Polycarbonate
At a Glance
Process
Lead Time
Colors
Tolerance
Price
Applications
About the Material
Polycarbonate (known also by the abbreviation PC) is one of the most common plastics used in manufacturing. Famous examples of the material are first-generation MacBook laptops, safety goggles, and optical disks.
Polycarbonate is heat-resistant, impact-resistant, flame-retardant, and one of the most recycled plastics in the world.
Material Properties
Tensile Strength
Elongation at Break
Hardness
Density
Maximum
Temp
McMaster Part Number
Material Finish
Polycarbonate has a transparent milky-blue look in its natural state, but is also available in black. Both colors have a glossy finish, and are relatively prone to scratches. Anti-scratch coatings and vapor polishing are available as custom post-processing finishes; contact us for more information.
Design Recommendations
Min Wall Thickness
Min End Mill Size
Min Drill Size
Max Part Size
Undercuts
Radii : Depth
0.5 mm
0.8 mm
(0.03 in)
(0.03 in)
0.5 mm
(0.02 in)
(0.02 in)
1200 x 500 x 152 mm[(x,y,z] (mill)
152 x 394 mm
[d,h] (lathe)
152 x 394 mm
[d,h] (lathe)
Square profile, full radius, dovetail profiles
Depth must not exceed 12x drill bit diameter.
For end mills, depth must not exceed 10x drill bit diameter.
For end mills, depth must not exceed 10x drill bit diameter.
Cost Saving Tip
To reduce costs, limit the number of part setups, the number of inspection dimensions or tight tolerances, and deep pockets with small radii.
Related Resources
Engineer's Guide to CNC Machining for Prototyping Hardware
Fictiv CNC Material Datasheet