1

Topic: Polycarbonate?

I know Polycarbonate has a higher extruding temperature than the SD will go to, but I also heard somewhere that the temperature a SD shows is actually 20C or so less than the real temp.

So, is it possible to print polycarbonate on a solidoodle without a hotend upgrade?

SD2 w/ Heated bed. Mods: E3D MK5, Lawsy MKV, Glass Bed, printed filament stand

2 (edited by 2n2r5 2013-06-09 04:18:57)

Re: Polycarbonate?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polycarbonate

Thermal Properties
Melting temperature (Tm)     155 °C
Glass transition temperature(Tg)     147 °C

Actually, it's a low temp compared to PLA and ABS

I would think that the trouble would be getting it in a format that you can use.

SD3 w/ mods:
Glass bed with QU-BD heat pad upgrade, threadless ballscrew w/ 8mm smooth rod, spectra line belt replacement, lawsy MK5 extruder, Lawsy replacement carriage, E3D hotend, Ramps 1.4 w/ reprap discount controller, DRV8825 drivers, 12v 30A PS, Acrylic case, Overkill Y-idlers, Filament alarm, Extruder fan + more.

3

Re: Polycarbonate?

2n2r5 wrote:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polycarbonate

Thermal Properties
Melting temperature (Tm)     155 °C
Glass transition temperature(Tg)     147 °C

Actually, it's a low temp compared to PLA and ABS

I would think that the trouble would be getting it in a format that you can use.

Every site that sells it says 265C?

SD2 w/ Heated bed. Mods: E3D MK5, Lawsy MKV, Glass Bed, printed filament stand

4

Re: Polycarbonate?

Proteus wrote:
2n2r5 wrote:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polycarbonate

Thermal Properties
Melting temperature (Tm)     155 °C
Glass transition temperature(Tg)     147 °C

Actually, it's a low temp compared to PLA and ABS

I would think that the trouble would be getting it in a format that you can use.

Every site that sells it says 265C?

http://richrap.blogspot.com/2011/09/ind … te-3d.html

This guys has already done it. It appears that it melts at 160c or so but it doesn't flow well until you get past 265. That site actually recommends 280-300. So I wouldn't dare attempt to use this in a stock setup. You will need to change your hotend and firmware.

SD3 w/ mods:
Glass bed with QU-BD heat pad upgrade, threadless ballscrew w/ 8mm smooth rod, spectra line belt replacement, lawsy MK5 extruder, Lawsy replacement carriage, E3D hotend, Ramps 1.4 w/ reprap discount controller, DRV8825 drivers, 12v 30A PS, Acrylic case, Overkill Y-idlers, Filament alarm, Extruder fan + more.

5 (edited by mikefree41 2013-06-10 19:57:37)

Re: Polycarbonate?

Guys I spent 25 doing consulting engineering at the GE polycarbonate plant in Mt. Vernon IN., mostly in the extrusion area, sheet and film. It needs a large amount of exhaust air because of the fumes. Two gasses that go into the manufacturing are chlorine and phosgene. One will kill you and the other will make you wish you were dead. We installed a lot of exhaust with scrubbers. Be careful!!!!! Also there are two types of PC, one stays thick and viscous when melted and one is almost like water and is hard to deal with.

6

Re: Polycarbonate?

mikefree41 wrote:

Guys I spent 25 doing consulting engineering at the GE polycarbonate plant in Mt. Vernon IN., mostly in the extrusion area, sheet and film. It needs a large amount of exhaust air because of the fumes. Two gasses that go into the manufacturing are chlorine and phosgene. One will kill you and the other will make you wish you were dead. We installed a lot of exhaust with scrubbers. Be careful!!!!! Also there are two types of PC, one stays thick and viscous when melted and one is almost like water and is hard to deal with.


+1

SD2 with E3D, SD Press, Form 1+
Filastruder
NYLON (taulman): http://www.soliforum.com/topic/466/nylon/