Best Practices for 3D Printing with Nylon 12 and Nylon 12CF

Both FDM Nylon 12 and FDM Nylon 12CF are chemical resistant materials engineered use in Stratasys FDM printers, notably on the Fortus 450mc and F900 systems for functional prototypes, end-use parts, and tooling in demanding environments such as aerospace, automotive, and manufacturing. To achieve optimum part performance, it is important to follow best practices when 3D printing with nylon.

Nylon 12 bending bar

3D Printing with Nylon 12

FDM Nylon 12 is a great material that can be used in applications for repetitive snap fits, high-fatigue resistance, strong chemical resistance, and press fit inserts. The material exhibits 100% to 300% better elongation at break and has superior fatigue resistance over other additive manufacturing technologies.

Build Mode

When programming parts for printing, it is important to observe wall thickness for the following reasons:

• Due to some part geometry, specific build modes enable optimization of part quality and mechanical properties.
• Users can select a specific build mode in Insight while processing parts.
• After selecting the required build mode for your part, the software automatically adjusts the oven temperature to control the crystallization rate and reduce internal stresses.

Sacrificial Tower

When packing the parts on the build tray in the control center, it is important to use the sacrificial tower feature. The tower is set as the first part in the pack on the build tray. This results in any extra purge material being deposited on the tower rather than on other parts of the pack.

Moisture Control

All FDM material is sensitive to moisture before being 3D printed. When moisture has contaminated the material, it can affect the dimensional accuracy of the parts resulting in warping, bubbles, and delamination. Keeping the canisters sealed is imperative. Nylon build sheets are particularly susceptible to moisture.

Quick Tip: Keep an extra sheet under the build platform inside the oven. This keeps the sheets dry, making it easier to obtain vacuum.

Post-processing

When removing the build job from the 3D printer, only handle it by the build sheet. Do not touch parts while they are still at temperature. This maintains the integrity and dimensional accuracy of the part. To maximize its durability, Nylon 12 should be conditioned. Conditioning a part is simply the act of exposing it to moisture.

3D Printing with Nylon 12CF

FDM Nylon 12CF is a chopped carbon fiber-filled polyamide 12 material that is available for 3D printing on compatible Stratasys Fortus production systems. The material is 35% carbon-fiber by weight and has a high strength-to-weight ratio with a tensile strength on par with high-performance FDM material.

As with any printing material, there are some important things to note when 3D printing with Nylon 12CF that will help you get the most out of the material:

• Pre-Processing: Proper configuration of the modeler and modification of build parameters can dramatically impact the mechanical properties and build quality, in addition to standard STL processing procedures.
• Machine Preparation and Printing: The correct placement and orientation of the part on the build platen and machine maintenance considerations are critical to success when packing parts for a job using Control Center software.
• Post-Processing: To improve user experience and quality of the resulting parts, it is important to correctly remove a part from the build chamber and follow the proper support removal technique.

Conclusion

3D printing with nylon materials offers excellent strength, flexibility, and chemical resistance, making it ideal for functional prototypes and end-use parts. However, its crucial to follow best practices to fully leverage the benefits. Proper storage of the material to prevent moisture absorption, using a sacrificial tower, prepping the machine and post-processing will help reduce warping and produce high-quality, durable nylon parts.