GLOSSARY
Nylon Filament
Nylon (polyamide, PA) is the tough, abrasion-resistant engineering filament. Strong functional parts — gears, bushings, hinges — but it is hygroscopic and warps without an enclosure.
Definition
Nylon comes in several grades for printing: PA6, PA12, and glass- or carbon-fiber-filled blends. It prints at 240–280°C with a hot bed and an enclosure. It is mechanically tough, slightly flexible, low-friction (good for gears and bushings), and chemically resistant.
The catch: nylon absorbs water from the air aggressively. A spool left out for a day will pop, sputter, and produce stringy, weak prints. Drying the filament before use — and printing from a sealed dry box — is mandatory.
Why it matters
Nylon is what you reach for when you need a part with real mechanical performance: gears that mesh smoothly, hinges that flex without cracking, brackets that take impact. Filled nylon — carbon fiber or glass fiber — adds stiffness and dimensional stability at the cost of nozzle wear.
Common confusion
Carbon-fiber nylon is not the same as continuous-fiber composite (Markforged). Filled filament has chopped fibers; the strength increase is real but modest. For aerospace-grade strength you need a different process entirely.
Bed adhesion for nylon is finicky. PEI works for some grades; others need a glue stick or a Garolite plate. Test on a small part before committing to a 12-hour print.