PC vs Nylon vs Nylon CF: Which Filament Should You Actually Use?
When you move beyond PLA, choosing the right high-performance filament can get confusing fast.
PC, Nylon, and Carbon Fiber-filled Nylon each have their own advantages, print challenges, and ideal use cases.
If you pick the wrong one, you’ll waste time, filament, and maybe even damage your printer.
This guide explains what each material is good for, what to avoid, and how to print them properly.
Polycarbonate (PC): Strength and Heat Resistance
When to use it:
PC is the go-to material when you need parts that can take heat and impact. It performs well at temperatures up to 120°C, making it ideal for mechanical housings, brackets, and enclosures near engines or motors.
Pros:
Extremely strong and impact resistant
Handles high temperatures
Good transparency (depending on formulation)
Cons:
Prone to warping and cracking
Needs an enclosure and heated bed
Prints best with a hardened nozzle
Best use cases:
Automotive mounts, electrical housings, and mechanical brackets where PLA or PETG would deform.
Nylon (PA): Toughness and Wear Resistance
When to use it:
Nylon is best for functional parts that need to handle stress, friction, and wear.
It’s not rubbery flexible like TPU. Instead, it’s tough, durable, and can bend slightly without breaking.
Pros:
High wear resistance
Slight flexibility under load (absorbs impact well)
Works for moving parts and gears
Cons:
Highly hygroscopic (absorbs moisture fast)
Needs drying before and during printing
Warps if printed without an enclosure
Best use cases:
Gears, hinges, spacers, tool handles, and mechanical linkages that experience motion or vibration.
Carbon Fiber Nylon (PA CF): Rigidity and Dimensional Accuracy
When to use it:
CF-filled Nylon combines the durability of Nylon with the stiffness of carbon fiber.
It’s ideal for strong structural parts that need to stay dimensionally stable under stress.
Pros:
Very stiff and stable
Lower warping than plain Nylon
Excellent surface finish
Cons:
Abrasive to brass nozzles (use hardened steel)
Slightly more brittle than standard Nylon
Costs more per kilogram
Best use cases:
Functional prototypes, drone or robot parts, jigs, and fixtures that need strength without metal machining.
Printing Tips for High-Temp Filaments
Always dry your filament before printing.
Keep the print chamber warm and enclosed to prevent warping.
Use strong bed adhesion like a PEI or textured sheet.
Monitor the first layers carefully before leaving a long print unattended.
These materials reward proper setup. Once you get the tuning right, they produce professional-grade parts that outperform basic plastics.
Final Thoughts
Choosing between PC, Nylon, and CF-Nylon comes down to what your part actually needs:
PC for heat and impact
Nylon for toughness and wear
Nylon CF for stiffness and precision
If your prints keep failing or warping, the issue is usually not the filament but the setup.
Get your environment under control and these materials will open the door to real manufacturing-level 3D printing.
At Miloshev Machinery, we use high-temperature materials to produce durable, accurate parts for industrial and robotics applications.
If you want consistent, production-ready prints, the right filament choice is where it starts.
