Nylon (PA): density, print temperature and when you need it
Nylon and PA (polyamide) are the same family of plastics: slicers and filament makers label it differently, but density and printing behavior match. It is one of the strongest and most wear-resistant FDM materials — and one of the most demanding to dial in.
Key properties
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Density | 1.13 g/cm³ |
| Nozzle temperature | 240–270°C |
| Bed temperature | 70–90°C |
| Part cooling | minimal or off |
| Shrinkage | significant — enclosure needed |
| Enclosure required | yes |
Nylon is the most hygroscopic of the mainstream filaments: it pulls moisture from the air in hours, not days. Without drying before (and often during) printing, layers crackle and bubbles appear.
When to use it
- Gears, bushings, plain bearings — nylon is famous for wear resistance and low friction.
- Parts under repeated flexing (snap fits, hinges) that must survive fatigue loads.
- Functional prototypes close in properties to injection-molded parts.
When to pick something else
- No filament dryer and no enclosed printer — printing nylon without them almost guarantees a failed part.
- PETG or ABS strength is enough — nylon costs more and is noticeably fussier to print.
- Turnaround time matters — filament drying and profile tuning stretch the job's lead time.
Pros and cons
Pros: the best wear resistance and fatigue strength among common FDM plastics, excels in friction joints.
Cons: highly hygroscopic — drying before printing is mandatory; needs an enclosure and a hot bed; significant shrinkage complicates large parts.
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How it affects your print cost
Beyond material and the energy for heating (nozzle up to 270°C, bed up to 90°C), nylon jobs should budget filament drying time — an extra step PLA/PETG don't have. At 1.13 g/cm³ its density is lower than PC (1.20) or PETG (1.27), so material consumption in grams per model volume is smaller than with those plastics.