Everybody with a 3D printer is accustomed to PLA and ABS.
Should you’ve 3D printed with PLA, you most likely know that whereas it’s pretty sturdy, it’s additionally very brittle. You’ll be able to’t depart components out within the solar or wherever that the temperature will get above 100°F.
Should you’ve 3D printed with ABS, you understand it’s far 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 properly to issues like residing hinges and different useful components. Its low friction coefficient and excessive melting temperature make it a wonderful selection for a wide range of on a regular basis objects reminiscent of 3D printed instruments, gears, RC vehicles and extra.
Take a look at our suggestions under on the best way to efficiently 3D print with nylon filament.
Not All HotEnds Are Created Equal
Most 3D printers come normal 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 will desire a hotend that reaches temperatures of not less than 250°C. Should you aren’t positive in case your scorching finish is setup for 3D printing nylon, ship us an e-mail or examine together with your printer producer and we will let you understand.
Most 3D printers can simply be upgraded with an all-metal scorching finish to be able to print at temperatures above 240°C (extrusion temperature). We use the E3D V6 All Metallic HotEnd on our machines as a result of all-metal design that permits temperatures to securely attain as much as 300°C. They’re glorious scorching ends that we extremely suggest. Earlier than changing your present printer’s hotend, be certain 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 may 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 clean 3D printing expertise.
Our private favourite floor to make use of with nylon filament is LayerLock Garolite Construct Floor. Made out of fiberglass linen fabric 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, frivolously sand down the highest of the garolite to take away any blemishes and reveal a extra textured, even floor. This permits 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 return.
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 high of normal filaments). For optimum success, PVA glue and sandpaper are additionally included with LayerLock Garolite Construct Surfaces for added adhesion and minimal upkeep for longevity. To be taught 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 soak up 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. Once 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, drastically weakens the half and ruins the floor end. Little doubt about it; profitable 3D printing with nylon and nylon-based supplies require dry filament.
Dry nylon, then again, prints buttery clean and has a shiny end.
Desiccant helps preserve filaments dry, however packets of desiccant are nowhere close to sufficient to really extract the moisture out of your 3D printing supplies. One method to dry nylon filament is by putting it in an oven at 160°F – 180°F for six to eight hours. 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. To be taught 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 correct
Whereas kitchen ovens are able to drying filament, we extremely suggest utilizing a PrintDry PRO Filament Drying System as a substitute. PrintDry is a secure, desktop-friendly machine engineered particularly for eradicating moisture from filaments. With its compact, transportable design, you possibly can merely place the PrintDry PRO subsequent to your 3D printer and feed dry filament into it whereas it is printing. In case you are unable to feed the filament within the PrintDry PRO immediately into your printer, this filament drying system nonetheless works very properly for merely drying filament after which storing it in an air-tight container for later. To get the very best quality prints doable, filament drying methods just like the PrintDry are a 3D printing accent we extremely suggest for constant success.
To be taught 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 based mostly 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 value.
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 immediately on a heated mattress, a sheet of glass, PEI glass or a FlexPlate System, we suggest the garolite sheet be connected to some type of construct plate that is ready to switch warmth to this construct floor. Like printing on glass, a PVA based mostly glue stick utilized to the mattress may be useful with mattress adhesion for garolite construct surfaces. We suggest Elmer’s glue sticks for this floor. If extra adhesion is required, use 220g sandpaper to frivolously sand all throughout the garolite for a textured, even floor that the print can seize onto.
For mattress temperature, we suggest wherever between 55°C – 65°C relying on what sort of brand name and nylon or nylon-based filament you are printing with. If it is NylonX, we suggest 60°C. If it is NylonG, we suggest 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 putting your printer in drafty or chilly rooms, contemplate both make shifting your personal printer enclosure or buying one of many 3D printer enclosure kits offered right here.
3D Printed Nylon Surfboard Fins Bolstered with Carbon Fiber utilizing the MarkForged 3D Printer
Beneficial Nylon 3D Print Settings:
- Extruder Temp.: 240°C – 260°C
- Begin printing at 250°C and modify in increments of 5°C till you discover the correct temperature that produces a powerful, sturdy print with a lovely ending floor
- The best temperature might range between nylon and nylon-based filaments
- The best temperature might range between manufacturers of nylon and nylon-based filaments
- Mattress Temp.: 55-65°C
- That is for garolite surfaces with PVA based mostly glue
- Mattress Temp.: 70-80°C
- That is for glass and different surfaces with PVA based mostly 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. When you have any additional questions hop on our discussion board filled with useful posts and fellow makers working collectively in the direction of a profitable 3D printing expertise.
In case you are on the lookout for a machine that prints nylon proper out of the field, take a look at a few of the following printers under:
Pleased Printing!
