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Caracol PC Pellets – High-Heat Feedstock for Large-Format 3D Printing

What you get

Lot datasheet + parameters drying and extrusion settings for your LFAM system
Dry, sealed packaging shipped ready to run, with a re-dry schedule

Materials, Engineering, FGF 3D Printing Materials, Jigs&Fixtures, LFAM 3D Printing Materials, Manufacturing, Plastic Pellets 3D Printing Materials · FFF, LFAM

Caracol PC Pellets – High-Heat Feedstock for Large-Format 3D Printing

High-heat PC pellets qualified for large-format additive manufacturing (LFAM) — high heat deflection, high impact, and dimensional stability for big tooling at pellet cost.

✓ High heat deflection and high impact — holds shape where ABS and PET-G soften
✓ Ships sealed with a lot datasheet + high-temperature drying and extrusion parameters
✓ Lead time: 1–2 business days from L.A. stock — volume & PO on request

Prices follow supplier cost and stock availability and are updated regularly. The price you see is today's price — once you order, it's held for 7 days.

NDA standard Ships in 1–2 business days

High heat ~135–145 °C HDT

1–2 days from L.A. stock

GF option glass-fiber grade

Lot datasheet in every order

What your process engineer actually checks

Heat and impact you can build big with

PC holds shape at temperatures that soften ABS and PET-G, resists impact, and stays dimensionally stable on large parts — the reason it is the high-heat choice for tooling, guards, and hot-service fixtures. Because PC is hygroscopic and runs hot, every lot ships sealed with a high-temperature drying schedule and extrusion parameters so big parts come out sound.

A materials engineer on the line

Questions on drying schedules, warpage, recyclate ratios, or glass-fiber content? A materials engineer answers directly — not a contact-form bot. Most replies in under 4 hours, NDA standard.

High HDT

Heat

260–300 °C

Extrusion temp

~1.20 g/cm³

Density

GF option

Reinforcement

About this product

Caracol PC is a polycarbonate pellet feedstock qualified for Caracol large-format additive manufacturing (LFAM) extruders. It is the high-heat, high-impact member of the pellet family — the choice when a big part must hold shape at temperature, take a hit, and stay dimensionally stable. Available unreinforced or glass-fiber reinforced, PC is hygroscopic and runs hot, so every lot ships dry with a high-temperature drying schedule and extrusion parameters.

Why engineers choose Caracol PC

Four things production teams verify before running PC on a large-format system.

High heat deflection

PC holds shape at temperatures that soften ABS and PET-G, so tooling and parts stay true in hot service and near heat sources.

High impact strength

PC is famously tough — it resists cracking and impact, which suits protective housings, guards, and load-bearing parts.

Dimensional stability

Amorphous PC shrinks predictably and warps less than crystalline polymers, so large parts hold tight tolerances.

Glass-fiber option

GF-reinforced PC adds stiffness and pushes heat deflection higher still for structural, high-temperature tooling.

How Additive Plus delivers it

Every order ships production-ready — qualified feedstock, parameters, and a datasheet.

Step 01

Source & qualify

Polycarbonate (PC) sourced and qualified against Caracol's extrusion testing so the pellet runs on LFAM systems without a re-development cycle.

Step 02

Dry & screen

PC is hygroscopic and must run dry. We ship it sealed and specify a 110–120 °C re-dry so it doesn't hydrolyze or bubble at PC extrusion temperatures.

Step 03

Verify & document

Each lot ships with a datasheet and recommended drying and extrusion parameters, so you reorder the same behavior — not a new qualification.

Material overview

PC (polycarbonate) is an amorphous engineering thermoplastic known for a rare combination of high heat deflection, outstanding impact strength, and dimensional stability. On a large-format extruder it produces tooling and parts that survive elevated temperatures and mechanical load where ABS or PET-G would soften. It demands care — high extrusion temperatures and thorough drying — which is exactly what the shipped parameters cover.

Caracol PC pellets – 3D printed aerospace composite lamination tool (LFAM) — Caracol PC (carbon-fiber grade) — 3D-printed aerospace composite lamination tool, Heron AM (Formes et Volumes).

Technical specifications

Representative PC properties (unreinforced). Lot-specific values are on the datasheet shipped with every order; glass-fiber grades differ. Confirm exact figures with a materials engineer for design-critical work.

Property	Typical value
Polymer	Polycarbonate (PC)
Form	Pellets (granulate) for LFAM/FGF extruders
Density	~1.20 g/cm³
Tensile strength	60–70 MPa
Tensile modulus	2,000–2,400 MPa
Elongation at break	80–120%
Notched Izod impact	High (tough)
Heat deflection (HDT, 0.45 MPa)	~135–145 °C
Extrusion temperature	260–300 °C
Recommended drying	110–120 °C for 3–4 h (critical)
Reinforcement	Unreinforced or glass-fiber (GF) on request

Typical applications

Where large-format PC earns its place.

High-heat tooling

Fixtures and masters that see elevated temperature

Thermoforming molds

Tools that must survive repeated heat cycles

Guards & housings

Impact-resistant covers and protective parts

Automotive tooling

Under-hood-adjacent and hot-process fixtures

Structural fixtures

Stiff, dimensionally stable load-bearing parts

Functional prototypes

Parts tested at temperature before production

Not sure PC is the right pellet?

Same large-format pellet family — pick the property that matters most.

Cost-first indoorABSLower cost when heat is not the driver.Compare pellet →
Need max stiffnessPA6Nylon, incl. GF, for structural loads.Compare pellet →
Need UV / outdoorASAUV- and weather-stable for outdoor parts.Compare pellet →

Tell us the service temperature, load, and whether you need a glass-fiber grade — a materials engineer will confirm PC vs. an alternative and send the high-temperature drying and extrusion parameters that keep PC sound on big parts. Most replies in under 4 hours, NDA standard.

Why source PC through Additive Plus

Qualified feedstock, not a generic bag of pellets — sourced and qualified against Caracol LFAM extrusion, shipped sealed with a datasheet and a high-temp drying schedule.
Runs hot, documented — 260–300 °C extrusion and 110–120 °C drying shipped with every lot so PC prints sound, not brittle.
Glass-fiber and custom grades on request — GF PC and color-matched grades qualified before you commit.
A materials engineer on the line — drying discipline, heat performance, and warpage questions answered directly. Under 4h reply, NDA standard.

Brand	Caracol
Technology	FFF, LFAM
Printing Materials	Plastic Pellets
Material	PC (Polycarbonate)
Reinforcement	Unfilled
Application	Engineering, Jigs & Fixtures, Manufacturing

Product videos

Common questions

Don't see yours? Email [email protected] — NDA standard, typical reply within 4 hours.

Is Caracol PC a filament or a pellet material?

Caracol PC is a pellet (granulate) feedstock for large-format additive manufacturing (LFAM/FGF) extruders, not a filament. Pellets are the same feedstock form used in injection molding, so material cost per kilogram is far lower than spooled filament — the main reason teams move high-heat tooling to pellet extrusion. Each order of Caracol PC ships sealed with a lot datasheet and recommended drying and extrusion parameters.

When should I choose PC over ABS or PA6?

Choose Caracol PC when heat and impact matter most: it holds shape at higher temperatures than ABS or PET-G, resists impact, and stays dimensionally stable, which suits thermoforming tools, guards, and hot-service fixtures. Choose PA6 (especially GF) when the driver is structural stiffness and wear rather than heat. A materials engineer can confirm the right pick for your service temperature and load.

How hot can large-format PC parts run?

Caracol PC typically has a heat deflection temperature around 135–145 °C at 0.45 MPa, well above ABS and PET-G, and glass-fiber grades push it higher. That makes it suitable for tooling and parts that see elevated temperatures or repeated heat cycles. Actual service temperature depends on load and geometry, so confirm design-critical figures with a materials engineer.

How important is drying for Caracol PC?

Critical. PC is hygroscopic and, at its high extrusion temperatures, moisture causes hydrolysis, bubbling, and brittle parts. Caracol PC ships sealed, and we specify re-drying at about 110–120 °C for 3–4 hours before printing, with sealed handling. The exact schedule ships on every lot datasheet and a materials engineer can adapt it to your dryer.

Is a glass-fiber PC available?

Yes. Caracol PC is available unreinforced or as a glass-fiber (GF) reinforced grade. GF adds stiffness and pushes heat deflection higher, which helps on structural, high-temperature tooling and large flat sections prone to warp. The trade-off is a rougher surface and more abrasive nozzle wear. A materials engineer will recommend unreinforced or GF for your part.

What extrusion temperature does PC run at?

Caracol PC typically extrudes in the 260–300 °C range, the hottest of the pellet family, with a heated, draft-free environment recommended to control warpage and internal stress on large parts. Because extruders and nozzle sizes vary, the recommended temperature, flow, and cooling settings ship on the lot datasheet with every order and a materials engineer can tune them for your system.

Can I order a sample before committing to a full order?

Yes. We can supply a sample of Caracol PC, or run a paid benchmark part, before you commit to a production quantity — paired with a capability call with a materials engineer to confirm the grade, high-temperature drying, and extrusion parameters for your application. Ordering in bulk or need an official PO? We handle volume pricing and purchase orders directly.

Place your order, or talk to an engineer first

Order Caracol PC Pellets – High-Heat Feedstock for Large-Format 3D Printing direct, or talk to materials engineer

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