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Nylon 3d printer filament
1.75mm Nylon Filament | MatterHackers
Nylon is an incredibly strong, durable, and versatile 3D printing material. Flexible when thin, but with very high inter-layer adhesion, nylon lends itself well to things like living hinges and other functional parts. Nylon filament prints as a bright natural white with a translucent surface, and can absorb color added post process with most common, acid-based clothing dyes or synthetic cloth specific dyes. Nylon filament is extremely sensitive to moisture, so taking drying measures during storage and immediately prior to printing (using desiccant, vacuum, or elevated temperature) is highly recommended for best results. For tips and tricks on 3D printing Nylon, check out How To Succeed When Printing With Nylon.
Nylon Filament
PRO Series Nylon
The strength and durability of Nylon now in vibrant colors.
NylonX
The durability of Nylon combined with the stiffness of carbon fiber
NylonG
Glass infused nylon for strong, functional prints
Ultimaker Nylon Filament
Get impact and abrasion resistance with Ultimaker Nylon filament
Kodak Nylon 3D Printing Filament
Kodak Nylon 3D Printing Filament
Taulman Nylon 645, 680, 230
eSUN Nylon Filament
Material designed for high tensile strength and heat resistance
DSM Novamid 3D Printing Filament
Advanced material for automotive and electrical 3D printing applications.
Guides & Articles
5 Reasons Why You Should Start 3D Printing with Nylon
It's time to start 3D printing with Nylon filament - embrace the unique characteristics that make this material so versatile in a wide range of applications.
How To Succeed with LayerLock Garolite Build Surfaces
Successfully achieve strong bed adhesion for NylonX, NylonG, and standard filaments using LayerLock Garolite Build Surfaces.
Living Hinge: Design Guidelines and Material Selection
Bring your prints to life by adding an additional degree of motion to your designs - living hinges are the foundation of expanded mechanical solutions.
How To Succeed When 3D Printing With Nylon
Learn how to 3D print Nylon like a pro. Nylon is a stronger and more durable alternative to PLA or ABS and easy to 3D print with using these Tips and Tricks.
3D Printer Troubleshooting Guide
Use this guide to help you identify and solve the most common issues that may occur while 3D printing.
Retraction: Just say "No" to oozing
By understanding a little more about the 3D printing process, and how settings in MatterControl affect extrusion, we can help you reduce and even eliminate oozing and stringing from your 3D prints. This should be a part of the regular maintenance and calibration program for your 3d printer.
How To Clear and Prevent Jams on Your 3D Printer
At some point you may encounter a filament jam or a clogged nozzle where your 3D printer is not extruding. This guide is intended to help you prevent such jams, or fix with them as painlessly as possible.
How to Succeed with NylonX
NylonX has quickly become one of our favorite filaments for strong, durable, and ready-to-use parts. Here's an in-depth look at Nylon X, and some printing tips to get the most out of this great new material.
Ultimate Materials Guide - 3D Printing with Nylon
Overview
Nylon (a.
k.a. Polyamide) is a popular material in the plastics industry, known for its toughness and flexibility. Nylon filaments typically require extruder temperatures near 250 ºC, however, some brands allow printing at temperatures as low as 220 ºC due to their chemical composition. Many printers do not include a hotend that can safely reach 250 ºC, so these lower-temperature versions can be useful and potentially save you from needing to upgrade your hotend. One big challenge with Nylon filaments is that they are hygroscopic, which means they readily absorb moisture from their surroundings. Printing Nylon after it has absorbed moisture will lead to several print quality issues, thus filament storage becomes very important and requires special attention.
- Tough and partially flexible
- High impact resistance
- No unpleasant odor while printing
- Good abrasion resistance
- Prone to Warping
- Air-tight storage required to prevent water absorption
- Improperly dried filaments can cause printing defects
- Not suitable for moist and humid environments
Hardware Requirements
Before 3D printing with Nylon make sure your 3D printer meets the hardware requirements listed below to ensure the best print quality.
Bed
Temperature: 70-90 °C
Heated Bed Required
Enclosure Recommended
Build Surface
Glue Stick
PEI
Extruder
Temperature: 225-265 °C
May require All-Metal hotend
Cooling
Part Cooling Fan Not Required
Best Practices
These tips will help you reduce the chances of common 3D printing issues associated with Nylon such as warping and moisture absorption.
Filament Storage
One of the challenging aspects of using Nylon is the need for a special storage system. Unlike other filaments, you cannot keep the filament spool exposed to the air for extended periods of time. Nylon easily absorbs moisture from the environment. Printing the moist filament will result in print quality issues like a foggy rough surfaces or even tiny holes or bubbles on the exterior. These printing issues can also significantly decrease the strength and performance of the printed parts. The typical solution for this issue is to remove the Nylon spools from the printer once you are done, and store the spools in an air-tight container along with some desiccants to remove the moisture from within.
If you do not want to constantly mount and remove your filament spool, there are also commercially available storage containers that will keep the filament dry, while allowing it to feed out of a hole in the container.
Use an Enclosure to Prevent Warping
Some high-temperature Nylons are prone to warping due to the large temperature change between the extruded plastic and the ambient environment. Heated beds can reduce the warping to a some extent, but using a printer that has a heated chamber or enclosure would be the ideal solution. Keeping the air around your part at a temperature of about 45 ºC will help eliminate warping by reducing this temperature variation. If your printer doesn’t include a heated chamber and you aren’t able to add an enclosure, there are other tips that you can use to help prevent warping. Our Print Quality Guide has an entire section devoted to this issue which summarizes other common techniques: How to Prevent Warping.
Using Brims and Rafts
In situations where adding an aftermarket enclosure may not be an ideal option, consider using a brim or a raft to help with first layer adhesion.
Adding a brim will add several loops around the bottom layer of your model, creating a larger surface area to hold down the edges of your print. Version 4.0 of Simplify3D introduced a completely new raft design that can also be very useful if you continue to have printing difficulties. For more information on the differences between rafts, skirts, and brims, please consult our in-depth article on this topic.
Pro-Tips
- If you do not have air-tight containers for storing your filament, you can dry the spools just before use by running them through a Food Dehydrator. A few hours in this device will dry the filament significantly.
- Nylon makes a good filament for cleaning your nozzle. You can use a technique called “cold pulling” where you allow the Nylon to bond to debris within the nozzle, and then after it partially cools, you pull the filament (and debris) out of the hotend.
Get Started with Nylon
Nylon can be a great material once you have mastered the basics.
Once you’re ready to give it a try, here are some tips to help you get started.
Common Applications
- Plastic Gears
- Screws, nuts, bolts
- Cable ties
Sample Projects
- Cable ties
- Nut, Bolt, Washer
- Servo Gears
Popular Brands
- Taulman Nylon
- Matterhackers PRO Nylon
- HobbyKing Nylon
- GizmoDorks Nylon
3D Printable Nylon
- 1 Description
- 2 Specifications
- 3 Advantages and disadvantages of nylon
- 3.1 Features
- 3.2 Disadvantages
- 4 3D printing use
- 5 Use of available materials
Description
Nylon is attractive as a material for 3D printing due to its high wear resistance, affordability and excellent slip coefficient, which allows the use of nylon in bearings and other similar mechanisms, often without the use of lubricants.
An example of a model created using Stratasys Nylon 12
Despite the widespread use of nylon in the industry, the use of this material in 3D printing is quite limited due to certain technological difficulties. However, in recent years, specialized nylon consumables have appeared, focused on use with SLS and FDM printers.
Taulman and Stratasys nylon threads are the most popular examples.
Specifications
| Taulman 618 | Taulman 645 | Stratasys Nylon 12 | |
| Density | 1.134 g/cm³ | – | – |
| Hygroscopicity | 3.09% | 3.09% | – |
| Tensile strength | 65. 99 MPa | 85.68 MPa | 48.26-53 MPa |
| Elongation at Break | Over 300% | Over 300% | 9.5-30% |
| Melting point | 218°C | 214°C | 178°C |
| Glass transition temperature | 49.4°C | 68.2°C | – |
| Extrusion temperature | 235-260°C | 235-260°C | – |
| Pyrolysis temperature | 350-360°C | 350-360°C | – |
Stratasys Nylon 12 is designed for use with Fortus brand 360mc, 400mc and 9 professional rigs00mc, while Taulman's nylon filaments are designed to work with any home and office 3D printer optimized for the popular ABS plastic.
In addition, Taulman is testing a range of laser sintered nylon materials, including a powder version of Taulman 618.
Advantages and disadvantages of nylon
Advantages of
- High wear resistance
- High elasticity
- Resistant to most organic solvents
- High temperature resistance
- Easy to machine
Disadvantages
- High hygroscopicity
- Release of toxic fumes during pyrolysis
- Taulman brand nylon threads available in 1.75mm and 3mm diameters
3D printing use
Taulman brand nylon filaments are available in 1.75mm and 3mm diameters
Nylon printing technology is similar to ABS printing, but with some differences. Like ABS, nylon is prone to twisting and warping when cooled unevenly, requiring the use of a heated bed.
The nylon layers have excellent adhesion, which minimizes the chance of delamination of models.
Users of Taulman plastics note the durability of models at the level of analogues made by traditional injection molding.
Nylon is almost impossible to bond, which makes it difficult to manufacture large-sized parts from components. Alternatively, it is possible to connect nylon parts by melting the surfaces to be joined.
Nylon can be dyed with acid-based dyes.
Nylon does not adhere to glass or other smooth surfaces, so it is recommended to apply painter's tape to the desktop or use a wood backing when printing.
Due to the high hygroscopicity of nylon (the ability to absorb moisture), it is recommended to dry the nylon filament immediately before printing. Otherwise, water vapor may be released from the nozzle, which is not catastrophic for the extruder, but may affect print quality.
Use of scrap materials
Some hobbyists prefer to use inexpensive nylon line for printing, which is fraught with some unpleasant consequences.
As a general rule, trimmer line is preferred, available in 3mm diameter, which is the same diameter as commercially available ABS filaments for FDM printing. However, these "nylon threads" are not pure nylon, which is evident due to their excessive stiffness, which is not characteristic of nylon. The reason for this is additives - usually in the form of fiberglass. Additives are designed to both increase stiffness and reduce the cost of the material. It should be borne in mind that the melting point of fiberglass is much higher than the melting point of nylon and, in fact, exceeds the pyrolysis temperature of nylon. Thus, it is impossible to achieve complete melting of such composite materials. As a result, tough glass fiber particles will contribute to increased wear and clogging of the extruder nozzle.
Go to the main page of the Encyclopedia of 3D Printing
3D printing of nylon (Nylon) technology features
Nylon is known as a durable, versatile material.
It is a synthetic composition formed from polyamides, which are polymers linked by amide bonds. When it comes to 3D printing, Nylon is often considered an "advanced" resource as it requires certain skills and equipment to work with. For printing on a 3D printer, the material is taken in the form of a powder or thread.
Physical Properties of Nylon
Nylon is a popular choice in industrial 3D printing because of its durability and abrasion resistance. If the surface printed with Nylon is thin enough, it can show good flexibility while maintaining strength.
The compound's low coefficient of friction means it is well suited for making moving parts. Nylon is often used to create functional prototypes, hinges, gears and similar parts.
Chemical Properties of Nylon
In order to fully understand nylon 3D printing, it is important to consider other characteristics as well. The filament has a high melting point and is hygroscopic, that is, it absorbs moisture well. The latter property can be both an advantage and a disadvantage. The advantage is that the surface of the printed part lends itself well to coloring. Minus - the thread absorbs moisture from the air, which affects the printing process and the characteristics of the finished part.
The choice of technology
3D printing with nylon on a 3D printer has its own peculiarities - it can be implemented by the method of layer by layer deposition (FDM) using a nylon filament, by means of selective laser sintering (SLS) or by the method of multi-jet fusion (MJF) using a powder.
FDM
Using Nylon for 3D printing was an expensive procedure because MJF and SLS printers are expensive and FDM printers have become a cheap alternative. Today, you can use an FDM printer and a special nylon filament that is melted down and then extruded through a nozzle onto a build platform in layers until the part is complete. Although nylon 3D printing on FDM equipment is much more affordable than SLS or MJF, the quality of the printed object is not as impressive.
Also, not all FDM machines can work with nylon filament. It is important to have a quality (all-metal) hot end that can withstand temperatures above 250°C. Nylon is also prone to warping, so traction becomes a separate issue.
Nylon thread is available in various grades, the most common of which are PA 6 and PA 66. Both options have standard strength, abrasion resistance and low coefficient of friction, but have one significant drawback - high moisture absorption.
Anide (nylon-66) and nylon (nylon-6) fiber formula.
Photo: en.wikipedia.org
Storage and Nylon Printing
The hygroscopicity of the material may adversely affect the filament. The thread begins to lose its properties, decompose within a few hours. To prevent such a scenario, proper storage is of fundamental importance.
A simple plastic sealed container is a good solution when not using filament, but what about when printing? The ideal output is a moisture controlled storage unit that also feeds the filament to the extruder. If the material on the coil has absorbed a lot of moisture, then it can be dried in a special chamber or oven.
SLS
The selective laser sintering method uses a laser to sinter the powder layer by layer. Most of these 3D printers are focused on polymers.
One of the main materials used in this equipment is Nylon, specifically PA 11 and PA 12 nylon powders. There are also powdered versions of reinforced polyamide, known as nylon composites, which, in addition to Nylon, usually contain particles of glass, aluminum or carbon fiber.
Sinterit
Photo: Sinterit
characteristics:
| Category | Powder for SLS printing |
| Material type | Nylon 11 |
| Packaging | Plastic bottle |
| Color | Gray |
| Elongation at Break | 27% |
| Tensile Strength | 46 MPa / 50 MPa (primary powder) |
| Shore hardness D | 76 |
| Material refresh rate | 60 [%] - to reuse the remaining PA11 powder, add 60% FRESH powder |
| Designed for | Lisa Pro |
Photo: Sinterit
Characteristics:
| Category | Powder for SLS printing | |
| Material type | Polyamide 12 powder | |
| Packaging | Plastic bottle | |
| Granulation | 18 - 90 [µm] | |
| Color | Dark gray / anthracite | |
| Elongation at Break | 10% | |
| Tensile Strength | 32 [MPa] | |
| Softening point (Wick method, type A50 / B50) | 172/155 [°C] | 342/311 [°F] | |
| Thermal deflection temperature B 0. | 143[°C] | 289[°F] | |
| Hardness on Shore scale D | 74 | |
| Modulus of elasticity / Young E | 1029 [MPa] | 148 [thousand pounds / sq. Inch] | |
| Material refresh rate | 26 [%] - to reuse the remaining PA12 powder, add 26% FRESH powder. | |
| Designed for | Lisa Pro | 43 J / M * |
| Elongation at break | 8% * | |
| Heat deflection temperature | 177°C | |
| Flexible Force | 47 MPa * | |
| Maintained wall thickness | min. 0.5 mm | |
| Designed for | Sintratec S2 Sintratec KIT |
3D printer Sintratec S2 nylon
photo: Sintratec
Characteristics:
| Country | Switzerland |
| Power supply | 230 V | 11 A max. |
| Print material | nylon |
| Print Technology | SLS |
3D Printer Sintratec Kit
photo: Sintratec
Characteristics:
| Country | Switzerland |
| Maximum Printvolume | 110 x 110 x 110 mm |
| Recommended print volume | 90 x 90 x 90 mm |
| Laser Speed | 5-20 mm/s * |
| Layer height | 100 - 150 micrometer * |
| Temperature | 80 - 150 ° C * |
When completed, objects are completely surrounded by unspent powder, which serves as a support for printed models. SLS machines can reuse up to 50-70% of the remaining material for future print runs. In terms of rationality, this is an advantage over FDM, since any resource used as supports is usually not converted back into a thread for reuse. Nylon is excellent for making functional parts, and selective laser sintering technology helps create complex configurations.
The downside of this method is the cost. Industrial SLS printers sell for over $200,000. However, more affordable solutions have recently appeared on the market, such as the Fuse 1 desktop SLS machine from Formlabs, priced at about $10,000. You will have to pay at least $60 per kg for the powder.
MJF
Multi Jet Fusion is a unique powder sintering technique developed by Hewlett Packard. The technology is similar to the previous one, but also has something in common with the method of jet application of the binder.
MJF and SLS start the Nylon printing process in the same way. Before sintering begins, a layer of powder is spread onto the assembly platform. However, while with SLS the laser would start sintering, MJF introduces an additional step into the printing process in the form of adding chemical agents.
A chemical is sprayed on top of each fresh powder layer where future layers will sinter to help the substance absorb energy from the printer's heat source.
