Readyprint™ Polycarbonate (PC) is an amorphous thermoplastic, commonly used as an engineering polymer for functional prototypes, jigs, fixtures, and end-use parts. Polycarbonate is a transparent plastic that offers high heat resistance (up to 140°C), high-impact resistance, affordability, and can be sterilized. PC complies with REACH and RoHS standards, and has EU 10/2011 and FDA 21 CFR food contact certifications. PC is often used in aerospace and defense, consumer electronics, and automotive.
Printing Difficulty: Intermediate
Readyprint™ PC can be purchased from AON3D directly by contacting help@aon3d.com.
Readyprint™ PC is factory pre-dried and should be installed in the Filament Dry Storage and Feed System prior to printing to prevent moisture uptake and minimize the impact of moisture on the printing process. In ambient air, PC is extremely susceptible to hydration. Bubbles, popping noises, excessive oozing, and stringing may occur if it has been hydrated.
If the filament is hydrated, dry at 100ºC for 6 hours in a convection oven, before adjusting process parameters to obtain reliable and consistent results. Ensure drying equipment respects our site requirements to ensure adequate drying performance is achieved. During processing make sure the filament is fed from a low-humidity environment.
When not in use, store filament in air-tight bags or containers alongside silica or zeolite desiccant. Be sure to replace desiccant regularly as its moisture capture ability is exhausted. Our Filament Dry Storage and Feed System setup prevents filament moisture uptake minimizing the impact of moisture on the printing process, contact help@aon3d.com for more information.
For more information, see the Filament Drying and Moisture Control page.
For instructions on how to inspect the AON3D build plates, refer to the Inspect and Clean Build Plates procedure.
PC prints well on PEI film build sheet as it exhibits great adhesion behavior at moderate cost and improved durability. The PEI build sheet is sensitive to Z offset calibration and thermal stability of the printer system. For best results, ensure that the machine has reached thermal equilibrium before calibrating. If the bed-to-nozzle distance is too small, or the first layer is too hot, the part may be difficult to remove without damaging the part and/or build sheet.
For best results, process settings should be adjusted based on a particular model geometry. If you require process development support, our Applications Engineering team can help! Send us a message at help@aon3d.com to consult with one of our Additive Manufacturing Specialists.
| Setting | AON M2+ |
|---|---|
| Extrusion Temperature | 290-310ºC |
| Bed Temperature | 120-130ºC |
| Chamber Temperature | 120ºC |
| Print Speed | 20-60 mm/s |
| Nozzle Size | 0.25-1.20 mm |
| Preferred Build Platform | PEI Build Sheet |
Optimal extrusions are shiny whereas extrusions that have been stressed appear dull. Part warpage and/or deformation may occur if internal stresses are not sufficiently managed; induced stress by polymer shrinkage. PC is sensitive to printing speeds; the slower, the better. Higher extrusion temperatures and slower printing speeds help the polymer flow more easily. Keep the chamber and bed temperature relatively high to minimize the temperature gradient the part experiences, minimizing warping and stress accumulation.
Large models of high infill percentages can be difficult to print as PC is generally more susceptible to part shrinking, warping and/or deformation. For parts that have small contact area with the build platform, brims can be utilized to improve first layer adhesion.
ThermaX™ MTS1 is a compatible breakaway support material for Readyprint™ PC.
For more information, see the Using Supports and Support Materials and Dual Extrusion page.
All AON3D-validated materials are available in the SuperSlicer configuration bundle. Refer to SuperSlicer Installation and Update to install and update the SuperSlicer software. Follow the instructions to update to the latest version to ensure you have access to all available materials.
Simplify3D® sample profiles for Readyprint™ PC are available in the Downloadable Assets section.
Allow all machine components to reach room temperature before proceeding further. Failure to allow components to cool down could result in thermal injury (burns) to personnel.
Shrinkage, deformation, and warpage due to thermal shock may occur from removing the part before letting the machine cool.
PC parts can be peeled off of the PEI build sheet by hand at room temperature. Permanent deformation of the PEI build sheet may occur when removing a large part with a lot of contact area, if the PEI build sheet is still hot.
Stringing may occur when the filament is hydrated. Drying of PC is critical for optimal printing performance, but maintaining dryness is also difficult. Follow the drying procedure in the above Filament Preparation section.
If stringing/oozing occurs even when properly dried and fed from a low humidity environment, slightly increase the Coasting Distance and/or the Retraction Speed, before increasing the Retraction Distance.