High-Detail) | PolyJet | Clear | ~70°C | 250 × 250 × 200mm | Fine-detail clear prototypes |
| Polycarbonate | FDM | Opaque white | ~138°C | 914 × 609 × 914mm | Heat and load, where seeing through doesn't matter |
If you need both clarity and real heat resistance in one part, tell us the temperature and we'll talk through the trade-off before quoting. Clear materials typically ship in 5-6 working days. See our SLA 3D printing service → and PolyJet 3D printing service → for the detail.
| Parameter | Quantix 3D Printing Polycarbonate (PC) |
|---|---|
| Process | FDM (material extrusion), industrial equipment with a heated build chamber |
| Max build envelope | 914 × 609 × 914mm single piece |
| Tolerance | ±0.15mm/100mm |
| Finest detail | 1.0mm |
| Min. wall thickness | 1.0mm (2mm or more for bosses, clips and load paths) |
| Surface (as-printed) | Lightly textured, fine layer lines on curved and angled faces |
| Heat rating | ~138°C |
| UV / outdoor | Not rated for long-term sun exposure |
| Flame rating | Not a flame-retardant grade |
| Electrical | Good insulator |
| Colour | White |
| Post-processing | Drill, tap, sand, fit threaded inserts |
| Typical dispatch | FDM parts ship within 24 hours of approval; larger builds confirmed in your quote |
| Delivery | Every state and territory |
| CAD formats accepted | STL, STEP, IGES (most native formats convertible on request) |
Our polycarbonate 3D printing tolerance of ±0.15mm per 100mm means a 100mm feature lands within 0.15mm of nominal. That's tight enough to check bolt patterns, hole positions and mating faces against a machined or moulded part. Bearing bores and other precision fits should be reamed or machined after printing. Some online manufacturing networks publish ±0.3mm to ±0.5mm for FDM work. Allow a small design clearance on press fits, and we'll flag anything too tight in the file check.
The polycarbonate build size of 914mm in one piece covers full-length fixture bases, covers, ducts and housings without splitting and bonding. A bonded seam is often the weakest point of a hot-running part, so printing in one piece removes a likely failure point.
We run custom polycarbonate 3D printing Australia-wide, and every order is printed to your geometry, oriented for your load, with walls and infill set for the job rather than a default profile.
Our polycarbonate is rated to about 138°C, the point where it starts to give under a light load. A part that carries real load, or sits at temperature for hours, needs a margin below that figure. We check that margin against your operating conditions during the file review. Even with that margin, polycarbonate heat resistance sits well above ASA, which deflects at about 98°C on the same basis, and above ABS, which we rate conservatively at about 70°C for sustained use.
| Where the part will live | What it faces | Polycarbonate? | Our recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Factory floor, workshop, lab | Room temperature to a hot shed day | Yes | Polycarbonate where load or stiffness justifies it; ABS otherwise |
| Beside a motor, drive, transformer or power supply | Steady warmth, electrical insulation needed | Yes | Polycarbonate; ULTEM 9085 if the enclosure needs a flame rating |
| Fixture beside a curing oven or heat-staking station | Repeated warm-up cycles, no contact with the hot tool | Usually | Polycarbonate; tell us the temperature at the fixture |
| Car cabin, including the dashboard | Heat through glass, plus UV over years | Heat yes, long-term sun no | ASA for sun-facing trim; ABS for most shaded parts; polycarbonate only where a shaded part runs hot or carries load |
| Engine bay, away from exhaust and turbo | Hot air, vibration, possible oil or fuel splash | Often | Polycarbonate where the part stays dry; Nylon 12 CF where oil or fuel splash is likely; ULTEM 1010 if temperatures approach PC's rating |
| Near exhaust, manifold or turbo | Well above 150°C | No | ULTEM 1010 (~216°C) or metal |
| Ute tray, mine site, outdoor enclosure | Sun, UV and weather | Heat yes, UV no | ASA; we'll discuss polycarbonate if heat is the bigger risk |
| Any part that needs a flame rating | Fire-safety requirement | No | ULTEM 9085 |
Every step on that ladder, from polycarbonate through Nylon 12 CF to two ULTEM grades, prints in the same 914mm envelope. That makes us a practical high temperature 3D printing service: you choose the plastic for the temperature, not for whoever happens to stock it.
Choose polycarbonate when the part has to:
Where we'll suggest something else:
These are the five FDM materials buyers usually compare once a part has to survive heat or load.
| ABS | ASA | Polycarbonate | Nylon 12 CF | ULTEM 9085 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heat rating | ~70°C | ~98°C | ~138°C | ~147°C | ~153°C |
| Sun / UV | Yellows and weakens | UV-stable | Not rated long-term | Confirm with us | Confirm with us |
| Impact behaviour | Tough | Tough | Tough | Stiff, less forgiving | Tough |
| Stiffness | Moderate | Moderate | High | Highest | High |
| Flame-retardant | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| Max single piece | 300 × 300 × 450mm | 914 × 609 × 914mm | 914 × 609 × 914mm | 914 × 609 × 914mm | 914 × 609 × 914mm |
| Colours | 12 | White, black | White | Black | Natural tan |
| Choose it for | Indoor functional parts | Outdoor parts | Heat and load | Stiffness-to-weight, oil and fuel exposure | Flame-rated parts |
Polycarbonate vs ABS: ABS covers most indoor parts in 12 colours. Move to PC when the part runs hotter than ABS can take, carries real load, or keeps creeping out of shape. See our ABS 3D printing service →
Polycarbonate vs ASA: ASA is the sun specialist; PC is the heat and load specialist. Outside in full sun, ASA. Hot or heavily loaded, PC. See our ASA 3D printing service →
Polycarbonate vs nylon: PC is stiffer and holds its shape at higher temperatures than unfilled nylon. The choice comes down to the environment. Nylon wins on chemical resistance, wear and repeated flexing. Nylon 12 CF adds stiffness and suits hot parts that also see oil or fuel.
Polycarbonate vs ULTEM: ULTEM 9085 adds a flame-retardant rating and about 15°C more headroom, and ULTEM 1010 goes to about 216°C. Both cost more, so PC remains the sensible choice until a part needs a flame rating or more heat.
For the full comparison across all 11 FDM materials, see our FDM 3D printing service →.
A common reason for polycarbonate prototype 3D printing: the part worked in ABS until it got warm. Not sure your part needs PC? Send it anyway. The file review is free.
Here's what drives polycarbonate 3D printing cost in Australia, and why a PC part usually costs more than the same part in ABS or ASA:
If ABS or ASA would do the job, we'll tell you before you pay for PC. Send the file for a free, itemised quote on your actual part.
For pricing across every process and material, read our guide to 3D printing cost in Australia →
No account, no sales call and no minimum order. To order polycarbonate parts online:
White
STL, STEP, IGES
No minimum order
Confidential
Engineer file check
It's FDM printing with polycarbonate, a tough, heat-resistant engineering thermoplastic. Filament is melted and deposited layer by layer inside a heated build chamber. The finished parts hold their shape to about 138°C, take impact, insulate electrically and can be drilled and tapped, which makes PC a common choice for hot-running brackets, fixtures and enclosures.
No. Printed PC is strong for a printed plastic, but on standard notched impact tests moulded polycarbonate is roughly eight to eleven times tougher, and a printed part is weaker between its layers than along them. Heat resistance carries across almost fully. For safety guards or visors, use rated sheet or moulded polycarbonate.
On the published datasheet for this class of FDM polycarbonate, tensile strength is about 57 MPa along the layers and about 36 MPa across them. We orient each part so its main load runs along the layers, and flag it if the geometry won't allow that.
Our polycarbonate is rated to about 138°C. That's where the plastic starts to give under a light load, so loaded parts or parts held at temperature for hours need a margin below it. Tell us the duty and we'll check the margin in the file review.
Often, yes, as long as it's away from the exhaust, manifold and turbo and stays dry. Where oil or fuel splash is likely, Nylon 12 CF (about 147°C) is the better choice. Near the exhaust, or where temperatures approach PC's rating, we move to ULTEM 1010 (about 216°C) or metal.
No. Our polycarbonate prints in opaque white, and layered FDM can't produce a glass-clear part in any material. For see-through parts we use Transparent Resin (SLA), Vero Clear (PolyJet) or transparent acrylic, each with a lower heat rating than PC.
No. Resins sold as "polycarbonate-like" are photopolymers formulated to imitate some PC properties. Our polycarbonate is true PC thermoplastic printed on FDM equipment. If a drawing just says "PC", tell us how the part will be used and we'll confirm the right material.
Not for long-term sun exposure. Standard polycarbonate yellows and weakens in UV over time. ASA is the material we recommend for outdoor and sun-exposed parts. If heat is a bigger risk than sun, tell us the conditions and we'll talk it through.
Our grade isn't. If a part needs a flame-retardant material, ULTEM 9085 is the option in our range.
Acetone and other ketones, petrol and other aromatic solvents, ammonia and strong alkaline cleaners can craze or crack polycarbonate. Isopropyl alcohol is generally safe for cleaning. If the part will meet fuels, oils or solvents, Nylon 12 is usually the better choice.
Yes. Polycarbonate is a good electrical insulator, which is why it suits enclosures, standoffs and mounts around motors, drives and power supplies. It isn't a flame-retardant grade, so enclosures that must meet a flame rating go to ULTEM 9085.
ABS is rated to about 70°C and comes in 12 colours, which covers most indoor functional parts. Polycarbonate is rated to about 138°C, is stronger and stiffer, and prints in white. Move to PC when the part runs hotter than ABS can take, carries real load or keeps creeping out of shape in ABS.
Polycarbonate is stiffer and holds its shape at higher temperatures than unfilled nylon. Nylon has better chemical resistance, wear resistance and tolerance of repeated flexing. Nylon 12 CF adds stiffness and a heat rating of about 147°C, which makes it the better choice for hot parts that also see oil or fuel.
ASA is UV-stable and rated to about 98°C, so it's the choice for parts in the sun. Polycarbonate is rated to about 138°C and is stronger and stiffer, but isn't rated for long-term UV exposure. Outdoors in full sun, ASA. Hot or heavily loaded, polycarbonate.
Choose ULTEM when the part needs a flame-retardant rating (ULTEM 9085) or has to work above polycarbonate's range (ULTEM 9085 at about 153°C, ULTEM 1010 at about 216°C). Otherwise, polycarbonate does the job at a lower cost.
Neither is in our published range. For a tough, easier-to-finish production plastic, ABS-M30i is the closest option; for a stiff, heat-tolerant composite, Nylon 12 CF.
We don't supply polycarbonate parts for food or drink contact. Printed layers can trap residue. If your part needs food contact, tell us the application and we'll advise on the options in our range.
Tolerance is ±0.15mm per 100mm, with finest detail of 1.0mm and a minimum wall of 1.0mm. Allow a small clearance on mating parts and we'll flag any fits that look too tight.
Up to 914 × 609 × 914mm in one piece.
White. If you need a colour, parts can be painted after printing. Tell us the finish and we'll confirm the options in your quote.
Yes. PC drills, taps and accepts threaded inserts well. Tell us which features need machining and we'll size the walls and bosses to suit.
It depends on material, machine time (mostly height and volume), walls and infill, orientation and supports, finishing and quantity. PC usually costs more than ABS or ASA. Upload your file for a free, itemised quote on your exact part.
FDM parts ship within 24 hours of order approval. Larger builds are confirmed in your quote. Delivery time then depends on your location and shipping option.
You don't need a printer in your postcode. Quantix 3D Printing runs one national service, so instead of searching for polycarbonate 3D printing near me, upload your file from any state or territory and the finished parts come to your door.
No minimum quantity and no minimum order value. One replacement bracket is quoted the same way as a run of fifty fixtures.
Yes. Every file and project detail stays private.
No. We print finished parts from your files. For filament, try an Australian filament retailer. For sheet or cut-to-size panels, a plastics fabricator is the right place to look.
Rated to about 138°C. ±0.15mm per 100mm. Up to 914mm in one piece. Checked by an engineer before it prints. Quantix 3D Printing is the polycarbonate 3D printing company Australia's maintenance, tooling and product teams turn to when ABS has given up and the part still has to work. Whether it's one bracket or a run of fixtures, upload the file for a free quote and a straight answer on whether polycarbonate is the right plastic for it. No minimum order, no lock-in, and delivery to any state or territory.
