3D Printing Materials

Nylon

At a glance

Nylon 12

Processes

Selective Laser Sintering (SLS)
Multi Jet Fusion (MJF)

Production Time

3 days (rush) 5 days (standard)
3 days (rush), ≥5 days (standard)

Colors

White, Black
Grey, Black

Resolution

0.1 mm
0.08mm

Infill

100% (solid)

Applications

Functional prototypes, mechanical applications
Prototyping, Bridge-level Production

Max Print Size

700 x 380 x 580 mm
380 x 284 x 380 mm

Nylon 12 Glass-Filled

Process

SLS

Colors

White

Resolution

0.1 mm

Applications

Housings and enclosures, Consumer sporting goods, Complex prototype plastic parts, Form, fit, or functional prototypes

About the Material

High stiffness, wear resistance, elevated temperature resistant

Nylon 11

Process

MJF

Colors

Grey

Resolution

0.08 mm

Applications

Impact-resistant prototypes, jigs, and fixtures. Thin-walled ducts and enclosures. Snaps, clips, and hinges. Nylon 11 Powder offers high robustness for impact-resistant, rugged prototyping or end-use parts.

About the Material

Ductile, strong and flexible material for when durability and performance are key

About the Material

Nylon is a versatile 3D printing material with excellent mechanical properties, making it suitable for a wide range of applications. Here are some common applications for Nylon in 3D printing:

Functional Prototypes: Nylon is often used to create functional prototypes for products and components that require strength and durability.

End-Use Parts: It is suitable for producing end-use parts and components in various industries, including automotive, aerospace, and consumer goods.

Gears and Bearings: Nylon’s low friction coefficient and excellent wear resistance make it ideal for manufacturing gears, bushings, bearings, and other mechanical parts.

Custom Tools and Fixtures: Manufacturers use Nylon to create custom tools, jigs, fixtures, and assembly aids that require toughness and resistance to wear.

Automotive Parts: Nylon is employed in the production of automotive components like clips, brackets, panels, and interior trim pieces.

Functional Prototyping for Engineering: Engineers use Nylon to prototype functional parts and mechanisms, test assemblies, and validate designs.

Medical Devices: Nylon can be used to create certain medical device components that require strength and biocompatibility, such as orthopedic implants and surgical instruments.

Drones and UAV Components: Nylon is used for manufacturing components for drones and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) due to its lightweight yet strong properties.

Sporting Goods: It is used in the production of sporting goods such as bicycle components, helmet liners, and paddles due to its strength and lightweight nature.

Custom Enclosures: Nylon is suitable for creating custom enclosures, cases, and housings for electronic devices and consumer products.

Electrical Insulators: Its electrical insulating properties make Nylon an excellent choice for producing electrical insulators and connectors.

Educational Models: Nylon is used in educational institutions to create models for teaching and illustrating engineering and mechanical principles.

Architectural Models: Architects and designers use Nylon to create detailed architectural models and prototypes of building designs.

Water-Resistant Parts: Nylon’s resistance to water absorption makes it useful for applications exposed to moisture or humidity, such as underwater components or outdoor equipment.

Functional Air Ducts: Nylon’s heat resistance makes it suitable for creating functional air ducts in various applications.

Low-Friction Components: Parts that require low friction and wear resistance, such as conveyor system components, can be made from Nylon.

Food Processing: In the food industry, Nylon is used for producing parts and components that come into contact with food due to its FDA-approved, food-safe properties.

Cosmetic Packaging: Nylon is used in the production of cosmetic packaging components, such as mascara brushes and pump parts.

Nylon’s combination of strength, durability, and resistance to wear, chemicals, and moisture makes it a versatile material suitable for applications across multiple industries, from aerospace to consumer goods and beyond. The choice of Nylon grade may vary depending on the specific requirements of the application.

Material Properties

Nylon 12

Process

SLS
MJF

Tensile Strength

48 MPa (6962 PSI)
48 MPa (6962 PSI)

Elongation at Break

20%
20%

Modulus of Elasticity

1500 MPa (217000 PSI)
1935 MPa (280648 PSI)

Flexural Strength

58 MPa (8412 PSI)
65 MPa (9428 PSI)

Material Datasheet

Nylon 12 Glass-Filled

Process

SLS

Ultimate Tensile Strength

Metric: 36 MPa
Imperial: 5200 PSI

Elongation at Break

2%

Modulus of Elasticity

Metric: 3200 MPa
Imperial: 464120 PSI

Flexural Strength

Metric: 61 MPa
Imperial: 8840 PSI

Highest Operating Temperature (C)

Metric: 179C
Imperial: 354F

Material Datasheet

Nylon 11

Process

MJF

Ultimate Tensile Strength

Metric: 52 MPa
Imperial: 7542 PSI

Elongation at Break

25%

Modulus of Elasticity

Metric: 1700 MPa
Imperial: 246560 PSI

Flexural Strength

Metric: 70 MPa
Imperial: 10150 PSI

Highest Operating Temperature (C)

Metric: 70C
Imperial: 158F

Material Datasheet

Why Use This Material

Nylon 12

The texture of SLS Nylon is similar to a very fine grit sandpaper with a matte finish. MJF Nylon parts are generally slightly smoother. Un-dyed MJF Nylon is grey, which may vary in shades across the same part of a surface. When dyed black, both SLS and MJF Nylon have a matte appearance.

Nylon 12 Glass-Filled

Nylon 12 Glass-Filled material is a good choice for a variety of components in the aerospace, automotive and medical industries due to its high wear, fatigue and abrasion resistance, as well as it’s ability to resist corrosion. Common applications include: housings and enclosures, consumer sporting goods, complex prototype plastic parts, and form, fit, or functional prototypes

Nylon 11

Nylon 11 is perfect for 3d printed enclosures and assemblies. Its ductile properties make it resistant to snapping with designing and building clips, hinges, and other mating features. Nylon 11 is also strong, allowing it to be used for tooling, jigs, and fixtures where the build may encounter impact forces.

Design Recommendations

Process

SLS
MJF

Min Wall Thickness

1.0 mm for production
1.5 mm for consistency (for measurement and mechanical applications)
1.0 mm for production
1.5 mm for consistency (for measurement and mechanical applications)

Min Clearance + Gaps for Fit

0.5 mm clearance between features
0.2 mm clearance between features, we recommend 0.3 mm to ensure good fit

Max Part Size [x, y, z]

700 x 380 x 580 mm
380 x 284 x 380 mm

Internal Cavities

Be sure to have a clearance to remove the support powder!

Threads & Inserts

Minimum 0.1 mm clearance is required for printed threads.

Text Guidelines

Raised features: 0.6 mm minimum
Recessed features: 0.5 mm minimum

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