Materials / Compare
FDM Polycarbonate vs. SLA Resin Standard
Compare FDM Polycarbonate vs. SLA Resin Standard strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.
| Mechanical | FDM Polycarbonate | SLA Resin Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Yield strength | 53.3MPa1 | not given (tensile used) |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 53.3MPa1 | 60MPa213% stronger |
| Flexural strength | 89.4MPa1 | 105MPa217% stronger in bending |
| Elongation at break | 9.2%115% more ductile | 8%2 |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 2.39GPa1 | 2.75GPa215% stiffer |
| Density | range1,180–1,200kg/m³1 | 1,210kg/m³3 |
| Strength to weight | 44.8kN·m/kg | 49.6kN·m/kg11% higher |
| Stiffness to weight | 2.01MN·m/kg | 2.27MN·m/kg13% higher |
| Poisson's ratio | base material0.384 | not sourced |
| Shear modulus | 0.867GPa | not sourced |
| Bulk modulus | 3.33GPa | not sourced |
| Speed of sound | 1,418m/s | 1,508m/s6% faster |
| Thermal | FDM Polycarbonate | SLA Resin Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Thermal conductivity | base material0.2W/m·K5 | 0.54W/m·K62.7x more heat through a fin |
| Thermal expansion | base material65µm/m·K51.76x less | mean -30 to 140 °C114µm/m·K6 |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 325µm growth1.76x less | 571µm growth |
| Specific heat | not sourced | 1,800J/kg·K6 |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | not sourced | 0.248mm²/s |
| Thermal shock resistance | 42.5W/m | not sourced |
| Glass transition | 108°C1 | not sourced |
| Max service temperature | HDT 0.455 MPa105°C1 | HDT 1.8 MPa59°C2 |
| Try it on a partA bracket to run stress or thermal on, free in your browser | Open in LessCAD | Open in LessCAD |
|---|
Sources6 documents: UltiMaker, Formlabs, Covestro
- FDM Polycarbonate
- Ultimaker PC, 3D-printed specimens, XY (flat); Ultimaker S5 Pro, engineering intent profile, 0.15 mm layer height, AA 0.4 print core, 100% infill, Cura 4.9, printed one-at-a-time, conditioned >=24 h at room temperature. TDS (file v5.00), April 20, 2022.
- SLA Resin Standard
- Formlabs Clear Resin V5 (FLGPCL05), TDS Rev. 01 March 20, 2024; printed on Form 4 at 100 µm, washed 5 min in >=99% IPA, post-cured 15 min at 60 °C in Form Cure. Orientation not stated.
- 1Ultimaker PC Technical Data Sheet, v5.00UltiMakerarchived copyFDM Polycarbonate · Yield strength: typicalFDM Polycarbonate · Ultimate tensile strength: typical, peak stress (= stress at yield)FDM Polycarbonate · Flexural strength: typicalFDM Polycarbonate · Elongation at break: typicalFDM Polycarbonate · Young's modulus (stiffness): typicalFDM Polycarbonate · Density: rangeFDM Polycarbonate · Glass transition: typicalFDM Polycarbonate · Max service temperature: HDT 0.455 MPa (printed specimens)
- 2Clear Resin V5 Technical Data Sheet (2024)Formlabsarchived copySLA Resin Standard · Ultimate tensile strength: typicalSLA Resin Standard · Flexural strength: typicalSLA Resin Standard · Elongation at break: typicalSLA Resin Standard · Young's modulus (stiffness): typicalSLA Resin Standard · Max service temperature: HDT 1.8 MPa
- 3Clear Resin V5 Technical Data Sheet (web edition)FormlabsSLA Resin Standard · Density: typical, post-cured (same for 5 min ambient and 15 min at 60 °C), ASTM D792
- 4Engineering Polymers Part and Mold Design: Thermoplastics, A Design GuideCovestroarchived copyFDM Polycarbonate · Poisson's ratio: base material: polycarbonate family typical (Covestro Part and Mold Design guide, Table 3-1)
- 5Makrolon 2405 Technical Data SheetCovestroFDM Polycarbonate · Thermal conductivity: base material: Covestro Makrolon 2405 injection-molding PC, typical, through-plane, 23 °CFDM Polycarbonate · Thermal expansion: base material: Covestro Makrolon 2405 injection-molding PC, typical, 23-55 °C, parallel
- 6Thermal Properties of Selected Formlabs SLA ResinsFormlabsSLA Resin Standard · Thermal conductivity: typical, post-cured, ASTM E1530SLA Resin Standard · Thermal expansion: mean -30 to 140 °C, post-cured (5 min ambient cure), TMA ASTM E831SLA Resin Standard · Specific heat: typical, 25 °C, post-cured (5 min ambient cure), DSC ASTM E1269
Each number points to the document that states it, with the exact basis. Values without a number are computed from the sourced ones. "Not sourced" means no citable source states it (or only a specification minimum); figures computed from it are left out too.
FDM Polycarbonate and SLA Resin Standard are 3D printed: their properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.
Questions
Mechanical
Is FDM Polycarbonate stronger than SLA Resin Standard?
SLA Resin Standard is stronger: its tensile strength is 60 MPa against yield strength 53.3 MPa for FDM Polycarbonate (13%).
Which is lighter, FDM Polycarbonate or SLA Resin Standard?
FDM Polycarbonate is lighter: 1,190 kg/m³ against 1,210 kg/m³ for SLA Resin Standard.
Which is stiffer, FDM Polycarbonate or SLA Resin Standard?
SLA Resin Standard is stiffer: Young's modulus 2.75 GPa against 2.39 GPa for FDM Polycarbonate, so the same part in SLA Resin Standard deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, FDM Polycarbonate or SLA Resin Standard?
For the same stiffness or strength: SLA Resin Standard is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate, strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.
| Part that must be | FDM Polycarbonate | SLA Resin Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | 13% heavier | lighter |
| Stiff beam (bending) | 5% heavier | lighter |
| Stiff panel or plate | 3% heavier | lighter |
| Strong rod or tie | 11% heavier | lighter |
| Strong beam | 6% heavier | lighter |
| Strong panel or plate | 4% heavier | lighter |
For the same stiffness or strength, mass scales with density over stiffness (or strength) raised to a power set by how the part is loaded: 1 for a rod in tension, 1/2 for a beam in bending, 1/3 for a panel (the standard material-selection indices).
Which is more ductile, FDM Polycarbonate or SLA Resin Standard?
FDM Polycarbonate stretches further before it breaks: 9.2% elongation at break against 8% for SLA Resin Standard.
Thermal
Which conducts heat better, FDM Polycarbonate or SLA Resin Standard?
SLA Resin Standard conducts heat better: 0.54 W/m·K against 0.2 W/m·K for FDM Polycarbonate.
Which expands less with temperature?
FDM Polycarbonate expands less: 65 µm/m·K against 114 µm/m·K for SLA Resin Standard.
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