Learn to 3D print Nylon like a professional. Nylon is a stronger and extra sturdy different to PLA or ABS and straightforward to 3D print with utilizing these Suggestions and Methods.
Up to date on November 14, 2022
by
MatterHackers
Everybody with a 3D printer is aware of PLA and ABS.
In case you’ve 3D printed with PLA, you in all probability know that whereas it’s pretty sturdy, it’s additionally very brittle. You possibly can’t depart components out within the solar or anyplace that the temperature will get above 100°F.
In case you’ve 3D printed with ABS, you already know it’s rather more sturdy than PLA, however 3D printed ABS components don’t have the energy of injection molded components, and infrequently aren’t sturdy sufficient for useful components.
Enter Nylon.
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 nicely to issues like residing hinges and different useful components. Its low friction coefficient and excessive melting temperature make it a wonderful alternative for a wide range of on a regular basis objects comparable to 3D printed instruments, gears, RC vehicles and extra.
Try our ideas under on the best way to efficiently 3D print with nylon filament.
Not All HotEnds Are Created Equal
Most 3D printers come commonplace with hotends that use PEEK and PTFE. Each PEEK and PTFE start to breakdown above 240°C and can burn and emit noxious fumes. When efficiently printing with nylon filament, you may desire a hotend that reaches temperatures of no less than 250°C. In case you aren’t certain in case your scorching finish is setup for 3D printing nylon, ship us an e mail or examine along with your printer producer and we will let you already know.
Most 3D printers can simply be upgraded with an all-metal scorching finish so as to print at temperatures above 240°C (extrusion temperature). We use the E3D V6 All Metallic HotEnd on our machines because of the all-metal design that enables temperatures to soundly attain as much as 300°C. They’re wonderful scorching ends that we extremely advocate. Earlier than changing your present printer’s hotend, be sure to print the right mount to connect the E3D V6 hotend to your 3D printer.
Mattress Floor Issues: Garolite, Glass and PVA Glue
Like with another sort of filament, the mattress floor you select to print nylon on might 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 material laminated with epoxy resin, this floor has excessive stability over temperature so it simply withstands the 60°C beneficial 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, flippantly sand down the highest of the garolite to take away any blemishes and reveal a extra textured, even floor. This enables 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 max success, PVA glue and sandpaper are additionally included with LayerLock Garolite Construct Surfaces for added 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, that means it readily absorbs water from the air. Nylon can take in 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. While you 3D print with nylon filament that isn’t dry, the water within the filament explodes inflicting air bubbles throughout printing that stops good layer adhesion, vastly weakens the half and ruins the floor end. Little question 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 really extract the moisture out of your 3D printing supplies. MatterHackers’ most popular 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 approach to dry nylon filament is by inserting it in an oven at 160°F – 180°F for six to eight hours. Understand that most all convection and family ovens don’t regulate their temperature nicely 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’ll be able to depart the spool within the unit and print instantly from it, preserving 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 proper
Whereas kitchen ovens are able to drying filament, we extremely advocate utilizing a PrintDry PRO Filament Drying System as an alternative. PrintDry is a secure, desktop-friendly machine engineered particularly for eradicating moisture from filaments. With its compact, transportable design, you’ll be able to merely place the PrintDry PRO subsequent to your 3D printer and feed dry filament into it whereas it is printing. If you’re unable to feed the filament within the PrintDry PRO instantly into your printer, this filament drying system nonetheless works very nicely for merely drying filament after which storing it in an air-tight container for later. To get the highest quality prints potential, filament drying techniques 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 inexpensive 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 instantly on a heated mattress, a sheet of glass, PEI glass or a FlexPlate System, we advocate the garolite sheet be hooked up 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 might 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 flippantly sand all throughout the garolite for a textured, even floor that the print can seize onto.
For mattress temperature, we advocate anyplace between 55°C – 65°C relying on what sort of 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, contemplate both make shifting your individual printer enclosure or buying one of many 3D printer enclosure kits offered right here.
3D Printed Nylon Surfboard Fins Strengthened with Carbon Fiber utilizing the MarkForged 3D Printer
Really helpful Nylon 3D Print Settings:
- Extruder Temp.: 240°C – 260°C
- Begin printing at 250°C and alter in increments of 5°C till you discover the proper temperature that produces a powerful, sturdy print with a fantastic ending floor
- The correct temperature might range between nylon and nylon-based filaments
- The correct 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
- Velocity: 30-60 mm/s
- 0.2 mm – 0.4 mm layer heights
- 0% Layer Cooling Fan
We hope this helps you succeed with 3D printing Nylon. You probably have any additional questions hop on our discussion board stuffed with useful posts and fellow makers working collectively in direction of a profitable 3D printing expertise.
If you’re searching for a machine that prints nylon proper out of the field, take a look at a number of the following printers under:
Completely satisfied Printing!
