Nylon, PC and carbon fiber filament settings guide
Nylon prints at 250–280 °C, polycarbonate at 260–290 °C and most carbon-fiber nylons at 260–300 °C, all inside an enclosure, from bone-dry filament. Any filament with carbon or glass fiber also needs a hardened steel nozzle. Get the hardware and drying right and these materials make parts that survive heat, load and impact far beyond PLA or PETG.
- Hardened steel nozzle for anything with "CF" or "GF" in the name. 0.6 mm is the safest size; never 0.2 mm.
- All-metal hotend that reaches at least 300 °C (350 °C for PPS-CF).
- Enclosure for nylon, PC and PA-CF; a heated chamber helps PC and PPS most.
- Dry first: nylon and PA-CF at 80–90 °C for 8–12 h, PC at 80 °C for 6–8 h, then print from a dry box.
- Glue stick on the bed and low part cooling (0–30%).
Engineering filament settings table
Starting points pulled from manufacturer data sheets (Bambu Lab, Prusament, Polymaker). Brands vary more here than with PLA, so the label or TDS on your spool always wins.
| Material | Nozzle | Bed | Fan | Chamber | Dry before use | Hardened nozzle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nylon (PA6, PA12, CoPA) | 250–280 °C | 70–90 °C (brand-dependent) | 0–30% | Enclosure | 70–90 °C, 8–12 h | No |
| PA-CF / PA-GF (PA6-CF, PA12-CF, PAHT-CF) | 260–300 °C | 80–110 °C with glue | 0–30% | Enclosure, warm chamber | 80–90 °C, 8–12 h | Yes |
| PC (polycarbonate) | 260–290 °C | 110–120 °C (some blends 90–105) | 0–20% | Heated enclosure | 80 °C, 6–8 h | No |
| PC-ABS | 250–270 °C | 90–105 °C | Off | Enclosure; heated for large parts | 75 °C, 6 h | No |
| PC-CF | 275–295 °C | 100–120 °C | 0–20% | Enclosure helps | 90 °C, 4 h | Yes |
| PLA-CF | 210–240 °C | 35–65 °C | High, like PLA | Not needed | 50–55 °C, 8 h | Yes |
| PETG-CF | 240–270 °C | 60–80 °C | Moderate, like PETG | Not needed (helps layer strength) | 65–70 °C, 8 h | Yes |
| PET-CF | 260–300 °C | 80–100 °C with glue | Low | Enclosure | 80 °C, 8–12 h | Yes |
| PPS-CF | 310–340 °C | 100–120 °C with glue | 0–40% | Heated, 60–90 °C | 100–140 °C, 8–12 h | Yes |
One rule covers every row: the faster you print, the hotter the nozzle needs to be, because the plastic spends less time in the melt zone. That's why high-speed printer profiles sit at the top of these ranges.
Hardware you need for nylon, PC and carbon fiber
| Requirement | Why | Needed for |
|---|---|---|
| Hardened steel nozzle | Fibers and hard particles grind brass and stainless nozzles out of shape, causing under-extrusion | All CF/GF filaments, plus glow, marble and sparkle PLA |
| All-metal hotend | PTFE-lined hotends are limited to about 240 °C; above that the liner degrades and can release harmful fumes | Nylon, PC, PA-CF, PET-CF, PPS-CF |
| Hotend that reaches 300 °C (350 °C) | PA-CF and PET-CF run up to 300 °C; PPS-CF needs 310–340 °C | PA-CF, PET-CF; PPS-CF (Bambu H2 series, X1E) |
| Enclosure or heated chamber | Warm, still air stops warping and layer splits | Nylon, PC, PC-ABS, PA-CF, PPS-CF |
| Bed that holds 110–120 °C | PC and PPS need a very hot bed to stay down | PC, PC-CF, PPS-CF |
| Dry box or dryer feeding the printer | Nylon pulls in water within hours of exposure | Nylon, PA-CF, PC, PET-CF |
Most current printers from Bambu Lab, Prusa (MK4, CORE One) and Creality's K-series ship with all-metal hotends. Classic Ender 3 models (original, Pro, V2) have a PTFE-lined hotend and a brass nozzle, so they're limited to PLA-CF and PETG-CF after a hardened nozzle swap, and only within the hotend's rated temperature.
You want to print PA-CF (carbon fiber nylon) on a printer with a stock brass nozzle. Which upgrade is mandatory?
Carbon fibers act like sandpaper inside the nozzle. A brass nozzle wears oversized quickly, and extrusion gets worse print by print. A hardened steel nozzle is the non-negotiable part; a warm enclosure and a dry spool come next.
Nylon (PA) settings and moisture
Nylon is the toughness champion: slippery, impact-resistant and great at surviving thousands of flex cycles. Use it for gears, bushings, hinges and snap-fits. PA12 absorbs less water and is more dimensionally stable; PA6 is a bit stronger and stiffer but more moisture-sensitive.
- Nozzle: 250–280 °C. Polymaker CoPA: 250–270 °C.
- Bed: 70–90 °C for most brands with glue stick, but check the label: Polymaker CoPA runs 25–50 °C, while Bambu suggests 90–110 °C for PA on its plates.
- Fan: 0–30%.
- Enclosure: yes. Unfilled nylon shrinks roughly 1–2% and warps hard in drafts.
- Drying: 70–90 °C for 8–12 hours, up to 16 hours for a soaked spool. Bambu lists 80 °C for 8–12 hours.
Nylon is a sponge. Prusa notes nylon can absorb water up to about 10% of its weight, and Bambu measures 2.35% saturated absorption for PA6-CF at room humidity (versus 0.25% for PC). A spool left out overnight can hiss, pop and print weak, rough parts. Print straight from a dry box or dryer.
Moisture conditioning: freshly printed, bone-dry nylon is at its stiffest and most brittle. As it picks up a little moisture from room air it becomes tougher. Polymaker recommends conditioning CoPA parts after annealing so they reach their rated impact strength, so don't judge a nylon part straight off a dry print.
Polycarbonate (PC) settings and heat resistance
PC is the impact-resistant, heat-resistant one, with clear grades available. Use it for brackets near motors, light housings, tool parts and anything that gets dropped. Pure molded polycarbonate has a glass transition near 145–150 °C, but filament makers modify it so it prints on desktop machines, which lowers the usable heat rating.
- Nozzle: 260–290 °C. Bambu PC: 260–290 °C; Prusament PC Blend: 275 ± 10 °C; Polymaker PolyLite PC: 250–270 °C.
- Bed: 110–120 °C with glue stick. Some blends, such as PolyLite PC, are rated 90–105 °C.
- Fan: 0–20%. Prusa uses 20%; Polymaker keeps it off.
- Chamber: heated enclosure. Polymaker recommends 60 °C or more for PolyLite PC.
- Drying: 80 °C for 6–8 hours (Bambu 80 °C / 8 h, Prusa 85 °C / 5 h, Polymaker 75 °C / 6 h).
PC heat resistance: data-sheet HDT values at 0.45 MPa are 111 °C for PolyLite PC, 113 °C for Prusament PC Blend and 117 °C for Bambu PC. So plan on about 110–120 °C for printed PC parts, not the 145 °C you'll see quoted for molded polycarbonate.
PC-ABS blends sit between ABS and PC: easier to print than straight PC, with a good surface finish. Polymaker PC-ABS prints at 250–270 °C on a 90–105 °C bed with the fan off, and has a 112 °C HDT at 0.45 MPa. For plain ABS, see the ABS vs ASA guide.
Carbon fiber and glass fiber filaments
Chopped fibers make plastic stiffer, cut warping and give a matte finish that hides layer lines. The trade-offs: they're abrasive, parts get more brittle than the unfilled base polymer, and fine detail suffers. Glass fiber (GF) versions are a little less stiff and don't conduct electricity.
- PLA-CF and PETG-CF: the easy entry point. They print like their base plastic (no enclosure needed) but stiffer. Heat resistance barely changes: Bambu PLA-CF 55 °C and PETG-CF 74 °C HDT.
- PA6-CF and PA12-CF: the workhorse structural filaments. Very stiff, with a big jump in heat resistance over plain nylon. PA12-CF trades a little stiffness for lower moisture uptake.
- PC-CF: PC's toughness with added stiffness. Prusament PCCF prints at 285 ± 10 °C on a 110 ± 10 °C bed, and Prusa says it doesn't need an enclosure.
- PET-CF: high heat resistance with low moisture uptake, a good choice for humid environments.
- PPS-CF and PPA-CF: industrial-grade heat and chemical resistance. They need a 350 °C hotend and a heated chamber; Bambu supports PPS-CF only on its H2 series and X1E.
Tip: Fiber-filled filaments are also brittle on the spool. Avoid tight bends in the feed path, and check that your AMS or MMU supports them before loading: Bambu flags several PA-CF and PET-CF brands as too brittle or rough for its AMS.
Heat resistance comparison (HDT and Tg)
Heat deflection temperature (HDT) is the temperature where a test bar bends under a set load. These are manufacturer values at 0.45 MPa; at the heavier 1.8 MPa load, the numbers drop, sometimes a lot (Polymaker CoPA nylon: 111 °C at 0.45 MPa, 70 °C at 1.8 MPa).
| Material (product) | HDT at 0.45 MPa | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| PLA-CF (Bambu) | 55 °C | About the same as plain PLA |
| PETG-CF (Bambu) | 74 °C | Slightly above plain PETG |
| Nylon (Polymaker CoPA) | 111 °C | Tg 66 °C; 70 °C HDT at 1.8 MPa |
| PC-ABS (Polymaker) | 112 °C | Tg 109 °C |
| PC (PolyLite / Prusament / Bambu) | 111 / 113 / 117 °C | Printable PC: plan on 110–120 °C |
| PC-CF (Prusament PCCF) | 114 °C | About 130 °C after annealing at 140 °C for 2 h |
| PA6-GF (Bambu) | 182 °C | Insulating glass fiber |
| PA6-CF (Bambu) | 186 °C | Tg 68 °C (fibers hold the shape above it) |
| PAHT-CF (Bambu) | 194 °C | High-temperature nylon |
| PET-CF (Bambu) | 205 °C | Low moisture uptake |
| PPA-CF (Bambu) | 227 °C | Needs 285–320 °C nozzle |
| PPS-CF (Bambu) | 264 °C | 235 °C at 1.8 MPa; 0.05% water absorption |
Shrinkage and annealing
Unfilled nylon shrinks the most of the common engineering filaments (roughly 1–2%), PC less (about 0.5–0.7%), and fiber-filled grades less again. Annealing (baking the finished part) relieves stress and raises heat resistance, but it shrinks the part a little more, so scale critical dimensions before printing.
- PolyLite PC and PC-ABS: 90 °C for 2 hours (Polymaker).
- CoPA nylon: 80 °C for 6 hours, then moisture-condition (Polymaker).
- Prusament PCCF: 140 °C for 2 hours lifts HDT to about 130 °C with roughly 1% shrinkage.
Drying engineering filaments
Wet nylon, PC and PA-CF don't just look bad; they lose strength. Dry before every print session and feed from a sealed box. Note that the Bambu AMS 2 Pro tops out at 65 °C, which is too cool for nylon and PC, so use the AMS HT or a dedicated dryer. Full charts and methods are in the filament drying guide.
Free PrintPal toolFilament Drying GuidePick nylon, PC or a CF blend for a drying time and temperatureOpen toolFumes and fiber safety
Ventilate and filter. High-temperature printing releases more ultrafine particles and VOCs; a NIOSH study found bisphenol A among the emissions from PC filament. Run these materials in an enclosure with HEPA and activated carbon filtration, or vent outdoors. Carbon-fiber filament and supports can have sharp microscopic barbs, and sanding makes fine dust: Bambu recommends cut-resistant gloves and safety glasses, and a dust mask is sensible when sanding. More in the 3D printing safety guide.
Troubleshooting nylon, PC and CF prints
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Popping, hissing, rough surface | Wet filament (nylon especially) | Dry at 80–90 °C for 8–12 h; print from a dry box. |
| Nylon corners lifting | High shrinkage, cold chamber | Enclosure, glue stick, brim, bed per the TDS. |
| PC layers splitting | Chamber too cool or fan too high | Heat the chamber, fan 0–20%, nozzle up 5–10 °C. |
| PC won't stick | Bed too cool | Bed 110–120 °C with glue stick. |
| CF prints get worse over weeks | Nozzle worn oversized | Switch to hardened steel; replace the worn nozzle. |
| Clogs with CF filament | Nozzle too small | Use 0.6 mm (never 0.2 mm); see clogged nozzle. |
| Filament snaps in the feed path | Brittle fiber-filled or very dry filament | Shorten and straighten the path; feed from an external spool. |
| Nylon part brittle on day one | Bone-dry from printing | Let it moisture-condition before testing. |
| Burnt smell, discolored PTFE tube | PTFE-lined hotend run too hot | Stop and upgrade to an all-metal hotend. |
When to use engineering filaments (and when not to)
Use them for parts that see heat over about 80 °C, real mechanical load, wear (gears, bushings) or impact, and for stiff, light structures like drone frames.
Skip them for display pieces, fine detail, or any part where PETG or ASA already meets the spec. Those are cheaper, easier and kinder to your nozzle.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a hardened nozzle for carbon fiber filament?
Yes. Carbon and glass fibers wear out brass and stainless steel nozzles quickly. Use a hardened steel nozzle, ideally 0.6 mm, for PLA-CF, PETG-CF, PA-CF, PC-CF and other fiber-filled or glow filaments. Never use a 0.2 mm nozzle.
What temperature should I print nylon at?
Unfilled nylon prints at about 250–280 °C, and nylon carbon fiber (PA-CF) at 260–300 °C. Bed temperature depends on the brand, so check the label. Dry the spool at 70–90 °C for 8–12 hours first and print inside an enclosure.
How heat resistant is polycarbonate filament?
Most printable PC filaments have a heat deflection temperature of about 110–120 °C at 0.45 MPa. Pure molded polycarbonate has a glass transition near 145–150 °C, but filament grades are modified so they print at 260–290 °C.
Does nylon need an enclosure?
Yes for most parts. Unfilled nylon shrinks and warps a lot, and fiber-filled nylon still benefits from a warm, draft-free chamber for strong layers. Keep the spool in a dry box while printing as well.
Is PA-CF or PC better for strong parts?
PA-CF is stiffer and far more heat resistant (Bambu PA6-CF: 186 °C HDT at 0.45 MPa) but absorbs moisture. PC is tougher in impact, absorbs much less water and comes in clear grades, with an HDT around 110–120 °C.
Related articles
Sources & further reading
- Bambu Lab Wiki: Filament guide and material table and PET-CF / PPA-CF / PPS-CF / PA6-CF usage guide
- Prusa Knowledge Base: Polycarbonate (PC)
- Prusament: Prusament PC Blend Carbon Fiber technical data sheet
- Polymaker Wiki: PolyLite PC and PolyMide CoPA data sheets
- Polymaker: PC-ABS product and data sheet
- NIOSH: 3D printing with filaments: health and safety questions to ask
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