Nylon PA12

Nylon PA12 is one of the most versatile and widely appreciated materials in the world of industrial 3D printing. Thanks to its unique combination of mechanical properties and excellent technical performance, PA12 is suited for a wide range of applications that demand strength, flexibility, and precision. Perfect for both prototype production and final functional components, nylon PA12 is ideal for projects where reliability and durability are critical.

What is Nylon 12?

Nylon PA12, also known as polyamide 12, is a high-quality engineering plastic belonging to the polyamide family. Thanks to its chemical structure, PA12 offers excellent chemical resistance and exceptional dimensional stability, even under thermal and mechanical stress. These characteristics make it highly valued across industries such as automotive, aerospace, electronics, and industrial component manufacturing.

Production in PA12 with HP Multi Jet Fusion Technology

We manufacture your creations in PA12 using the HP Multi Jet Fusion (MJF) 3D printing technology, one of the most advanced techniques in additive manufacturing. With this technology, the parts are 100% solid, ensuring maximum strength and durability without the need for support structures during the printing process. This gives designers unparalleled design freedom, allowing the creation of complex geometries, intricate intersections, and finely detailed parts that would be challenging or impossible to achieve with traditional manufacturing methods. The combination of PA12's versatility and MJF’s capabilities results in high-quality, functional parts produced quickly, without compromising precision or strength.

Pro

Fast Production: Thanks to MJF technology, nylon PA12 allows the production of 1 to 10,000 pieces in just three days, making it ideal for the fast production of prototypes and finished products.

Strength and Durability: The combination of extraordinary strength and flexibility makes this material perfect for a wide range of industrial applications.

Excellent Chemical Resistance: Resistant to many oils, greases, hydrocarbons and solvents, nylon PA12 proves perfect for applications in areas such as the chemical industry, automotive or medical equipment manufacturing.

Dimensional Stability: Parts moulded retain their original shape and size even under stress or extreme environmental conditions, ensuring dimensional accuracy and consistency essential in many industries.

Cons

Thickness limitations: While nylon PA12 is ideal for many 3D printing projects, it has limitations when it comes to thicker parts or very massive components. This may require more careful design or the use of specialised printing techniques.

Parts with large flat surfaces can deform: During the 3D printing process, the material is heated and if different parts of the part cool at different speeds, this can generate internal tensions in the material. These tensions can cause parts of the part that cool faster to bend or warp, creating deformations especially with large flat surfaces. In order to avoid warping, post-production work or design adaptation may be required to ensure dimensional stability.

Applications of Nylon 12

Aerospace: Nylon PA12 is widely used in the aerospace industry for the production of lightweight but strong components, such as fairings and internal structural parts of aircraft.

Oil and gas industry: Due to its excellent chemical resistance, it is often used to make flexible piping and equipment components resistant to oil, gas and other corrosive fluids.

Automotive: In the automotive sector, nylon PA12 finds application in the production of interior and exterior parts of vehicles, such as engine components, linings and gaskets.

Sports and leisure: Due to its combination of strength and flexibility, it is used in the production of sports equipment, such as tennis rackets, gym equipment and bicycle parts.

Electronics: It is used as an insulating and protective material for cables, connectors and housings of electronic devices, due to its resistance to temperature and chemicals.

Fashion: Finally, it is widely used in the fashion industry, used for the production of strong and lightweight accessories such as belt buckles, glasses and shoe components.

Comparison with other materials

Resin: Resin is prized for its ability to create very precise details and for its smooth finish. However, nylon PA12 has superior strength and offers greater flexibility, making it more suitable for parts that must withstand high loads or wear.

ABS: ABS is a popular 3D printing material due to its strength and durability. However, nylon PA12 outperforms ABS in terms of abrasion resistance and chemical resistance. Furthermore, while ABS can be subject to warping during printing, nylon PA12 tends to offer better dimensional stability.

Why Choose Nylon PA12 for Your 3D Printing Projects?

Nylon PA12 is the ideal choice for those seeking a material that guarantees:

Durability: Resistant to wear and chemical agents, it is perfect for components that need to withstand repeated stress.

Dimensional Precision: With its low moisture absorption, it maintains dimensional stability even in challenging environmental conditions.

Flexibility in Applications: PA12 is suitable for both rapid prototyping and large-scale production of functional and industrial parts.

In conclusion, Nylon PA12 stands out for its combination of strength, durability, abrasion and chemical resistance, as well as its dimensional stability. Its mechanical properties make it an excellent choice for a wide range of 3D printing applications, from industrial uses to custom creations.

Choosing Nylon PA12 means opting for a material that combines strength, precision, and versatility. With Weerg, you can achieve high-quality 3D prints in PA12, thanks to advanced technologies and the expertise of our technicians, ensuring optimal results for every project.