Which nylon 3D printing material suits your part?

Choose PA12 for almost any tough, working nylon part: we print it by selective laser sintering (SLS) in grey, black or white, and by Multi Jet Fusion (MJF) in black. Pick a glass-filled PA12 when the part must be stiffer, and the black PA11-like grade (SLS only) when it must take knocks and flex without cracking.

Nylon 3D printing materials at a glance: four grades compared

Every grade prints in layers 0.1 to 0.12 mm thick, with no supports. The largest part in one piece is 670 x 360 x 550 mm; for a big part, tell us the size and we confirm the grade.

Lead times for a normal-size part (about 10 to 15 cm across) are a rough guide: 8 to 12 working days by SLS and 12 to 15 by MJF. Bigger parts and batches take longer, so check with us.

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PA12: the right nylon for most parts

PA12 is the all-round nylon for parts that have to work. It is tough and has a little flex, so clips snap, hinges bend and thin walls survive being handled. Because the loose powder holds each part up as it prints, a whole batch can be packed into one build, which is why PA12 suits runs of small parts.

It also copes well with Singapore’s humidity. PA12 takes up about 0.5% of its weight in water in normal room air and about 1.3% in very humid air, which is low for a nylon (a published PA12 powder data sheet, not our own test), so parts keep their size and stiffness.

See our SLS nylon printing page for how the parts are made and finished.

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Glass-filled PA12: stiffer, but less forgiving

Glass mixed into the powder makes the nylon stiffer, so the part bends less under load. There are two versions:

• PA12 with 30% glass fibre (SLS): for brackets, mounts and housings that must not flex. It comes in white, or dyed black.
• PA12 with glass beads (MJF): for parts that must hold their shape under a steady load. It comes in black.

The trade-off is that glass-filled nylon breaks after less bending. A clip, snap fit or living hinge needs to flex, so keep those in plain PA12 or the PA11-like grade.

Need a stiffer grade? Tell us how the part is loaded

PA11-like: tougher and more flexible, in black

Our PA11-like grade bends further before it breaks than PA12, so it suits parts that get dropped, knocked or flexed over and over: covers, clips, straps and protective parts. We print it by SLS, in black only.

If your drawing calls for PA11 itself, tell us before you order and we confirm whether this grade meets it.

Part that takes knocks? Ask us about PA11-like

SLS or MJF: the same PA12, a little smoother on MJF

Both processes print PA12 with no supports, and the parts behave much the same. MJF comes out a little smoother, but not by much, so the choice usually comes down to the price for your part, the colour and the grade. SLS offers more colours and grades; MJF is black PA12 or PA12 glass bead. Our guide to SLS vs MJF compares them in full.

See our MJF nylon printing service

Colour: grey, black or white, or painted over a primer

Nylon powder takes colour three ways:

• As printed: SLS PA12 in grey, black or white (check with us for more). MJF and the PA11-like grade are black.
• Dyed: MJF parts can be dyed another colour on request.
• Painted: for an exact colour on any grade, we prime the part, then spray it.

Need a colour or finish? Tell us where the part will be used

When nylon powder is not the answer: filament or metal

Nylon powder is not always the best fit:

• A one-off part loaded mostly one way: a carbon-fibre filament can be stiffer and cost less. See carbon fibre and engineering filaments.
• Real heat, load or wear: printed metal. See which metal to 3D print.
• Still choosing between filament, resin, nylon and metal: our 3D printing materials guide compares them all.

Before you send the file, our guide to nylon problems you can fix in the model covers wall thickness, escape holes and gaps.

Upload your file and compare the materials for your part