Nylon (PA)

Nylon (polyamide, PA) is an engineering plastic with an excellent mix of strength, flexibility and wear resistance. It is used for gears, latches, hinges — parts that work under friction and bending. Nylon's main challenge is that it is extremely hygroscopic: it pulls moisture from the air within hours, after which it becomes nearly unprintable.

What it is good for

• Gears, rollers, bushings — low friction and wear
• Latches, hinges, living joints
• Tooling jigs and fixtures
• Parts under repeated load and bending

Where NOT to use it

• Tight-tolerance dimensional parts — nylon shrinks and warps
• Printing without drying — wet nylon will not print
• Decor and cosmetics — the surface is matte, not pristine
• Parts in constant contact with water without protection

How to print

• Nozzle temperature: 240–280 °C
• Bed temperature: 70–100 °C
• Cooling: 0–30% — strong cooling weakens layers
• Enclosure recommended: reduces warping, improves layer adhesion
• Adhesion: PVA/PVP glue, dedicated adhesive or Garolite; brim
• Speed: 30–60 mm/s

Drying and storage

Nylon is the champion of hygroscopy. Wet nylon foams, hisses, pops, and loses strength. Drying before every print is the norm.

• Drying: 70–80 °C for 8–12 hours (longer than other plastics)
• Print from the dryer: keep the spool in the dryer while printing
• Storage: only airtight with plenty of silica gel
• Signs of moisture: loud hissing and steam, bubbles, brittleness

Pros and cons

• Very strong and wear-resistant
• Tough, survives repeated loads
• Low friction — ideal for gears
• Chemical-resistant

• Extremely hygroscopic — drying mandatory
• Warps and shrinks heavily
• Tricky bed adhesion
• High print temperatures