Hackaday · Creativity & design

Desktop PC-ABS Prints Rival Industrial Quality

A comparison was conducted to evaluate the performance differences between PC-ABS parts printed on industrial 3D printers versus those produced on prosumer-grade machines.

The study involved printing PC-ABS filament on both a Stratasys Fortus 450mc industrial printer and home-based printers like the Prusa Core One L and Bambu Labs H2D. PC-ABS is known for its durability and impact resistance, combining properties of polycarbonate and ABS, but typically requires a heated chamber and is more expensive.

A significant difference in print temperatures was noted: Polymaker PC-ABS was printed at 280°C with a 60-65°C chamber, while Stratasys's proprietary PC-ABS required 325°C and a 95°C chamber. The industrial printer also had more than double the print time.

The test parts were compared for dimensional accuracy, appearance, and performance through destructive testing. The industrial prints exhibited superior dimensional accuracy, whereas the home-printed parts had a better appearance.

In terms of performance, the differences between the industrial and home prints were generally minor and not consistently in favor of the industrial system.

The conclusion suggests that PC-ABS printed on home workshop machines offers comparable results to those from expensive industrial systems and proprietary filaments, at a significantly lower cost.

AI-samenvatting op basis van de bron.