MakerBot, a subsidiary of Stratasys, a global leader in 3D printing, announced that 3D printing materials specialist Polymaker has provided three polycarbonate materials for the MakerBot Lab of the MakerBot METHOD X 3D printer.
Polymaker PC-PBT, PolyMax PC-FR and PolyLite PC can be printed on the METHOD X 3D printer through the MakerBot LABS experimental extruder. The extruder turns METHOD into an open material platform, enabling users to print using a variety of third-party materials on the industrial 3D printing platform.
Polymaker's latest materials have been added to the LABS product portfolio to allow METHOD X users to take advantage of the powerful mechanical and thermal properties of polycarbonate while reducing warping and curling when used with conventional desktop 3D printers.
Polycarbonate is a popular high-performance engineering material with a unique balance of toughness, light transmittance, heat resistance and electrical resistance. It is light in weight, has as effective light transmission as glass, and has better impact resistance than other thermoplastics (such as ABS).
Because of these characteristics, PC materials are often used for functional prototypes and end-use parts in personal protective equipment and medical equipment components.
When printing polycarbonate, controlling the ambient temperature (such as using a heating chamber) is one of the most critical factors.
The MakerBot METHOD X 3D printer is the only printer of its kind with a heating chamber. The heating chamber temperature can be as high as 110°C, allowing the parts to gradually cool down to minimize curling and warping.
Dr. Xiaofan Luo, President of Polymaker, said: “Polycarbonate is usually the choice of parts that work in demanding applications. Its mechanical properties, flame retardancy and chemical resistance also allow engineers to break through the boundaries of 3D printed parts and try New geometric shapes. Anyone who is serious about printing polycarbonate knows that heating chambers are essential for printing large and strong complex parts. Method is bringing industrial functions to the desktop, and we think its users will really benefit from our PC series Material characteristics provided."
Johan-Till Broer, VP of Product Development at MakerBot, added: "Method, with a heating chamber up to 110°C, is a powerful and unique 3D printer platform that can be used to print advanced engineering materials. With the availability of Polymaker PC materials provided by METHOD , Engineers can print polycarbonate parts that previously had to be outsourced to more expensive industrial 3D printers."
In order to further strengthen PC parts, Polymaker recommends annealing them immediately after the 3D printing process to eliminate residual internal stress. The combination of METHOD’s heating chamber and annealing capabilities is designed to enable users to produce robust manufacturing grade parts.