{
  "question": "How do I print polycarbonate (PC)?",
  "slug": "pc",
  "useCase": "pc",
  "useCaseLabel": "Polycarbonate",
  "updated": "2026-10-16",
  "shortAnswer": "Use the nozzle, bed, and drying cycle on the polycarbonate row you loaded, keep drafts off the part, and read a PC blend as its own product.",
  "recommendedMaterials": [
    "pc"
  ],
  "printerConsiderations": [
    "The editorial summary says 260–300 °C (500–572 °F). That band matches Bambu PC and Polymaker PC. Prusament PC Blend lists 265–285 °C (509–545 °F). Polymaker PC-ABS lists 250–270 °C (482–518 °F). Use the row.",
    "Enclosure required is blank on these records. Draft control is the process. It is not a filled cell.",
    "A comment on r/prusa3d 1nh33i3 says a PC Blend part will warp again, and take the print sheet with it. That is a warp warning, not a new bed temperature."
  ],
  "pros": [
    "Heat resistance is why people attempt PC. The temperatures that support a print are the ones on the row, including drying where the sheet lists it.",
    "PC-ABS is on the list because the summary says blends are easier, and this blend has its own lower nozzle and bed."
  ],
  "cons": [
    "The catalog does not score blends as easier. Easier is the editorial word. The table only shows the different ranges.",
    "Several supplied comments are off the print question: a radar-sensor warning, a pants joke, and a USB-port question. They are not PC temperatures."
  ],
  "community": "The editorial summary says polycarbonate needs 260–300 °C (500–572 °F), a hot bed, an enclosure, and dried filament, and that PC blends are easier. Bambu PC and Polymaker PC list 260–300 °C (500–572 °F) and a bed of 100–120 °C (212–248 °F). Bambu PC adds drying at 80 °C (176 °F) for 8 h. Prusament PC Blend lists 265–285 °C (509–545 °F). Polymaker PC-ABS lists 250–270 °C (482–518 °F) and 90–105 °C (194–221 °F), with drying at 75 °C (167 °F) for 6 h. Enclosure required stays blank. A comment on the PC Blend thread expects the part to warp and lift the sheet. A comment on the radar-badge thread says not to put printed plastic over an automotive radar sensor. That is a use warning, not a nozzle setting.",
  "related": [
    "heat",
    "drying",
    "warping",
    "abs_print"
  ],
  "faq": [
    {
      "q": "Does every PC spool print at 260–300 °C (500–572 °F)?",
      "a": "No. Bambu PC and Polymaker PC list 260–300 °C (500–572 °F). Prusament PC Blend lists 265–285 °C (509–545 °F). Polymaker PC-ABS lists 250–270 °C (482–518 °F). The 260–300 °C (500–572 °F) line is the summary, and it matches only some of these rows."
    },
    {
      "q": "Does the catalog say a PC blend is easier?",
      "a": "No. The summary says blends are easier. Polymaker PC-ABS lists a lower nozzle and bed than Bambu PC, and drying at 75 °C (167 °F) for 6 h. Easier is not a column. Enclosure required is blank on the blend too."
    }
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "title": "Bambu Lab PC technical data sheet",
      "url": "https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0645/5876/0155/files/Bambu_PC_Technical_Data_Sheet.pdf",
      "kind": "datasheet"
    },
    {
      "title": "Polymaker PC-ABS technical data sheet",
      "url": "https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0548/7299/7945/files/Polymaker_PC_ABS_TDS_EN_V5.4.pdf",
      "kind": "datasheet"
    },
    {
      "title": "Open Filament Database, Polymaker PC",
      "url": "https://api.openfilamentdatabase.org/api/v1/brands/polymaker/materials/PC/filaments/pc/index.json",
      "kind": "other"
    },
    {
      "title": "Open Filament Database, Prusament PC Blend",
      "url": "https://api.openfilamentdatabase.org/api/v1/brands/prusament/materials/PC/filaments/pc_blend/index.json",
      "kind": "other"
    },
    {
      "title": "Open Filament Database, Prusament PC",
      "url": "https://api.openfilamentdatabase.org/api/v1/brands/prusament/materials/PC/filaments/pc/index.json",
      "kind": "other"
    },
    {
      "title": "Community source, r/functionalprint 1rigvbx",
      "url": "https://www.reddit.com/r/functionalprint/comments/1rigvbx/",
      "kind": "reddit"
    },
    {
      "title": "Community source, r/prusa3d 1nh33i3",
      "url": "https://www.reddit.com/r/prusa3d/comments/1nh33i3/",
      "kind": "reddit"
    },
    {
      "title": "Community source, r/functionalprint 1izwgvt",
      "url": "https://www.reddit.com/r/functionalprint/comments/1izwgvt/",
      "kind": "reddit"
    },
    {
      "title": "Community source, r/ender3 13tv0p0",
      "url": "https://www.reddit.com/r/ender3/comments/13tv0p0/",
      "kind": "reddit"
    },
    {
      "title": "Community source, r/prusa3d 183yqyx",
      "url": "https://www.reddit.com/r/prusa3d/comments/183yqyx/",
      "kind": "reddit"
    }
  ],
  "recommendations": [
    {
      "rank": 1,
      "note": "Bambu PC technical data sheet. Nozzle 260–300 °C (500–572 °F), bed 100–120 °C (212–248 °F), drying at 80 °C (176 °F) for 8 h, and print speed up to 200 mm/s. Enclosure required is blank.",
      "brand": "Bambu Lab",
      "product": "PC",
      "material": "PC",
      "url": "/brand/bambu-lab/pc",
      "nozzle": "260–300 °C (500–572 °F)",
      "bed": "100–120 °C (212–248 °F)",
      "pricePerKg": null,
      "datasheetUrl": "https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0645/5876/0155/files/Bambu_PC_Technical_Data_Sheet.pdf",
      "affiliateUrl": null
    },
    {
      "rank": 2,
      "note": "Polymaker PC from the Open Filament Database. Nozzle 260–300 °C (500–572 °F) and bed 100–120 °C (212–248 °F). Drying and enclosure required are not in our sources.",
      "brand": "Polymaker",
      "product": "PC",
      "material": "PC",
      "url": "/brand/polymaker/pc",
      "nozzle": "260–300 °C (500–572 °F)",
      "bed": "100–120 °C (212–248 °F)",
      "pricePerKg": null,
      "datasheetUrl": null,
      "affiliateUrl": null
    },
    {
      "rank": 3,
      "note": "Prusament PC Blend from the Open Filament Database. Nozzle 265–285 °C (509–545 °F) and bed 100–120 °C (212–248 °F). Drying is not stored. This is the blend row, not the unfilled Prusament PC row, which lists the same nozzle and bed.",
      "brand": "Prusament",
      "product": "PC Blend",
      "material": "PC",
      "url": "/brand/prusament/pc-blend",
      "nozzle": "265–285 °C (509–545 °F)",
      "bed": "100–120 °C (212–248 °F)",
      "pricePerKg": null,
      "datasheetUrl": null,
      "affiliateUrl": null
    },
    {
      "rank": 4,
      "note": "Polymaker PC-ABS technical data sheet. Nozzle 250–270 °C (482–518 °F), bed 90–105 °C (194–221 °F), and drying at 75 °C (167 °F) for 6 h. Enclosure required is blank. The nozzle starts below the 260 °C (500 °F) rows.",
      "brand": "Polymaker",
      "product": "PC-ABS",
      "material": "PC",
      "url": "/brand/polymaker/pc-abs",
      "nozzle": "250–270 °C (482–518 °F)",
      "bed": "90–105 °C (194–221 °F)",
      "pricePerKg": null,
      "datasheetUrl": "https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0548/7299/7945/files/Polymaker_PC_ABS_TDS_EN_V5.4.pdf",
      "affiliateUrl": null
    }
  ]
}