Nylon is 3D printable and able to create strong and durable products, making it popular in 3D Printing. Nylon is the common name of polyamide and comes in a few variants. For SLS and MJF, PA11 and PA12 are commonly used is these two technologies. For filament-based printing, like FDM, PA6 and PA66 are popular by their accessibility and lower cost. But nylon filaments include PA6 and PA66 suffer higher moisture absorption which mean material storage is critical. In this article, the best nylon filaments are recommended. Let's get started!

Image Source: MatterHackers

Part 1. Printing and Storage Tips

It is a challenge to print with nylon filament as it needs high temperature to melt, while storage is also a problem. Before printing, keep in mind that checking the recommended settings from the printer and material manufacturers, which is an important step towards successful printing. And here are some general tips for printing nylon filaments:

Nozzle temperature: 240-290 °C

Bed temperature: Up to 65 °C

Bed surface: PVA glue stick, Magigoo, Garolite, 3DLac

Print speed: 25-50 mm/s

Fan speed: 0-50%

Enclosure: Recommended, but not necessary

As mentioned above, material storage for nylon filament is fundamental for successful printing, for one major reason that it will cause degradation if printing nylon after suffering moisture absorption. Final part quality and strength may not meet the requirements. To avoid such issue, it is necessary to store the nylon filament in a dry environment. Recommendation is that the entire printing process should be taken place in a humidity-controlled container. A dry box with a filament feed hole or a humidity-controlled spool holder would be helpful.

After knowing these basics of nylon filament printing, let's move forward to the best nylon filament brands!

Image Source: 3dprinting.com

1. MatterHackers PRO Series Nylon

MatterHackers PRO Series Nylon 3D Printing filament is a versatile material with mechanical stability, low coefficient of friction, and natural chemical resistance, which is high suitable for printing parts with high strength and durability. The material is popular in engineers, designers, and manufacturers, for another major reason is that PRP Series Nylon has a wide range of color options, such as green, yellow, red, blue, orange, etc. Whereas many nylon filaments only come in black and grey. Besides, MatterHackers also offers nylon filament composites, carbon nylon filament, for instance. If you are looking for high quality, well-priced, and colorful nylon filaments, MatterHackers suits your needs.

Nozzle Temperatures: 230-250°C

Bed Temperature: 55-65°C

Bed surface: PVA glue stick

Diameters: 275m (1.75mm) or 100m (2.85mm)

Price: ~$62 for a 750-g spool (~$55 for a 500-g spool of the carbon fiber variant)

Colors: Black, White, Green, Gray, Blue, Red, Orange

Image Source: MatterHackers

2. ColorFabb PA NEAT

ColorFabb PA NEAT is a nylon 3D printer filament features excellent mechanical properties, high toughness and low-warp. It is a professional material to create durable prints as it is barely warp. Keep in mind that the filament is tend to absorb moisture when it is exposed in the air, drying is recommended before and the advised temperature is at 70-80C for 4-6 hours. Besides, please noted that as the 2.85mm filament is with high stiffness, the recommendation is to use a spool mount with some friction between the spool and holder to prevent unspooling.

Nozzle Temperatures: 265-290°C

Bed Temperature: Up to 50°C

Bed surface: 3DLac

Diameters: 1.75mm or 2.85mm

Price: ~$59.96 for a 750-g spool

Colors: Black

Image Source: ColorFabb

3. ColorFabb PA-CF LOW WARP

Carbon fiber nylon delivers high stiffness and tensile strength which is suitable for making strong parts. ColorFabb PA-CF LOW WARP is the nylon filament assembles PA NEAT, while adding carbon fiber nylon to the material. It enables users to print functional parts as it is warp-free. Similar as PA NEAT, as the 2.85mm filament is with high stiffness, the recommendation is to use a spool mount with some friction between the spool and holder to prevent unspooling.

Nozzle Temperatures: 260-280°C

Bed Temperature: Up to 50°C

Bed surface: 3DLac

Diameters: 1.75mm or 2.85mm

Price: ~$63.95 for a 700-g spool

Colors: Black

Image Source: ColorFabb

4. Ultimaker Nylon

Printing nylon would be a challenge, but Ultimaker makes it easier. Ultimaker Nylon a polyamide grade based on PA6/66, featuring low humidity absorption and long shelf life. Besides, the manufacturer states that advantages of the material include impact and abrasion resistant, low friction coefficient, corrosion resistant to alkalis and organic chemicals, etc. Ultimaker Nylon enables users to 3D Printing tools, functional prototypes, and end-use parts. Moreover, the material benefits Ultimaker printer and Cura users a lot because of its compatibility and reliability. If you own a Ultimaker printer, printing exceptionally durable nylon part is feasible.

Nozzle temperature: 230-260 °C

Bed temperature: 60-70 °C

Bed surface: PVA glue stick, Magigoo PA

Diameter: 2.85 mm

Price: ~$70 for a 750-g spool

Colors: Black, Transparent

Image Source: Ultimaker

5. Overture Nylon Filament

If you are 3D Printing beginners and searching for nylon filaments with affordable price, recommendation is Overture Nylon Filament. The material delivers excellent strength, toughness and heat resistance, while it is odorless and warping free. Making high quality prints with Overture Nylon Filament would be an easy task if protect the material from moisture properly before printing. Overture guarantees dimensional accuracy and consistency of the nylon through advanced CCD diameter measuring and self-adaptive control system. However, the material needs to be handled with care because it is a little brittle. And keep in mind that using a wear-resistant nozzle ensures successful printing.

Nozzle temperature: 250-270 °C

Bed temperature: 25-50 °C

Bed surface: PVA glue stick

Diameters: 1.75 mm ±0.05

Price: ∼$30.99 for a 1-kg spool

Colors: Black, Grey

Image Source: Overture

6. Polymaker PolyMide™ CoPA

Polymaker PolyMide CoPA represents outstanding mechanical thermal properties which is designed with printability and performance. Featuring zero-warp, excellent strength and toughness, the material is being able to print functional parts with high quality. Besides, heat resistance of the material is up to 180˚C, which means it will not easily deform. However, same as other nylon filaments, Polymaker PolyMide CoPA needs to be kept in dry environment and avoid moisture absorption.

Nozzle temperature: 250-270 °C

Bed temperature: 25-50 °C

Bed surface: PVA glue stick

Diameters: 1.75 mm, 2.85 mm

Price: ~$49.99 for a 750-g spool

Colors: Black, Natural

Image Source: Polymaker

Part 3. Online 3D Printing Services at Wenext

Wenext provides dedicated 3D Printing services for making nylon parts, including SLS and MJF, which delivers high strength, good toughness, and end-use quality. If you are looking for printing nylon products, but you don't own a 3D printer, wenext offers online 3D Printing services with various material choices, such as PP GB, PP GB, SLS White Nylon, SLS Black Nylon, SLS FS3400GB fiberglass, and HP PA12. Moreover, a wide range of post-processing options, including blasting, tapping, threading, dyeing, etc. Please feel free to try instant quoting or contact us at hello@wenext.com if you are interested.