Home › Bambu Lab A1 mini › Polycarbonate

Polycarbonate settings for the Bambu Lab A1 mini

Possible with tweaks

These are tuned starting settings for printing Polycarbonate on the Bambu Lab A1 mini. The Bambu Lab A1 mini has a direct-drive extruder and an all-metal hotend, so we set the hotend to 275°C and the bed to 80°C. Polycarbonate is one of the strongest filaments but needs high temps and an all-metal hotend.

275°C
Hotend
80°C
Bed
49 mm/s
Speed
0%
Part fan

Recommended Polycarbonate profile

Hotend temperature275°C (tower 260–300°C)
Bed temperature80°C
Print speed49 mm/s
Retraction1.2 mm (direct drive)
Part cooling fan0%
Bed adhesionVery hot bed + enclosure; PC needs an all-metal hotend.
NozzleBrass 0.4 mm is fine
DifficultyAdvanced
⚠️ Polycarbonate warps without an enclosure and the Bambu Lab A1 mini is open-frame. Block drafts, raise the bed temp, and add a brim; for tall parts an enclosure is strongly recommended.
⚠️ This material prefers a 110°C bed but the Bambu Lab A1 mini tops out at 80°C; use extra adhesion help such as glue stick.
💡 Best uses for Polycarbonate: high-heat parts, impact-resistant parts.

Shop Polycarbonate on Amazon →

FAQ

What temperature should I print Polycarbonate on the Bambu Lab A1 mini?
Start at 275°C for the hotend and 80°C for the bed, then run a temperature tower across 260–285°C to dial in your exact filament brand.
What print speed works for Polycarbonate on this printer?
Around 49 mm/s is a safe starting point on the Bambu Lab A1 mini. This printer can go faster once the profile is tuned, but start conservative for clean walls.
What retraction should I use?
Use about 1.2 mm of retraction (direct drive needs very little). If you see stringing with Polycarbonate, raise retraction speed before distance and dry the filament.
Do I need an enclosure for Polycarbonate on the Bambu Lab A1 mini?
Yes — Polycarbonate really wants an enclosure and the Bambu Lab A1 mini is open, so expect warping on large parts without one.