Learn to 3D print Nylon like a professional. Nylon is a stronger and extra sturdy different to PLA or ABS and simple to 3D print with utilizing these Ideas and Methods.
Up to date on December 20, 2023
by
MatterHackers
Unlock the complete potential of your 3D printing initiatives with Nylon – the strong, versatile materials that outperforms conventional PLA and ABS in power and sturdiness. Supreme for creating purposeful components, instruments, and high-wear objects, Nylon’s distinctive properties make it a best choice for hobbyists and professionals alike. Embark in your Nylon printing journey geared up with our knowledgeable suggestions and methods, and watch your creations come to life with unmatched high quality.
Nylon filament is an extremely sturdy, sturdy and versatile 3D printing materials. Versatile when skinny, however with very excessive inter-layer adhesion, nylon lends itself properly to issues like dwelling hinges and different purposeful components. Its low friction coefficient and excessive melting temperature make it a wonderful alternative for quite a lot of on a regular basis objects akin to 3D printed instruments, gears, RC vehicles and extra.
Take a look at our suggestions beneath on the best way to efficiently 3D print with nylon filament.
Improve to the Proper Hotend
Earlier than diving into Nylon printing, guarantee your printer is provided with a hotend able to reaching at the very least 250°C. Normal PEEK and PTFE hotends will not minimize it, as they degrade at excessive temperatures. For a seamless expertise, think about upgrading to an all-metal hotend just like the E3D V6, which might safely deal with the warmth required for Nylon. If you happen to’re uncertain about compatibility, attain out to us or seek the advice of your printer’s producer.
Discover Hotend Upgrades HERE.
Select the Supreme Mattress Floor
Like with some other sort of filament, the mattress floor you select to print nylon on may be the make or break between warping and profitable 3D printing. For nylon, garolite sheets and glass plates are two construct surfaces we have seen produce probably the most constant profitable outcomes. With the addition of a PVA glue stick, each surfaces present the mattress adhesion essential to bind prints to the construct floor for a easy 3D printing expertise.
Our private favourite floor to make use of with nylon filament is LayerLock Garolite Construct Floor. Made out of fiberglass linen fabric laminated with epoxy resin, this floor has excessive stability over temperature so it simply withstands the 60°C advisable for profitable nylon mattress adhesion on a heated mattress. One other perk of utilizing a garolite floor is its sturdy adhesion high quality that lasts for 1000’s of prints with sandpaper. Utilizing a sheet of 220 grit sandpaper, evenly sand down the highest of the garolite to take away any blemishes and reveal a extra textured, even floor. This permits nylon to attain a greater grip on the mattress for a profitable flat first layer, resulting in a profitable nylon 3D print general for years to come back.
We belief within the success of garolite a lot that we provide it because the inventory mattress floor for our Pulse XE, the 3D printer designed to succeed with 3D printing nylon and nylon-based filaments (on prime of ordinary filaments). For optimum success, PVA glue and sandpaper are additionally included with LayerLock Garolite Construct Surfaces for extra adhesion and minimal upkeep for longevity. To study extra about printing on garolite, take a look at our “How To: 3D Print Nylon on Garolite Print Beds” article.
Nylon Filament Should Be Dried Earlier than Printing
Nylon filament is extremely hygroscopic, which means it readily absorbs water from the air. Nylon can soak up greater than 10% of its weight in water in lower than 24 hours which is why it’s best to not depart hygroscopic filaments sitting out within the open. If you 3D print with nylon filament that isn’t dry, the water within the filament explodes inflicting air bubbles throughout printing that forestalls good layer adhesion, drastically weakens the half and ruins the floor end. Little doubt about it; profitable 3D printing with nylon and nylon-based supplies require dry filament.
Dry nylon, then again, prints buttery easy and has a shiny end.
Desiccant helps maintain filaments dry, however packets of desiccant are nowhere close to sufficient to truly extract the moisture out of your 3D printing supplies. MatterHackers’ most well-liked instrument for drying Nylon is the PrintDry system. Simply place the spools within the PrintDry chamber, set the system to 75c, and depart to dry for 8-12 hours.
One other option to dry nylon filament is by inserting it in an oven at 160°F – 180°F for six to eight hours. Take into account that most all convection and family ovens don’t regulate their temperature properly at these decrease temperatures and might simply warp your spool or soften the plastic inflicting it to deform and even adhere the filament stands collectively.
After drying, both instantly print with it in a room that is not chilly or drafty or retailer it in an hermetic container with desiccant to make use of for later. If utilizing a system just like the PrintDry, you may depart the spool within the unit and print immediately from it, maintaining moisture at bay whereas on these lengthy prints. To study extra about desiccant in addition to some helpful 3D printing instruments, click on right here.
Dry 3D printed nylon on the left, moist 3D printed nylon on the appropriate
Whereas kitchen ovens are able to drying filament, we extremely advocate utilizing a PrintDry PRO Filament Drying System as a substitute. PrintDry is a secure, desktop-friendly machine engineered particularly for eradicating moisture from filaments. With its compact, transportable design, you may merely place the PrintDry PRO subsequent to your 3D printer and feed dry filament into it whereas it is printing. In case you are unable to feed the filament within the PrintDry PRO immediately into your printer, this filament drying system nonetheless works very properly for merely drying filament after which storing it in an air-tight container for later. To get the highest quality prints attainable, filament drying programs just like the PrintDry are a 3D printing accent we extremely advocate for constant success.
To study extra about the advantages of drying filaments, take a look at our article right here.
Nylon Can Warp
We have discovered 3D printing nylon can warp about as a lot as ABS.
When printing on glass or garolite, a heated mattress is required with nylon filament. A PVA primarily based glue stick utilized to the mattress is the very best technique of mattress adhesion. Elmer’s or Scotch everlasting glue sticks are cheap and simply discovered at an affordable worth.
We have discovered {that a} mattress heated to 75°C with a skinny layer of glue utilized in a cross-hatch sample works greatest for glass plates.
When printing on a garolite floor, a construct plate is required with nylon filament. Whether or not it is immediately on a heated mattress, a sheet of glass, PEI glass or a FlexPlate System, we advocate the garolite sheet be connected to some type of construct plate that is ready to switch warmth to this construct floor. Like printing on glass, a PVA primarily based glue stick utilized to the mattress may be useful with mattress adhesion for garolite construct surfaces. We advocate Elmer’s glue sticks for this floor. If extra adhesion is required, use 220g sandpaper to evenly sand all throughout the garolite for a textured, even floor that the print can seize onto.
For mattress temperature, we advocate wherever between 55°C – 65°C relying on what sort of brand name and nylon or nylon-based filament you are printing with. If it is NylonX, we advocate 60°C. If it is NylonG, we advocate 65°C.
Don’t use layer cooling followers and keep away from drafty or cool rooms for greatest outcomes. If you cannot keep away from inserting your printer in drafty or chilly rooms, think about both make shifting your personal printer enclosure or buying one of many 3D printer enclosure kits offered right here.
3D Printed Nylon Surfboard Fins Bolstered with Carbon Fiber utilizing the MarkForged 3D Printer
Really useful Nylon 3D Print Settings:
- Extruder Temp.: 240°C – 260°C
- Begin printing at 250°C and modify in increments of 5°C till you discover the appropriate temperature that produces a robust, sturdy print with a gorgeous ending floor
- The best temperature might range between nylon and nylon-based filaments
- The best temperature might range between manufacturers of nylon and nylon-based filaments
- Mattress Temp.: 55-65°C
- That is for garolite surfaces with PVA primarily based glue
- Mattress Temp.: 70-80°C
- That is for glass and different surfaces with PVA primarily based glue
- Pace: 30-60 mm/s
- 0.2 mm – 0.4 mm layer heights
- 0% Layer Cooling Fan
