RedEye RPM Polycarbonate High Impact Strength & Temperature Resistant for Rapid Prototyping

Subcategory: Polycarbonate; Thermoplastic; Polymer

Material Notes:
Polycarbonate (PC) is an actual industrial-grade thermoplastic that is impact-resistant and structurally strong. PC parts are built with a layered manufacturing process utilizing Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) technology, often used in rapid prototyping. Polycarbonate parts produced with FDM are dimensionally stable and will not shrink, warp, or absorb moisture. This high-performance engineering material can handle greater forces and loads than ABS material and is ideal for functional prototypes and end-use parts.

Applications

Due to its high impact strength and compressive strength, Polycarbonate is used in a myriad of applications including cell phones, business equipment, computer products, manufacturing fixtures, and a wide variety of consumer products, such as appliances. Parts built from PC can also be used as masters for RTV molds and vacuum forming, vacuum metallization and electroplating.

In a rapid manufacturing application, Polycarbonate can be used to create actual production parts in lieu of injection molding for short-run production. Rapid (or layered) manufacturing provides multiple benefits:

• High design iterations – while in production the design engineer has the freedom to modify geometry’s on the fly which cannot be done once you have committed to tooling
• Bridge manufacturing – with rapid manufactured parts, production can begin while permanent tooling is on order
• Jigs and Fixtures to be used on manufacturing/production lines
• For those manufacturers who practice lean manufacturing techniques or who maintain just-in-time inventories, RM can conserve cash flow
• Alpha and beta product releases – manufacturers can produce accurate, durable products even in the earliest stages of production