Printing Prusament PC on Mini  

I never tried PC filament, but I think Mini's hotend would be at very limit. The problem I see is, how to keep heatbreak cold enough. Not only there's high temperature (~270C) on heatblock, there's also very hot air coming to heatsink ventilator from print bed (~100C) -quite a challenge to keep PTFE tube inside heatbreak cold enough. I'm quite sure, that PTFE tube inside stock heatbreak would shrink substantially after every single print.
If trying PC on Mini, then I think, Bondtech heatbreak is a must have. And if that's not enough, I would try Capricorn tube instead of PTFE.
Without this upgrade, you can expect extrusion problems when you switch back to PLA & PETG.

Just sharing my thoughts...

Capricorn Tubing

Has anyone done an independent study comparing Capricorn tubing to "standard" PTFE? Capricorn is still made of PTFE, with some proprietary additives and a lot of marketing. I am not a chemist, but with metals at least adding anything usually results in a lower melting temperature. I have not seen independent information that softening of PTFE is anything except around 260 C.

I can say that I got PTFE tube shrinkage after a lot of ASA printing at 260C. It worked great until suddenly it didn't and the PTFE tube was visibly damaged on the end. So, I agree that there may be issues with PC. I bought a bunch of PTFE tubes from Prusa to replace when needed and consider it a wear item that should be replaced once in a while.

The Bondtech heat break has thinner walls so less heat is conducted. Assuming there are no other side effects, I do believe it really does make a difference. I expect that Prusa made a different compromise.

Regards,

Mark

PolyMax PC

I haven't used Prusament PC, but I have used PolyMax PC. It prints wonderfully at 260C. Print bed at the max 100C in an enclosure. I have printed more than a dozen moderate sized pieces with only one partial failure where an edge lifted off the print bed slightly.  I've been using the textured sheet with a glue stick.

Kevin

PC Blend

Posted by: @joakim-larsson

Hello, I have a Mini+ that I am very satisfied with. I jave printed Pla and Petg with good success. I am thinking to print Prusament PC, can I print this on stock Mini + or donI need to modify the the hot end? 

You can print PC Blend on a mini. I have done it.  I did have to use a bed temp of 100.  

RE: How much high temperature printing?

Posted by: @ks_kennedy

I haven't used Prusament PC, but I have used PolyMax PC. It prints wonderfully at 260C. Print bed at the max 100C in an enclosure. I have printed more than a dozen moderate sized pieces with only one partial failure where an edge lifted off the print bed slightly.  I've been using the textured sheet with a glue stick.

Kevin

Posted by: @cwbullet

 

Posted by: @joakim-larsson

Hello, I have a Mini+ that I am very satisfied with. I jave printed Pla and Petg with good success. I am thinking to print Prusament PC, can I print this on stock Mini + or donI need to modify the the hot end? 

You can print PC Blend on a mini. I have done it.  I did have to use a bed temp of 100.  

Can you estimate how many rolls at 260 C? i would estimate the PTFE tube on mine lasted for 1.5 850 g rolls of ASA printing at 260C plus a couple dozen rolls of PETG at 240C or so.

Regards,

Mark

PC Blend Urban Grey

I have printed some small models in PC Blend Urban Grey and that vent fine.