PC/ABS print parameters — temperature, bed, cooling and drying

PC/ABS is the structural material with the highest hardware requirements in the table — 260–290 °C at the nozzle, 100–120 °C on the bed and a closed 50 °C chamber. The manufacturer rates the difficulty level as very hard, the same as PA. Declared temperature resistance: 120 °C.

It is a blend of polycarbonate with ABS: stiffer and more heat-resistant than pure ABS, with a semi-matt finish. A curiosity from the FDM parameter table: despite the very high nozzle temperature, the stringing tendency is rated low — this material's problem is not strings, it is shrinkage.

Full PC/ABS parameters

Parameter	PC/ABS
Nozzle temperature	260–290 °C
Bed temperature	100–120 °C
Recommended nozzle diameter	0.4 mm
Cooling (fan)	0–30%
Drying	6–12 h at 40–60 °C
Enclosure (chamber)	closed frame, 50 °C chamber
Recommended printers	printer with an enclosure
Bambu AMS compatibility	Not recommended
Print difficulty level	very hard
Print speed	medium
Detail resolution	0.2 mm and above
Abrasiveness (nozzle wear)	none
Warping tendency	high
Stringing tendency	low
Layer bonding	good
Support removal	moderately difficult
Temperature resistance	120 °C
Impact resistance	high
Flexibility	high
Moisture resistance	low
Surface finish	semi-matt
Opacity	opaque
Colour saturation	high
Odour	noticeable
Post-processing	moderately easy
Chemical solubility	poorly soluble
Spool material	recycled plastic
Recycled content in filament	no
Recyclability	no
Diameter tolerance	±0.03 mm

Source: the official Porima FDM technical data table (FDM Technical Data). The descriptive ratings (none / low / medium / high) are the manufacturer's own labels, not the result of testing to any standard. Temperature resistance is the manufacturer's own declared figure — it is not HDT, nor any other normed test. The ±0.03 mm diameter tolerance comes from the manufacturer's data, not from the FDM table. See also the print temperature table and the filament drying guide.

How to print PC/ABS

A 100–120 °C bed and a 50 °C chamber

The highest bed temperature range in the table, together with HT PETG. If your bed does not genuinely reach 110 °C, this material is not for you. In the printer-compatibility field the manufacturer writes printer with an enclosure.

High warping — the main difficulty

A high tendency to warp, the same as with ABS and ABS/CF, but at a higher printing temperature, meaning a bigger difference between a fresh and a cooled layer. Brim, rounded base corners and the door closed for the whole print: warping.

Cooling 0–30%

The fan effectively off. At 260–290 °C and with a thick layer, cooling weakens the bond, which on a structural material matters most of all.

Drying 6–12 h at 40–60 °C

As for the whole ABS family. Moisture resistance: low. Polycarbonate absorbs water, and at temperatures this high that shows up as bubbles and a marked drop in the strength of the finished part.

Bambu AMS: Not recommended

The manufacturer advises against feeding PC/ABS through the AMS, although it does not mark it as incompatible. The material requires a closed 50 °C chamber in any case. Odour: noticeable — weaker than ABS, but ventilation is advisable.

Post-processing and solubility

The manufacturer rates post-processing as moderately easy and the material as poorly soluble — unlike pure ABS, acetone will not give a comparable smoothing effect here. Support removal: moderately difficult.

The most common problems with PC/ABS

• Warping — a high tendency at the highest printing temperature in the ABS family — this is problem number one for the material
• Layer delamination — cooling is capped at 0–30% precisely so that the layers have time to fuse
• Dimensional accuracy and shrinkage — on structural parts, PC/ABS shrinkage forces you to print a test coupon for the fit
• First layer will not stick — a 100–120 °C bed is a condition, not a recommendation; at a lower temperature the print will let go
• Damp filament — 6–12 h of drying at 40–60 °C; polycarbonate absorbs water, and at 290 °C you see it straight away
• Odour and fumes — the odour is rated noticeable; a printer in a closed room is a bad idea

PC/ABS is not yet in our regular catalogue — we bring it in to order, see the full Porima filament range or write to hello@mensa3d.com. Related materials: ABS, ASA, PA (nylon). Category: technical filaments.