Material performance: Nylon (PA), also known as polyamide, has a wide range of nylon materials. Common nylon materials include PA66, PA6, PA12, etc. It is an indispensable material in the injection molding industry. Similarly, nylon is one of the important materials for 3D printing. Nylon is a synthetic polymer, which is wear-resistant, high toughness, high strength and good heat resistance. These characteristics make nylon an ideal choice for various 3D printing applications. What are the advantages of 3D printing nylon material? Suitable for prototype and functional verification components, such as gears and tools, nylon can be reinforced with carbon fiber or glass fiber, so that lightweight components have excellent mechanical properties. Nylon has high rigidity and flexibility. When you print a thin product, your parts will be flexible, while when you print a thick wall, your parts will be rigid. This is very suitable for the production of movable hinges with rigid parts and flexible joints. Nylon printed parts have some graininess, no support, and almost no post-processing is required. Nylon 3D printing can be used to make moving and interlocking parts. This eliminates the need to assemble separate printed parts, and enables faster production of highly complex objects.

    Production process: Nylon and polyamide based composites are most suitable for powder bed 3D printing technology, laser sintering (SLS) and multi jet fusion (MJF). There are many different types in the market. There are also nylon materials used in FDM process. SLS selective laser sintering: more than 60% of 3D printing nylon powder materials are printed using SLS process, and nylon 11 (PA11) and nylon 12 (PA12) are the two most commonly used nylon materials. PA11 has good UV resistance and impact resistance, while PA12 has higher strength and stiffness. There are also various reinforced composite materials, such as glass fiber, carbon fiber reinforced nylon, which have better mechanical properties, just like the modification of plastic materials. MJF multi jet melting: For SLS and MJF 3D printing, the wall thickness of your nylon parts should be at least 1mm. When designing the movable hinge, ensure that the minimum wall thickness of SLS and MJF is 0.8 mm respectively. When nylon is used in the powder bed process, it is strongly recommended not to design large and flat parts because of the high possibility of warping. 

    Since nylon allows the creation of moving and interlocking parts, ensure that the spacing between parts printed together is at least 0.6-0.8mm. It is recommended to remove the nylon powder inside the parts, especially for parts with a wall thickness of more than 20mm. In order to save materials and avoid deformation, please ensure that at least two air vents are considered in the design so that the powder can be easily removed after printing. 

    Applications: 

    1.The automobile industry is engaged in the production of customized tools, clamps and fixtures, repeated clips, lathe guides, movable hinges and gears, and prototypes for interior trim panels, low heat intake components and antenna covers.

    2. There are also nylon parts in aerospace. For example, MetroAerospace recently introduced 3D printed glass filled nylon micro blades to reduce resistance. Through this 3D printing process, Metro Aerospace can ensure the consistency of its flight level components, which makes it easier to obtain FAA approval. 

    3. Nylon in the medical field can be used for prototyping, creating educational anatomical models, and producing medical end use components. BASF's Ultramid polyamide has recently been used to produce customized 3D printed prosthetic socket. Carbon fiber reinforced polyamide ensures that the prosthesis remains strong and lightweight. 

    4. The consumer goods industry is rapidly increasing the use of 3D printing and making full use of nylon. Nylon offers flexible choices in a variety of applications, from phone cases to customizable eyewear. The most recent case is Chanel's 3D printing eye black brush, which is made of polyamide powder using SLS technology.