Nylon 3D Printing Service

3D printed nylon comes in many different forms, namely as a filament for FDM (fused deposition modeling) or as a powder for SLS (selective laser sintering) and MJF (HP Multi Jet Fusion) printing. 3D printing nylon creates parts with excellent properties but it’s important to understand that the type of 3D printing process will determine the final part capabilities. For example, FDM prints will have an anisotropic structure caused by the extruded layer lines. Even SLS-printed parts will have a level of anisotropy between layers. MJF parts tend to have isotropic properties, meaning the material will behave the same regardless of the direction of the load. However, with correct setups and part orientation, anisotropic effects can largely be negated and parts can benefit from the excellent properties of nylon.

Nylon is a high-performance engineering thermoplastic found in a wide range of industries. Its popular usage stems from its excellent abrasion resistance, high fatigue resistance, and high load-bearing capacity. Due to these properties, 3D printing in nylon is a great way to make lightweight industrial and medical implements that are just as capable as heavier metal ones.

Xometry’s custom nylon 3D printing service is offered in a wide range of nylon materials, including MJF nylon 11 EX, FDM nylon 12, SLS nylon 12, and many more.

MJF Nylon 11 EX

Nylon 11 EX for MJF-printed parts has good mechanical properties with excellent chemical resistance and low moisture absorption rates. It is resilient and can deform to a much larger extent than other nylons, making it ideal for snap-fit components.

MJF Nylon 12

This MJF nylon offers good dimensional stability and maintains its mechanical properties over a long period of time. Parts printed from this material can be watertight, making them ideal for electronic housings that need to prevent moisture ingress.

MJF Nylon 12 Glass Filled

The grade of MJF nylon 12 has glass beads included as a filler material. This increases the material’s overall stiffness and hardness and reduces its tendency to warp during printing. Its stiff nature makes it ideal for fixtures and tooling.

FDM Nylon 12

This resilient grade of FDM nylon is highly resistant to shocks and fatigue. It is ideal for tough applications that undergo multiple load/unload cycles or that experience a great deal of vibration.

SLS Nylon 12 (PA 2200)

Much like its MJF counterpart, this SLS nylon offers good dimensional stability and maintains its properties over a long period of time. It does have a higher level of anisotropy than MJF and this must be taken into account when designing parts using this material. The upside is that it exhibits greater tensile strength than MJF nylon 12 version.

SLS Nylon 12 Glass Filled

As with any glass-filled material this SLS nylon has improved stiffness and hardness. It has a higher tensile strength than MJF nylon glass-filled but will not deform much before breaking. It is also highly resistant to chemical reactions.

SLS Nylon 12 AF (PA 605-A)

This nylon for SLS printing has the unique property of being aluminum-filled and thus creates parts with a surface finish similar to cast aluminum, also gaining much of the metal’s excellent thermal conductivity. This makes it ideal for tooling, fixtures, or automotive components that get exposed to elevated temperatures.

SLS Nylon 12 CF (PA 602-CF)

This nylon for SLS printing uses carbon as its filler material. This has the benefit of stiffening the material and reducing overall part weight while also being highly resistant to warping at high temperatures. This makes it ideal for applications that demand low weight like sports equipment or racing components.

SLS Nylon 12 HST (PA 620-MF)

SLS nylon 12 HST (PA 620-MF) contains mineral fibers that increase stiffness and maintain a high strength rating while also allowing for high-temperature operations. This makes it ideal for tooling or aerospace applications.