Nylon (Polyamide PA) filaments are high-level technical polymers, with mechanical strength and toughness among the best in FDM 3D printing. They resist impact, abrasion, and repeated stress. They are the reference material for gears, sprockets, bearings, moving parts, joints: everything that 3D printing produces for real mechanical applications.
When to use Nylon
- Gears and sprockets: self-lubricating, wear-resistant.
- Sleeve bearings: low natural friction.
- Mechanical parts subject to fatigue: joints, hinges, levers.
- Automotive components: clips, supports, under-the-hood parts.
- Industrial moving parts: where abrasion resistance is needed.
- Track chains, wheels, bumpers: for RC, operational models.
Nylon families
- PA6: the classic, excellent stiffness, high moisture absorption.
- PA12: lower moisture absorption, more dimensionally stable.
- PA6/66 (copolymer): compromise between printability and mechanical performance.
- PA-CF (carbon fiber): superior stiffness and strength, excellent for structural parts.
- PA-GF (glass fiber): increased thermal and mechanical stability.
- PA612-ESD: with electrostatic discharge (for electronics).
Technical characteristics
- Nozzle temperature: 250-290 °C.
- Bed temperature: 80-100 °C.
- Heated chamber: recommended for large parts.
- Thermal resistance: 120-180 °C depending on the formulation.
- Hygroscopicity: very high — nylon should always be dried before printing.
- Bed adhesion: critical — use PA Print Sheet (Prusa) or Magigoo PA.
Brands you'll find on Strato3D
Nylon from Snapmaker, eSUN ePA and ePA-CF, Sunlu PA6-CF and PA12-CF, BASF Forward AM Ultrafuse PA6 GF30, Polymaker Fiberon PA612-ESD (antistatic), PA-CF.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to dry nylon? Always. 6-8 hours at 70-80 °C before printing. Printing it wet produces bubbles, steam, and weak parts.
Can I use it on a regular printer? Yes, but an all-metal extruder capable of 280 °C is needed. A heated chamber helps for large parts.
Does it resist impact? Exceptionally. Nylon is one of the toughest materials in FDM 3D printing.
Nylon or PETG? For moving mechanical parts: nylon. For containers and static parts: PETG, which is much easier to print.