PA12 (Nylon 12): density, print temperature and when to choose it
PA12 (Nylon 12) is one of the most widely used engineering nylons in 3D printing (including powder-bed SLS printing), valued for good fatigue strength, wear resistance, and noticeably lower moisture absorption than PA6.
Key properties
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Density | ≈1.01 g/cm³ |
| Nozzle temperature | 250–270°C |
| Bed temperature | 70–90°C |
| Part cooling | minimal or off |
| Shrinkage | noticeable |
| Enclosure required | recommended |
When to use it
- Gears, hinges, wear-resistant moving joints — nylon is prized for fatigue strength under repeated flexing.
- Functional parts used in humid environments — PA12 absorbs less moisture than PA6.
- Replacing PA6 when dimensional stability during storage matters more than maximum tensile strength.
When to pick something else
- You need maximum strength/stiffness among nylons — PA6 and especially PA6-GF (glass fiber) score higher.
- A budget printer without a filament dryer — nylon, including PA12, is hygroscopic and needs proper storage/drying before printing, otherwise it bubbles and crackles coming out of the nozzle.
- The part doesn't need nylon-specific properties — PETG or ABS will be cheaper and easier to print.
Pros and cons
Pros: low moisture absorption relative to other nylons (easier to store), excellent fatigue strength and wear resistance, good chemical resistance to oils and fuel.
Cons: still requires drying before printing (just less critical than PA6); noticeable shrinkage/warping without an enclosure; poor adhesion to most beds without special coating (often printed on nylon-specific film/adhesive).
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Nylon costs more than base materials (PLA/PETG/ABS) and needs higher nozzle and bed temperatures — more energy per print cycle. If a spool was stored without an airtight bag/dryer, a drying cycle in a filament dryer (several hours at 60–80°C) may be needed before printing — budget that time and electricity separately rather than treating it as "free."