Printing nylon, PA11 and other engineering materials: a practical guide

Engineering materials start where PLA and PETG stop: parts near engines, gears, living hinges, production jigs, or anything that has to survive oil and temperatures above 100 °C. In our Prague workshop we print them on enclosed Bambu Lab X1C / P1S and Prusa CORE One machines. Here is what works in practice.

Why nylon (polyamide)

Nylon is tough, low-friction and resistant to fatigue and chemicals. Under overload it bends instead of snapping like PLA. That makes it a fit for bushings, pulleys, gears, latches and flexible joints. The catch: it is strongly hygroscopic and absorbs moisture from the air within hours.

PA6 vs PA12 vs PA11

1. PA6 / PA66 — the strongest and stiffest, but absorbs the most moisture and warps the most. Best used with carbon or glass fibre fill.
2. PA12 — lower moisture uptake, more dimensionally stable, easier to print. A good choice for functional parts in normal environments.
3. PA11 — made from castor oil (bio-based), with the highest toughness and impact resistance of the common nylons and low moisture uptake. Ideal for snap-fits, hinges and parts that must survive drops or vibration.

Filled grades: PA-CF, PA-GF, PAHT-CF

Carbon (CF) or glass (GF) fibres greatly increase stiffness and reduce warping. PAHT-CF (high-temperature nylon) withstands over 150 °C long-term. The price: they are abrasive — a standard brass nozzle is ruined within a few hundred grams. Use hardened steel, tungsten carbide or a ruby nozzle (the Bambu Lab X1C ships with a hardened nozzle; P1S and Prusa need a swap).

Other engineering materials

1. PC (polycarbonate) — heat resistance around 110–120 °C, transparency, high impact strength. Needs a heated chamber and 260–300 °C.
2. ASA — UV-stable ABS replacement for outdoor parts.
3. PPS / PPS-CF — almost chemically inert, resistant above 200 °C. An industrial speciality printed at 300–320 °C.
4. PET-CF / PETG-CF — the compromise: easier than nylon, excellent dimensional stability.

Drying — the most important step

Wet nylon pops, foams, shows bubbles and has weak layer adhesion. Dry PA for 6–12 hours at 70–90 °C (check the manufacturer) and print straight from the dryer or a sealed box with desiccant. The Bambu AMS is not ideal for nylon — watch the humidity inside.

Recommended settings

1. Nozzle: PA12/PA11 250–280 °C, PA-CF 270–300 °C, PC 260–300 °C.
2. Bed: 80–100 °C, Garolite or textured PEI with a thin glue layer.
3. Chamber: enclosed, ideally 40–60 °C. Large PA6 parts warp on open printers.
4. Cooling: minimal (0–30 %), otherwise layer bonding suffers.
5. Speed: slower than PLA — 50–150 mm/s depending on material.

Which printer

Bambu Lab X1C and H2D handle PA-CF and PAHT-CF practically out of the box. P1S after a hardened nozzle swap. Prusa CORE One with its enclosed chamber, and MK4S with an enclosure and hardened nozzle. Open printers like the Creality Ender are only recommended for small PA12 parts.

After printing: annealing

Nylon and PC parts can be annealed (e.g. 2–4 hours at 80–100 °C) to relieve stress and increase stiffness. Expect a slight dimensional change and compensate in the model for precise parts.

Need a functional part in nylon, PA11 or PA-CF? We print engineering materials to order in Prague — send your STL/STEP via the inquiry form and get a quote with a material recommendation within 24 hours.