3D printing in nylon and polyamide
Polyamide is tough, slides well and survives repeated bending. That makes it the material for parts that move, snap or rub. We process PA12, PA11 and PA6 dried and in an enclosed chamber.
Samples in 2 to 4 working days
Where nylon shows its strengths
Anywhere a brittle material would break.
Snap fits
Clips and latches that are assembled and taken apart often.
Sliding and wear parts
Guides, bushings and strips with low friction.
Living hinges
Thin hinges that need to survive many cycles.
Cable and hose holders
Holders that withstand vibration and clamping force.
Suitable materials
PA12 as the robust default, PA11 with more elongation, the fibre filled grades for stiffness.
- PA12Tough, low-friction nylon for functional mechanical parts.
- PA11Bio-based tough nylon with excellent impact resistance.
- PA12-CFCarbon-filled nylon 12 - the metal replacement workhorse.
- PA12-GFGlass-filled nylon for stiffness at a lower cost than carbon.
- PA6-CFCarbon-filled PA6 for high loads and abrasion resistance.
- PA6-GFGlass-filled PA6 - tough, stiff and impact resistant.
Details for nylon parts
- 01Does the part move, and how often? That decides between unfilled and fibre filled.
- 02Ambient humidity. Polyamide absorbs water and changes dimensions and stiffness slightly.
- 03Mating part for sliding parts: steel, aluminium or plastic.
- 04Fits, so we account for moisture uptake in the tolerance.
Designing correctly for nylon
Nylon forgives much that PLA does not: overload, impacts and repeated deformation. In return it is softer. A part that was stiff enough in PLA can flex in PA12. When switching from a stiff material, plan ribs or a little more wall thickness.
For snap fits and living hinges the build direction matters a lot. Bending should happen along the layers, not across them. We therefore set orientation by function, not by shortest print time.
Because polyamide absorbs moisture, we measure fits after conditioning when the application requires it. That way the part fits not only on delivery day but in service.
Manufacturing data at a glance
- Location
- Schleswig, Germany
- Part size
- up to approx. 250 x 250 x 250 mm, larger parts split and joined
- Quantities
- 1 to several thousand, no minimum order quantity
- Tolerances
- approx. ±0.2 mm for PLA, PETG and carbon grades, ±0.3 mm for ABS, ASA and PC
- Layer height
- 0.10 to 0.30 mm
- Materials
- 20 engineering filaments from PLA to PA12-CF and PC FR
- File formats
- STEP, STL, 3MF, OBJ, IGES up to 200 MB
- Lead time
- 2 to 4 working days for samples, 4 to 15 working days for series
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Nylon printing FAQ
- Why does nylon warp when printed?
- Polyamide crystallises and shrinks as it cools. Without a heated chamber and dry material it lifts. Under controlled conditions it is manageable.
- PA12 or PA6?
- PA6 is stronger and stiffer but absorbs much more moisture. PA12 is more dimensionally stable and the safe choice for most functional parts.
- Can nylon parts be dyed?
- Yes, unfilled polyamides can be dyed afterwards, typically black. Tell us if a colour is required.
- Does printed nylon replace a machined POM part?
- For many guides and brackets, yes. For tight fits and high sliding speeds machined POM often remains better. We assess it per part.
Read next
PC vs Nylon vs Nylon CF: Which Filament Should You Actually Use?
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PA12 Carbon Fiber 3D Printing: When the Material Pays Off
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Engineering Material Selection Guide for FDM 3D Printing
The best material is not the strongest one. It is the one that matches the environment, the mechanical requirements and the production goals of the part.