Custom Nylon 3D Printing Services

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Custom Nylon 3D Printing Services

Nylon (PA6/PA12) is one of the most versatile engineering thermoplastics for industrial 3D printing. With exceptional chemical resistance, toughness, and flexibility, nylon parts perform where other materials fail — from factory floors to harsh chemical environments.

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Quick Specs
Print ProcessFDM
Density1.12 g/cm³
Tensile Strength70–85 MPa
Heat Deflection~180°C (PA6)
Chemical ResistanceExcellent
Impact ResistanceExcellent
UV ResistanceModerate
FlexibilityGood
Min. Lead Time5–7 days
Min. Order1 unit

Why Choose Nylon for Your Parts?

Nylon has been an industrial workhorse for decades — it's the same family of polymers used in automotive components, industrial bearings, cable ties, and food-grade containers. With 3D printing, you can now get custom nylon parts without tooling costs, making it ideal for low to mid-volume production, replacement parts, and rapid prototyping.

At Chatelet Manufacturing, we print nylon parts daily for clients replacing expensive machined components, hard-to-source replacement parts, and custom jigs and fixtures. Most clients see 50–75% cost savings compared to CNC machining the same part from nylon stock.

Advantages
  • Outstanding chemical resistance — oils, greases, fuels, solvents
  • Excellent impact toughness — won't shatter or crack under stress
  • High fatigue resistance — ideal for moving parts and hinges
  • Low friction coefficient — self-lubricating for sliding applications
  • Good temperature resistance up to 180°C (PA6)
  • FDA-compatible grades available for food contact
  • Lightweight — 8x lighter than steel, 3x lighter than aluminum
Considerations
  • Absorbs moisture — properties change slightly in humid environments
  • Moderate UV resistance — consider ASA for outdoor UV exposure
  • Requires controlled printing conditions for best results
  • Higher material cost than PLA/PETG (offset by performance)
  • Parts may warp if not printed with proper bed adhesion

Common Applications for 3D Printed Nylon

Our clients use nylon across a wide range of industries. Here are the most common applications we produce:

Replacement & Spare Parts
Discontinued or hard-to-source parts for machinery, equipment, and vehicles. We reverse engineer and print replacements in days, not months.
Chemical-Resistant Components
Fittings, spacers, housings, and brackets for environments with oil, grease, fuel, and chemical exposure. Nylon resists what most plastics can't.
Jigs, Fixtures & Tooling
Custom production aids for assembly lines and manufacturing cells. Print exactly what you need without waiting for machining lead times.
Bearings & Bushings
Self-lubricating nylon is ideal for low-friction applications like bushings, guides, rollers, and wear plates. No grease required.
Enclosures & Housings
Tough, impact-resistant enclosures for electronics, sensors, and industrial equipment. Custom designs with snap fits, bosses, and mounting points.
Functional Prototypes
Test your designs with production-grade material properties before committing to injection mold tooling. Iterate quickly and cheaply.

Nylon Variants We Offer

We stock multiple nylon formulations to match your specific requirements:

Material Best For Key Properties Temp Rating
Nylon PA6 / PA12 General industrial use Tough, chemical resistant, self-lubricating ~180°C
Nylon Carbon Fiber Structural, high-strength parts Extremely stiff, lightweight, dimensional stability ~145°C
Nylon Glass Fiber Stiff, heat-resistant parts High stiffness, thermal stability, abrasion resistant ~160°C

Not sure which nylon grade is right for your application? Upload your part file and we'll recommend the best material based on your operating environment, load requirements, and budget.

Nylon vs. Other Materials

Choosing between nylon and other materials? Here's how it compares:

Property Nylon PETG ABS Polycarbonate
Chemical Resistance Excellent Good Moderate Moderate
Impact Toughness Excellent Good Good Excellent
Temperature Up to 180°C ~80°C ~100°C ~130°C
Flexibility Good Low Low Low
Self-Lubricating Yes No No No
UV Resistance Moderate Moderate Poor Good
Cost Medium-High Low Low Medium
Best For Industrial, chemical, moving parts General purpose Prototyping High-impact clear

Frequently Asked Questions

Pricing depends on part size, complexity, and quantity. A small nylon part (under 50g) typically runs $8–25 for single units, with volume pricing dropping significantly — 100+ units can be as low as $5–12 per part. Use our instant quote tool to get an estimate in seconds by uploading your STL file.
FDM-printed nylon achieves approximately 70–85% of the strength of injection molded nylon, depending on print orientation and infill density. For many applications this is more than sufficient — and you save thousands in tooling costs. For parts requiring injection-mold-grade strength, we also offer injection molding services for higher volumes.
Standard turnaround for nylon parts is 1–2 weeks depending on quantity and complexity. For urgent needs, we can often expedite to 3–5 business days. We always have nylon filament in stock — no material lead time delays.
Nylon has moderate UV resistance and performs well in covered outdoor environments. For direct, prolonged UV exposure, we recommend ASA instead — it's specifically engineered for outdoor use with full UV stability. We can help you choose the right material for your application.
An STL or STEP file gives you the most accurate instant quote. But if you don't have a file yet, no problem — upload a sketch, drawing, or photo and our team will work with you on design and engineering. We offer full CAD design services to take your concept to a printable file.

Ready to Print in Nylon?

Upload your file and get an instant estimate, or reach out and we'll help you choose the right nylon grade for your application.

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