Polycarbonate (PC) on Bambu Lab X1 Carbon

 Nozzle Temp

250 °C

Range: 240 – 260 °C

Bed Temp

110 °C

Range: 100 – 120 °C

Print Speed

50

mm/s · max 60

Layer Height

0.20

mm · max 0.28

Fan Speed

0 %

1st layer: 0 %

1st Layer Speed

20

mm/s

Retraction

0.8 mm

@ 30 mm/s

Nozzle Type

Brass

Standard

  Retraction Note

•  Minimal retraction. PC runs hot, and strings, drying and slow speeds matter more than retraction.

 Settings

Recommended

Range

Nozzle Temperature

250 °C

240 – 260 °C

Bed Temperature

110 °C

100 – 120 °C

Print Speed

50 mm/s

up to 60 mm/s on this printer

First Layer Speed

20 mm/s

slower is better for adhesion

Layer Height

0.16 – 0.24 mm

0.12 – 0.28 mm

Fan Speed (Normal)

0 – 10 %

–

Fan Speed (1st Layer)

0 %

–

Retraction Distance

0.8 mm

Direct drive

Retraction Speed

30 mm/s

–

Nozzle Type

Brass (standard)

Brass is fine; hardened optional

Dry Filament

80 °C for ≥ 12 h

print from a dry box in humid weather

Enclosure

Required, built in

Required, this printer is enclosed

Support Material

PC (self-supporting)

–

 Printing Notes

Polycarbonate has a 123 °C heat deflection temperature and a 115 °C continuous use rating. It is the material for parts that live near heat.

It is extremely hygroscopic. Twelve hours of drying at 80 °C is a minimum, not a suggestion, and it should print straight from a dry box.

The X1C ships with a hardened steel nozzle and a fully enclosed chamber, so it needs none of the modifications other machines do for this material.

Bambu Studio's own generic profile is a reasonable starting point, but its temperatures are set for Bambu filament, so use the figures above for OzFDM spools.

Slicer: Bambu Studio / OrcaSlicer. Dry the filament at 80 °C / ≥ 12 h before a long print. Every figure above assumes dry filament.

 Troubleshooting

Loud popping and steam from the nozzle. The filament is wet. Stop, dry for twelve hours at 80 °C, and print from a dry box.

Parts warping badly or pulling the bed sheet up. PC shrinks hard. Use a brim, keep the chamber hot, and consider a glue-stick release layer so it comes off without damaging the sheet.

Cloudy or milky finish instead of translucent. Moisture again, or too much cooling. Turn the fan off completely.