Moisture
Nylon readily absorbs moisture. Store it sealed with desiccant and dry it according to the manufacturer's data.
MATERIALS / NYLON GUIDE
Choosing nylon for 3D printing
Compare PA6, PA11, PA12 and fibre-reinforced grades for strength, toughness, dimensional stability and heat resistance.
ENGINEERING POLYAMIDE
Why nylon is used for functional parts
Nylon or polyamide is valued for strength, toughness, impact and wear resistance, making it suitable for gears, housings, jigs, fixtures, drones, robotics and machinery.
Nylon is a family rather than one material. Moisture uptake, stiffness, flexibility and dimensional stability vary widely, so selection must start from the application.
SEVEN COMMON GRADES
Seven commonly used nylon groups
| Grade | Strength | Watch for | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|---|
| PA6 / PA66 | Strong, tough and wear resistant | High moisture uptake and warping | Gears and loaded parts |
| PA6-CF | Stiff, light and stable | More brittle; abrasive | Drones, robotics, structures |
| PA6-GF | High compression and thermal stability | Rougher surface; thin parts may be brittle | Jig & Fixture |
| PA11 | Tough, flexible and impact resistant | Less stiff than CF grades | Snap-fits and protective parts |
| PA12 | Stable, printable and accurate | Less strong than PA6 | Housings and accurate parts |
| PA12-CF | Very stable, low moisture, fine finish | Higher cost; abrasive | Drones, aerospace, precision parts |
| PAHT-CF | High heat and creep resistance | Needs high-temperature equipment | Automotive and demanding industry |
PRINTING CONTROL
What must be controlled before printing nylon
Temperature and chamber
High-shrink grades need appropriate bed adhesion and a temperature-controlled chamber.
Nozzle
CF and GF grades are abrasive and require a hardened or similarly wear-resistant nozzle.
Orientation
Layer-direction strength is anisotropic, so orient the part around its principal loads.
Important
Drying and print settings vary by brand and grade. Always follow the material's technical data sheet.
QUICK SELECTION
Match the grade to the part's function
- High strength and toughness: start with PA6/PA66.
- Low weight and high stiffness: PA6-CF or PA12-CF.
- Compression loads and jigs: PA6-GF.
- Snap-fits and impact resistance: PA11.
- Ease of printing and dimensional control: PA12.
- Sustained heat performance: PAHT-CF with capable equipment.
PROPERTY MAP
Read nylon beyond the word ‘strong’
Each nylon family responds differently to load and environment. Tensile strength describes resistance to pulling, modulus indicates stiffness, while elongation and impact strength help describe toughness. Selecting from one number alone can therefore be misleading.
Carbon fibre raises stiffness and dimensional stability but usually reduces elongation. Glass fibre performs well in compression and heat, yet its surface and failure behaviour differ from unfilled nylon. Load direction, wall geometry, fastening points and service life must be considered together.
Stiffness
Important for housings, jigs and parts that must hold position under load.
Toughness
Important for snap-fits, guards and parts exposed to occasional impact.
Dimensional stability
Consider moisture uptake, shrinkage, heat and creep throughout service.
Wear resistance
Relevant to gears, guides and moving contacts, together with mating material and lubrication.
MOISTURE MANAGEMENT
Moisture changes both printing and final performance
Nylon is hygroscopic and absorbs water from air. Even when the filament looks normal, moisture can flash to steam during extrusion, causing popping, bubbles, rough surfaces, stringing and weaker layer bonding.
- 01
Store sealed
Keep spools in sealed containers with desiccant and record the opening date.
- 02
Dry to the data sheet
Use grade-specific time and temperature; excessive heat can deform the spool or degrade the polymer.
- 03
Print from a dry box
Long prints should remain dry throughout the job, not merely be dried and left exposed.
- 04
Verify from evidence
Observe sound and extrusion quality, and where useful compare weight before and after drying to distinguish moisture from print settings.
Important
There is no universal nylon drying recipe. Follow the material technical data sheet and the limits of the dryer and spool.
DESIGN & VALIDATION
Design and validate for the real load direction
- Use generous radii to reduce stress concentration and avoid abrupt wall-thickness changes.
- Orient layers so primary loads do not peel them apart; consider infill, perimeters and wall thickness together.
- For CF/GF grades, account for nozzle wear and inspect printed holes, fits and bearing seats.
- Test coupons or prototypes under representative humidity, temperature and loading before production approval.
SERVICE BUYER GUIDE
Questions for a nylon 3D printing supplier
Customers searching for nylon, PA12 or carbon-fibre 3D printing usually need functional parts rather than display models. A quotation should identify the nylon family, drying, enclosed-machine control, orientation, wear-resistant nozzle and dimensional acceptance criteria.
- Request the exact grade and data sheet.
- State loads, temperature, moisture and chemicals.
- Mark holes, fits, threads and critical dimensions.
- Define sample approval and repeat-production needs.
Important
Send a file or image with your brief so Fast 3D Print can assess process, material, lead time and price before production.
Turn knowledge into the right production decision
Send us your file, dimensions, quantity and intended use. Our team can compare process, material, finishing and production risk before work begins.
Discuss your project →Original Fast 3D Print editorial based on the cited reference.Reference: Sync Innovation ↗