6 Best Polycarbonate 3D Printers of 2024 to Buy
The past few decades have seen a fast advancement in 3D printing, opening up a wide range of opportunities for numerous sectors. A common material option because of its exceptional strength, toughness, and tolerance for temperature is polycarbonate (PC).
Polycarbonate is a thermoplastic that is robust yet compact, making it perfect for a variety of business uses. It is not the most straightforward polymer for 3D printing since it needs fairly elevated power and platter conditions. Creating intricate pieces with good heating, physical, and photonic qualities continues to be intriguing. Additionally, choosing another permanent treatment for the plate is highly recommended. It is typically offered as filament. A trustworthy and superior 3D printer is necessary to realize the possible uses of polycarbonate fully. We'll examine the greatest polycarbonate printing devices in this post so you can choose one that meets your requirements for printing with confidence.
Which Are the Popular Polycarbonate 3D Printers?
In this section, we'll examine the leading types of polycarbonate 3D printers, emphasizing on their salient qualities and functionalities since the specific material’s printers have grown in appeal throughout the world. It’s essential to understand and make an informed decision when it comes to making a purchase decision such as this.
1. Ultimaker S5 Pro Bundle
A complete package created for expert-level 3D printing is the Ultimaker S5 Pro Bundle. It provides a smooth and effective manufacturing performance by integrating the Ultimaker S5 printer via substrate stations and airflow management. The Ultimaker S5 has a capacity for assembly of 330 x 240 x 300 millimeters, which is more than enough room for massive amounts of polycarbonate designs.
Utilizing the assistance of the twin filament method, intricate patterns may be printed with dissolving backing supplies, yielding precise and dependable results. The material used in the station can continuously print with a maximum of six filaments, including polycarbonate. Furthermore, the layout of the compartment's warmth and circulation are managed by the air management to reduce the chance of distortion and guarantee the highest print quality.
Price: $10,800
Purchase Link: Matter Hackers
2. Raise 3D Pro2 Plus
An outstanding 3D printer known for its dependability and accuracy is the Raise3D Pro2 Plus. With a roomy 305 x 305 x 605-millimeter working capacity, it easily fits complicated and huge polycarbonate prints. A multi-molder system on the Pro2 Plus makes it possible to print with several materials or employ liquid bases for support. Because of the secure construction area, there is less chance of bending and more reliable outcomes. Those looking for outstanding polycarbonate prints should consider the Pro2 Plus since it also has cutting-edge features like automated platform raising, filament exhaustion recognition, and a simple screen display.
Price: $4,499
Purchase Link: Raise3D.
3. Formlabs Form 3
A notable synthetic material type of 3D printer with remarkable output accuracy and dependability is the Formlabs Form 3. The Form 3 may be fitted with an elevated temperatures resin chamber to accommodate polycarbonate filaments even though it is mostly meant for polymer fabrication.
Polycarbonate prints produced by Form 3 using Lower Force Stereolithography (LFS) process are extremely precise and intricate. It is a flexible and effective choice for both business and individual use due to its intuitive design, autonomy, material management, and distance surveillance features. With a limited construction dimension of 145 x 145 x 185 millimeters, the Form 3 is ideal for less complex polycarbonate manufacturing jobs.
Price: $4,853
Purchase Link: FormLabs.
4. Raise3D E2CF
The E2CF is Raise3D's exclusive carbon fiber machine but is also excellent for PC use. The build volume of this independent twin extruder printer is 295x240 x240 mm, and the layer height is 100 microns. It has an activated charcoal HEPA filter, which makes it perfect for office settings.
The E2CF has two standalone sealed dry boxes that Raise3D created to handle the high water-absorption of materials like PC and nylon in order to guarantee a stable printing process. The materials can be kept in environments with a minimum of humidity when printing thanks to these dry boxes that are mounted to the printer. Another advantage is the high-precision optical sensor-aided assisted auto-bed leveling procedure for better nozzle height calibration accuracy.
Price:$ 4500
Purchase link: Raise3D.
5. MakerBot Method X
A computer-based 3D printer of enterprise caliber designed for exceptionally well the printing process featuring polycarbonate is the MakerBot Method X. A simmered compartment is a characteristic of the Method X, enabling exact temperature regulation and lowering the possibility of distorting. Complicated and useful polycarbonate prints are produced thanks to its twin nozzle method's ability to print elaborate patterns on solubility bases.
With its sturdy design, intuitive onscreen layout, and connection to the internet, the Method X offers a smooth printing process. It supports a variety of polycarbonate manufacturing solutions featuring an assembly area measuring 190 x 190 x 196 millimeters.
Price: $4,874
Purchase Link: MakerBot Store.
6. Intamsys Funmant HT
With a build volume of 260 x 260 x 260 mm, the Funmat HT is an entry-level machine from Intamsys. It provides a variety of features that are generally only available in more sophisticated, industrial-grade 3D printers, making it an excellent introduction to high-temperature printing. A filament alarm that alerts you when the filament is about to run out is built into the device, which includes an insulated chamber for continuous temperatures up to 90 °C. Although there is no drying unit, the Funmat HT features an integrated camera so you can remotely monitor their print. The filament is also contained. It can process PC as well as PEEK, PEI, Nylon, PPSU, Ultem, and ABS.
Price: $6500
Purchase Link: Intamsys.
7. Roboze One Pro
The One Pro 3D printer from Italian manufacturer Roboze is a high-temperature device that can work with nearly any sophisticated material. The beltless printing method used by the One Pro offers excellent precision and quick production rates. Sensors enable build plate auto-leveling, enabling more robust and quick prints.
To prepare the material for 3D printing, dry, and heat it, the printer has an HT Dryer. This ensures the mechanical performance and surface quality of the items created. The build volume of this model is a respectable 300 x 250 x 200 mm.
Price: $ 30,000
Purchase Link: Roboze.
8. Apium P220
A variety of high-temperature filaments, including PC, PEEK, PEI, and PEKK, are printable with the Apium P220. According to the company, the "adaptive heating system" can heat only the appropriate parts while keeping others cooler to provide adequate rigidity. The heading power is changed after this system analyzes the printing geometry. The printer can independently intervene when a printing component variation arises thanks to the machine's inbuilt camera and temperature recording for monitoring the printing process. Additionally, the printer notifies you when maintenance is necessary.
Since the P220 is an open materials printer, any brand of PC can be used to print with it. Additionally, Apium provides the Apium Filament Dryer, which greatly raises print success rates and lowers moisture-related faults. It is appropriate for an office setting because of its extremely low noise emission. Additionally, it offers a simple technique for changing the filament and a swappable nozzle. At 205 x 155 x 150 mm, the construction volume is likewise fairly respectable.
Price: $46,000
Purchase Link: Apium.
9. Stratasys F900
A printer intended for massive production and prototype purposes is the Stratasys F900. This manufacturing behemoth is one of the biggest 3D printers on the market, with an enormous working dimension of 914 x 609 x 914 millimeters. The FDM, or fused deposition modeling, technique is employed by the F900 to produce high-quality polycarbonate prints quickly.
Even with big prints, the F900 offers an outstanding level of bonding and geometrical precision thanks to its preheated compartment and cutting-edge product molding technology. The machine is the preferred choice for companies needing accuracy and dependability in polycarbonate printing because of its simple appearance, controlling features from afar, and durable build.
Price: Available on request
Purchase Link: Stratasys.
Having looked at the best polycarbonate 3D printers, it's also important to have a look at the best 3D printing software that you can use to prepare your designs for 3D printing. There are many that are available, but we recommend using SelfCAD. It is an easy to use 3D design software that you can use to create both simple and complex 3D models. It comes with various 3D modeling features like image to 3D model for turning photos to 3D models, freehand drawing and sketching tools for creating 3D models from scratch and many other interesting tools. The video below shows the features of SelfCAD.
SelfCAD also has an in-built online slicer that is compatible with the majority of 3D printers available in the market. Learn how to use it to slice your files in the video below.
Conclusion
Since polycarbonate has so many uses and is both strong and adaptable, it is a popular material for 3D printing. To get the best results, you must spend money on a premium polycarbonate machine. The aforementioned printers provide great print accuracy, dependability, and adaptability, allowing you to fully use polycarbonate in your three-dimensional printing activities whether you are an experienced user looking for professional printing or a beginner discovering new avenues. But, if you have no idea where to begin and enhance your production operation, you've got to check out SelfCAD. It offers outstanding 3D printing tools to help you bring your ideas to life.
Enjoy powerful modeling, rendering, and 3D printing tools without the steep learning curve.
Need to learn 3D modeling? Get started with interactive tutorials.