HomeIndustriesArchitecture
FDMEngineering thermoplasticArchitecture

FDM Polycarbonate for Architecture.

Presentation-grade massing models and façade prototypes for studio reviews. 3DBuildBot delivers fused deposition modeling parts in Polycarbonate with full material traceability and instant online quoting.

Impact-resistant, flame-retardant, and dimensionally stable across thermal cycles. Fast, cost-effective prototypes and fixtures in engineering thermoplastics.

  • Massing models
  • Façade panels
  • Lighting fixtures
  • Interior detailing

Studio-friendly turnaround with optional matte-finish post-processing.

Quote on this capability ↓ (process & material pre-loaded)

Demo mode · drop any .stl / .step / .obj — we'll simulate analysis

Specifications

FDM · Polycarbonate baseline

Typical values for architecture parts produced in our certified facilities.

Process

Fused Deposition Modeling

Dimensional tolerance
± 0.20 mm or ± 0.20%
Resolution
200 µm layer height
Build envelope
305 × 305 × 605 mm
Typical lead time
2–4 business days

Material

Polycarbonate

Tensile strength
70 MPa
Flexural modulus
2.4 GPa
Heat deflection (HDT)
138 °C
Density
1.2 g/cm³
Elongation at break
110 %
Certifications
UL 94 V-0 · RoHS

Values represent typical XY-plane properties for as-built parts. Z-axis and post-processed specs available on request — every shipment includes a material certificate.

Production workflow

How a FDM part in Polycarbonate ships.

From CAD upload to crated delivery. Every step is timestamped on the digital traveler that arrives with your parts.

  1. 01

    DFM review

    Applications engineer validates thin walls, draft angles, and FDM-specific constraints within 4 business hours.

  2. 02

    Build prep

    Nesting, support generation, and tool-path optimization on calibrated Fused Deposition Modeling machines.

  3. 03

    Production

    Lights-out runs on certified engineering thermoplastic stock. Operator initials logged at every shift change.

  4. 04

    QC & ship

    CMM verification on critical dimensions, then DDP shipping with full traceability.

Post-processing

Finishing options

Every FDM part ships with standard post-processing included. Upgrade at quote time for parts that need to look (or behave) like production.

  • As-printed

    Visible layer lines; included.

  • Support removal + sand

    Clean Z-faces, 220 grit.

  • Epoxy seal coat

    Watertight, paint-ready surface.

  • Heat-set inserts

    Threaded brass inserts installed.

Typical applications

What Architecture teams print here.

Real parts our architecture customers have shipped using this exact configuration in the last 90 days.

  • Massing models

    FDM · Polycarbonate

  • Façade panels

    FDM · Polycarbonate

  • Lighting fixtures

    FDM · Polycarbonate

  • Interior detailing

    FDM · Polycarbonate

Lead time

2–4 business days

Includes DFM review, production, QC, and DDP shipping. Express tier available (next-day) at quote time.

Customer story

From the field

A representative architecture engagement using FDM in Polycarbonate.

1,240

Parts

3 days

Lead time

0.4%

Reject rate

"We were quoting FDM Polycarbonate parts across three vendors with two-week lead times. 3DBuildBot collapsed that to a single dashboard with same-day DFM feedback. It's how we ship hardware on a weekly cadence now."

Engineering Lead

Architecture & Built Environment program

FAQ

FDM Polycarbonate — common questions

What tolerance can I actually hold on a FDM part?
Our published baseline is ± 0.20 mm or ± 0.20%, measured XY-plane on as-built parts. Critical features can be machined post-print for tighter tolerances — flag at quote time.
Is Polycarbonate certified for architecture use?
Polycarbonate carries UL 94 V-0, RoHS. Studio-friendly turnaround with optional matte-finish post-processing. Full certificates of conformance ship with every order.
What's the maximum part size?
Our build envelope for this process is 305 × 305 × 605 mm. Larger assemblies are split, printed in sections, and bonded or mechanically joined — ask for a DFM consult.
Can you scale this from prototype to production?
Yes. The same machines and material lots used for your prototype run your production order — no re-qualification needed. Volume pricing kicks in at 50 units and again at 500.
How is pricing calculated?
Material volume × per-cm³ rate + machine setup fee + post-processing + platform markup. The widget above shows the live breakdown — no hidden fees at checkout.