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In FDM printing, polycarbonate offers an alternative to ABS
3D printing using the FDM (=Fused Deposition Modeling) process is undoubtedly one of the most common 3D printing processes, alongside stereolithography and selective laser sintering (=SLS printing).
Home user 3D printers in particular generally use the rapid prototyping technology developed by Scott Crump in the late 1980s enamel stratification is common. In this context, we want to ignore the inferior print quality of most home 3D printers and their cumbersome, user-unfriendly technical handling.
Filament is melted in the extruder and piled up in the shape of the model
How FDM printing technology works is easily explained: That, in this context as filament The 3D material is fed to the 3D printer in roll or stick form, melted in its extruder and then applied in layers via the extruder nozzle, based on the shape specified in the 3D files, to a usually heated printing bed, where it in the form of the desired 3D model.
Typically, FDM printers work with ABS. This abbreviation stands for acrylonitrile butadiene styrene and describes a 3D material that is characterized by its particular strength and stability.
Polycarbonate as an FDM printing alternative to ABS
In addition to the particularly flame retardant ULTEM™ However, polycarbonate (PC) also offers an alternative to ABS in FDM printing, which we would like to explain to you today.
In the chemical sense, the umbrella term polycarbonate (PC) refers to the polyester of carbonic acid. These are thermoplastic (ie deformable when heated) plastics.
The industrial production of polycarbonates began in 1953, when Hermann Schnell developed a compound based on the propane bisphenol A macrolon put on the market. Today, polycarbonates are usually produced by polycondensation of phosgene with diols or by transesterification with carbonic acid diesters.
As a 3D material, polycarbonate is characterized by particularly high impact strength and good temperature resistance. Even when hardened, it can be bent without cracking or cracking.
PC is used in the manufacture of bulletproof glass as well as in UV and corrugated plates, as well as in CDs.
If we have piqued your interest in our 3D materials, you should visit our website today. There you can also find out more about our printing processes and services.
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