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Nylon CNC Machining

Nylon is an engineering thermoplastic which has excellent mechanical properties and high chemical and abrasion resistance.

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Nylon CNC Machining

Polyamide, PA by short, is is an important engineering plastic with many excellent characteristics such as high strength, wear resistance, chemical resistance, good heat resistance, and cold resistance. Nylon is a trademark name originally developed and promoted by DuPont in the 1930s. “Nylon” and “PA” both refer to the same material.

PA6 and PA66 are two common polyamide grades.

PA6 is one of the most common polyamides with good strength, toughness, and wear resistance. It is often used to manufacture gears, bearings, automotive parts, fibers, and various plastic products.

PA66 is another common polyamide. It offers higher heat stability and rigidity compared to PA6. It finds wide applications in automotive parts, electrical components, electronic devices, and industrial parts.

Nylon Properties

Ultimate tensile strength Yield strength Young’s modulus (modulus of elasticity) Elongation at break Hardness UV resistance Application
Nylon 6 64.7 – 79.1 MPa 51.2 – 63.8 MPa 1.58 – 1.97 GPa 200-300 % 16.4-18.1 HV Fair Transportation Electronics & Electrical components Learn More
Nylon 6 Flame Retardant 82 MPa 3.8 GPa 3 % Aviation industry Railway vehicle construction Learn More
Nylon 6 30% Glass Filled 113 – 138.1 MPa 111 – 137 MPa 6.5 – 8.1 GPa 2.81 – 4.05 % 35.6 – 39.4 HV Fair Washers and stampings Cooling fans Wire connectors Industrial equipment Learn More
Nylon 6/6 30% Glass Filled 90 MPa 90 MPa 5 GPa 10 – 14 % Sleeve and slide bearings Wear pads Pulleys Learn More

Nylon CNC Machining Surface Finishes

Nylon CNC Machining Gallery

Cost-saving Design Tips

Nylon is a relatively inexpensive engineering plastic, however, to further save on machining costs, try the following:

1.Keep parts simple

To minimize machining set-ups and reduce the cost of the machine required (in other words, using a 3-axis machine versus a 4-axis or 5-axis machine), keep the geometry as simple as possible. A part with complex geometry may be a better candidate for 3D printing in Nylon 12 via SLS (selective laser sintering) or HP Multi Jet Fusion.

2.Keep parts consistent

Keep internal corner radii and tapped holes to consistent measurements to reduce the number of tool changes required by a manufacturer

FAQs

Nylon does not have metal in it. It is a strong, stiff engineering synthetic thermoplastic linear polyamide. Nylon is often used as a substitute for low-strength metals.

Two of the most notable use cases for Nylon CNC machining are in medical devices and electronics insulation, notably screws and spacers for panel mounted circuit boards.

Glass-filled Nylon boasts many great properties such as high rigidity, strength, hardness, toughness and dimensional stability. This material may be used in assemblies requiring mechanical damping or electrical insulation. Common applications include electrical housings, washers, medical devices and aerospace parts.

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