Rev1 PC The Strongest, Most Heat-Resistant Engineering Filament
The Strongest, Most Heat-Resistant Engineering Filament
Polycarbonate is the top-tier engineering plastic — the same material used in bulletproof glazing. It delivers extreme strength and impact resistance plus the highest heat tolerance of any common filament, and it’s naturally transparent for light housings and lenses. It’s a demanding, advanced material that needs an enclosed, high-temp printer — in 5 colors, on 1 kg and 3 kg spools. Full specifications →
In-stock colors ship fast from Michigan; made-to-order colors ship in 1–3 weeks. Need a specific color, a 3 kg spool, or case pricing? Call (248) 707-2950.
Dimension-locked, vacuum-sealed, supported by humans.
Rev1 PC is precision-extruded 1.75 mm polycarbonate filament, wound evenly and vacuum-sealed with desiccant to arrive dry, then stocked and supported from Auburn Hills, Michigan.
When the part has to survive extreme heat and load.
PLA is easy but soft and heat-sensitive; PETG is tough but flexes; ABS handles moderate heat. Polycarbonate sits above them all — the strongest, most heat-resistant common filament, the same material used in bulletproof glazing. It holds its shape past 130 °C, takes brutal impact, and prints naturally transparent. The trade-off is that PC is demanding: it needs a high-temp, enclosed printer and must be kept bone-dry — give it that and Rev1 PC makes the toughest parts you can print, in 5 colors.
Tight diameter and a clean, dry wind for reliable high-temp runs.
Round, consistent 1.75 mm filament feeds smoothly so demanding enclosed prints don’t fail.
Every Rev1 PC spool is wound evenly and held to a tight diameter, so it feeds without under-extrusion across a full 1 kg or 3 kg run. PC is strongly hygroscopic, so we vacuum-seal every spool with desiccant — keep it dry and it prints clear and strong straight out of the bag.
Holds its shape past 130 °C (Tg ~147 °C) — the most heat-resistant common filament, far beyond ABS, PETG, and PLA.
Extreme strength and impact resistance — the bulletproof-glazing polymer, built for load-bearing parts.
Naturally transparent in Natural — ideal for light housings, lenses, and covers.
Black, Natural translucent, White, Grey, and Red — solids plus a clear light-transmitting Natural.
Print settings for strong, warp-free PC.
Polycarbonate is an advanced material that demands a stable, high-temp setup. A high-temp hotend, a hot bed, an enclosure, and dry filament are what keep corners down and layers fused. This is not a beginner filament — but the payoff is the strongest, most heat-resistant part you can print.
Needs a high-temp hotend well above ABS; an all-metal hotend is required.
A very hot bed plus a strong adhesive is essential to stop the aggressive warping.
PC warps badly without a hot, draft-free chamber — an enclosure is effectively mandatory.
PC soaks up moisture fast; dry it before printing and store it sealed with desiccant.
Recommended slicer settings
A solid starting profile for Rev1 PC on a high-temp, enclosed FDM printer. Tune cooling and chamber temperature for your machine.
| Setting | Recommended | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Nozzle temperature | 260–300 °C | High-temp all-metal hotend required for strong layer bonding. |
| Bed temperature | 100–120 °C | Strong adhesive on glass/PEI for a first layer that won’t lift. |
| Chamber / enclosure | Hot, draft-free | Essentially required — the single biggest factor in warp-free PC. |
| Print speed | 30–60 mm/s | Moderate speeds help interlayer strength. |
| Part cooling fan | 0–10 % | Keep cooling very low — too much fan cracks and delaminates layers. |
| Retraction | 1–5 mm | Direct drive: ~1–2 mm. Tune to control stringing. |
| Nozzle size | 0.4 mm + | Larger nozzles add strength on functional parts. |
| Drying | 80–100 °C · 6–8 h | Required before printing — PC is strongly hygroscopic. |
| Bed adhesion | Brim + adhesive | Use a brim and glue to fight PC’s aggressive warping on large parts. |
Parts that have to take extreme heat and load.
The top-tier material behind the toughest, hottest-running parts.
PC trades easy printing for the highest real engineering performance: extreme strength, brutal impact resistance, the best heat tolerance of any common filament, and natural transparency. Stocked in 5 colors, 1 kg and 3 kg spools.
Under-hood heat and vibration? PC laughs it off.
The highest heat resistance of any common filament, plus real impact toughness for the harshest bays.
Brackets, mounts, and housings that live right next to the engine — PC holds its shape past 130 °C and takes vibration and impact where ABS and PETG would soften or crack.
Guards and enclosures that take a hit.
Rigid, high-strength safety guards and electrical enclosures for demanding environments.
PC is the go-to for machine guards and industrial enclosures — stiff walls and extreme impact strength that survive knocks, heat, and daily plant use.
Load-bearing jigs and fixtures that hold.
Dimensionally strong tooling that stays true under clamping and load.
Print the structural fixtures, jigs, and assembly aids your line needs — PC stays rigid and dimensionally strong through heat, clamping force, and repeated cycles.
Headlight housings that handle the heat.
The material used for real automotive lighting — heat-tolerant and tough.
PC is the polymer behind production automotive lighting: print LED headlight housings and lamp bodies that hold their shape next to hot emitters and take road abuse.
Natural PC: clear covers and lenses that transmit light.
Naturally translucent polycarbonate for lenses, light-pipes, and covers.
Our Natural PC is light-transmitting straight off the printer — ideal for clear lens covers, sight glasses, and diffusers that also need PC’s strength and heat resistance.
Functional gears and mechanical parts that last.
Strong enough for real-world, load-bearing mechanical components.
Gears, cams, and clear mechanical components — PC brings the strength, rigidity, and heat resistance to move from prototype to a part that goes into service. Ask us about 3 kg spools and case pricing.
PC vs. ABS vs. PETG.
Pick by what the part has to survive. PC wins on strength and heat; ABS is easier and cheaper; PETG is the easiest tough option for everyday parts.
| Rev1 PC | ABS | PETG | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heat resistance | Highest (~130 °C) | High (~100 °C) | Medium (~75 °C) |
| Strength & impact | Extreme | Rigid, impact-tough | Tough, some flex |
| Ease of printing | Demanding — advanced | Moderate | Easy |
| Transparency | Naturally clear | Opaque | Semi-clear |
| Enclosure | Required | Recommended | Not needed |
| Best for | Strength / heat / clarity | Functional / value | Outdoor / everyday |
General material guidance; exact performance depends on part geometry, print settings, and grade. For easy prints choose PLA or PETG; for UV and outdoor use choose ASA; ABS is the easier pick when you don’t need PC’s heat or strength.
Rev1 PC Technical Data
Mechanical & thermal properties
Typical values for engineering reference. Printed-part performance varies with wall count, infill, layer height, and orientation — treat these as material-level guidance, not a part spec.
| Property | Typical Value | Method |
|---|---|---|
| Tensile strength | ~60 MPa | ISO 527 |
| Elongation at break | ~10 % | ISO 527 |
| Flexural strength | ~90 MPa | ISO 178 |
| Flexural modulus | ~2,300 MPa | ISO 178 |
| Izod impact (notched) | ~25 kJ/m² | ISO 180 |
| Glass transition (Tg) | ~147 °C | DSC |
| Heat deflection (HDT, 0.45 MPa) | ~130 °C | ISO 75 |
| Shelf life (sealed, dry) | 12 months | — |
Specs, profiles, and a human to call.
Your trusted materials partner.
Every spool is checked for tight diameter tolerance and reliable, repeatable printing.
Call (248) 707-2950 and reach people who actually print and support these materials.
Case quantities and standing orders across the full color range.
FAQ
Rev1 PC — Common Questions
Do I need an enclosure to print PC?
Effectively yes — an enclosure is essentially required. Polycarbonate warps badly without a hot, draft-free chamber. An enclosure holds chamber heat and blocks airflow, which is the single biggest factor in strong, warp-free PC. A very hot bed at 100–120 °C and a high-temp hotend are also essential.
PC vs ABS vs PETG — which should I use?
Choose PC when you need maximum strength, the highest heat resistance (~130 °C), or natural transparency — and you have a high-temp, enclosed printer. ABS is the easier, cheaper pick when you don’t need PC’s extremes; PETG is the easiest tough option for everyday parts. For easy prints, use PLA or PETG.
What colors and sizes are available?
A 5-color line — Black, Natural translucent, White, Grey, and Red — on 1 kg and 3 kg spools. In-stock colors ship fast from Michigan; made-to-order colors ship in 1–3 weeks. Pick your color and spool size in the buy-box, or ask us about case quantities.
How do I stop PC from warping and cracking?
Run it in a hot, enclosed chamber, use a 100–120 °C bed with a strong adhesive and a brim, keep part cooling very low or off, and make sure the filament is dry. PC warps more aggressively than ABS, so chamber heat and adhesion matter even more.
Is PC really transparent?
Yes — polycarbonate is naturally light-transmitting, and our Natural PC prints translucent. It’s the same material family used for lenses and light housings, so it’s well suited to clear covers, diffusers, and light-pipes that also need strength and heat resistance.
Why is PC harder to print than ABS?
PC prints hot — a 260–300 °C all-metal hotend, a 100–120 °C bed, an enclosure, and dry filament are all needed. It warps aggressively and must be kept dry, so it’s an advanced material, not a beginner one. If you don’t need PC’s heat and strength, ABS is easier and PLA or PETG are easier still.
How strong and heat-resistant is PC?
PC is the strongest, most heat-resistant common filament — the same polymer used in bulletproof glazing. It holds its shape past 130 °C (Tg ~147 °C) with extreme impact resistance, well beyond ABS, PETG, and PLA. For UV and outdoor exposure, choose ASA instead.
Is the 3 kg spool better value?
Yes — the 3 kg spool lowers cost per kilogram and means fewer spool changes on long or production runs. It’s the go-to for shops and print farms.
Can Rev1 quote bulk or a specific color?
Yes. Tell us the color and quantity and we confirm stock and quote case pricing with standing-order scheduling, usually within one business day. Call (248) 707-2950.