Rev1 PA Nylon The Tough, Wear-Resistant Engineering Workhorse
The Tough, Wear-Resistant Engineering Workhorse
PA Nylon is the engineering plastic for parts that move, slide, and take a beating: outstanding toughness, wear resistance, low friction, and fatigue resistance for gears, bushings, living hinges, and functional end-use parts. It’s demanding to print — run it hot in an enclosure and keep it dry, because nylon is strongly hygroscopic. Available in 5 colors, on 1 kg and 3 kg spools. Full specifications →
Made-to-order, ships in 1–3 weeks from Michigan. Need a specific color, a 3 kg spool, or case pricing? Call (248) 707-2950.
Dimension-locked, vacuum-sealed, supported by humans.
Rev1 PA Nylon is precision-extruded 1.75 mm filament, wound evenly and vacuum-sealed with desiccant to keep this hygroscopic material dry, then made-to-order and supported from Auburn Hills, Michigan.
When the part has to move, slide, and survive.
PLA is easy but soft and brittle; PETG is tough but flexes. PA Nylon is the wear-resistant engineering plastic built for mechanical parts — outstanding toughness, low friction, and fatigue resistance for gears, bushings, living hinges, and snap-fits that take repeated stress without cracking. The trade-off is that nylon is demanding: it prints hot, wants an enclosure, and is strongly hygroscopic — give it a dry spool and Rev1 PA Nylon makes durable, load-bearing parts in 5 colors.
Even diameter and a clean wind for reliable runs.
Round, consistent 1.75 mm filament feeds smoothly so long, hot enclosed prints don’t fail.
Every Rev1 PA Nylon spool is wound evenly and held to a tight diameter, so it feeds without under-extrusion across a full 1 kg or 3 kg run. Vacuum-sealed with desiccant to arrive dry — critical for nylon, which absorbs moisture fast and must be printed dry.
Semi-flexible yet strong — survives repeated stress and impacts where PLA and PETG crack.
Stands up to sliding contact and abrasion — the classic choice for gears and bushings.
Naturally slippery surface makes it ideal for moving parts, bearings, and living hinges.
Black, Natural, White, Red, and Blue — made-to-order on 1 kg and 3 kg spools.
Print settings for strong, warp-free nylon.
PA Nylon rewards heat, patience, and a dry spool. High temperatures, an enclosure, and — above all — drying the filament first are what keep corners down, layers bonded, and parts strong.
Nylon runs hot for strong layer adhesion; a 0.4 mm hardened or brass nozzle is fine.
A hot bed plus glue or an adhesive sheet prevents the corners from lifting.
Nylon is strongly hygroscopic — dry it before printing and keep it sealed. The #1 nylon gotcha.
An enclosure holds chamber heat and blocks drafts — the key fix for warping and cracking.
Recommended slicer settings
A solid starting profile for Rev1 PA Nylon on an enclosed FDM printer. Dry the filament first, then tune cooling and chamber temperature for your machine.
| Setting | Recommended | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Nozzle temperature | 250–270 °C | Run hot for strong layer bonding on tough, load-bearing parts. |
| Bed temperature | 70–90 °C | Glue stick or an adhesive sheet on glass/PEI for a strong first layer. |
| Chamber / enclosure | Warm, draft-free | An enclosure is recommended — nylon warps as it cools unevenly. |
| Print speed | 30–60 mm/s | Moderate speeds help interlayer strength. |
| Part cooling fan | 0–20 % | Keep cooling low — too much fan weakens layer bonding. |
| Retraction | 1–5 mm | Direct drive: ~1–2 mm. Tune to control stringing. |
| Nozzle size | 0.4 mm + | Larger nozzles add strength on functional parts. |
| Drying | 70–90 °C · 8–12 h | Required — nylon is strongly hygroscopic and must be dried before every print. |
| Post-processing | Sand / anneal | Optional annealing can boost strength and dimensional stability. |
Parts that move, wear, and take stress.
The workhorse behind functional, mechanical parts.
PA Nylon trades PLA’s easy printing for real engineering performance: outstanding toughness, wear resistance, low friction, and fatigue resistance. Made-to-order in 5 colors, on 1 kg and 3 kg spools, shipped from Michigan.
Gears that mesh, slide, and keep running.
Low friction and fatigue resistance for parts that turn under load.
Nylon’s slippery, wear-resistant surface makes it the classic choice for gears, worm drives, and moving mechanisms — it takes repeated contact where PLA strips and PETG wears out.
Drag chains that flex without failing.
Semi-flexible, fatigue-resistant carriers for moving cable runs.
Cable drag chains flex constantly under load — exactly the repeated-stress duty nylon is built for. It bends thousands of cycles without cracking, unlike rigid, brittle plastics.
Shop-floor jigs and fixtures that last.
Tough, wear-resistant tooling that stands up to repeated use.
Print the fixtures, jigs, and assembly aids your line needs — nylon shrugs off clamping, impacts, and abrasion through cycle after cycle without wearing down.
Bushings and bearings that run smooth.
A naturally low-friction surface built for sliding contact.
One of nylon’s superpowers: it slides. Bushings, bearing blocks, and slides made from PA run smoothly and resist the wear that eats away at other printed plastics.
Living hinges and snap-fits that keep flexing.
Semi-flexible yet strong — the ideal material for parts that bend and click.
Nylon’s toughness and fatigue resistance make it the go-to for living hinges, snap-fit enclosures, and clips that flex over and over without snapping. Natural takes custom dye beautifully.
From prototype to a part that ships.
Tough enough for real-world, load-bearing components.
Pulleys, brackets, and functional end-use parts — nylon bridges prototyping and production with the toughness and wear resistance to go into service. Ask us about 3 kg spools and case pricing.
PA Nylon vs. ABS vs. PETG.
Pick by what the part has to survive. PA Nylon wins on toughness, wear, and fatigue resistance; ABS and PETG are easier to print. Nylon asks for drying and heat in return for mechanical performance.
| Rev1 PA Nylon | ABS | PETG | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toughness | Highest, fatigue-resistant | Rigid, impact-tough | Tough, some flex |
| Wear & friction | Excellent, low-friction | Moderate | Moderate |
| Ease of printing | Demanding — hot, dry, enclosed | Needs enclosure | Easy |
| Moisture sensitivity | High — must be dried | Low | Medium |
| Enclosure | Recommended | Recommended | Not needed |
| Best for | Gears / wear / functional | Heat / rigid parts | Outdoor / everyday |
General material guidance; exact performance depends on part geometry, print settings, and grade. For maximum heat and strength, consider PC; for UV and outdoor exposure, consider ASA.
Rev1 PA Nylon Technical Data
Mechanical & thermal properties
Typical values for engineering reference. Printed-part performance varies with wall count, infill, layer height, orientation, and moisture — treat these as material-level guidance, not a part spec.
| Property | Typical Value | Method |
|---|---|---|
| Tensile strength | ~50 MPa | ISO 527 |
| Elongation at break | ~40 % | ISO 527 |
| Flexural strength | ~55 MPa | ISO 178 |
| Flexural modulus | ~1,300 MPa | ISO 178 |
| Izod impact (notched) | ~7 kJ/m² | ISO 180 |
| Melting point (Tm) | ~220 °C | DSC |
| Heat deflection (HDT, 0.45 MPa) | ~90 °C | ISO 75 |
| Shelf life (sealed, dry) | 12 months | — |
Specs, profiles, and a human to call.
Your trusted materials partner.
Every spool is checked for tight diameter tolerance and reliable, repeatable printing.
Call (248) 707-2950 and reach people who actually print and support these materials.
Case quantities and standing orders across the full color range.
FAQ
Rev1 PA Nylon — Common Questions
Do I really have to dry nylon before printing?
Yes — this is the #1 nylon gotcha. PA Nylon is strongly hygroscopic and absorbs moisture from the air fast. Printing wet nylon causes popping, stringing, foaming, and weak, ugly parts. Dry it at 70–90 °C for 8–12 hours before printing and keep it sealed with desiccant. We ship every spool vacuum-sealed and dry.
What is PA Nylon best used for?
It’s the tough, wear-resistant workhorse for functional, mechanical parts: gears, bushings and bearings, living hinges, cable drag chains, snap-fits, tooling and jigs, brackets, and durable functional prototypes. Its low friction and fatigue resistance make it ideal anywhere parts slide, flex, or take repeated stress.
Do I need an enclosure to print nylon?
An enclosure is recommended. Nylon prints hot (250–270 °C nozzle, 70–90 °C bed) and warps as it cools unevenly, so a warm, draft-free chamber helps large or flat parts stay stuck and crack-free. Keep part cooling low, and use glue or an adhesive sheet for first-layer grip.
Why is PA Nylon so tough and wear-resistant?
Nylon is semi-flexible yet strong, so it absorbs impacts and survives repeated stress that would crack rigid plastics. Its naturally low-friction surface resists abrasion and sliding wear — the reason it’s the classic choice for gears, bushings, and moving parts. It’s also chemically resistant.
PA Nylon vs ABS vs PETG — which should I use?
Choose PA Nylon when the part has to slide, flex, or endure wear and fatigue — it’s tougher and more wear-resistant than ABS or PETG. ABS and PETG are easier to print. For simple, easy prints, PLA or PETG are better picks; nylon is overkill.
When should I choose PC or ASA instead?
For maximum heat resistance and rigidity, step up to PC (polycarbonate). For UV stability and outdoor exposure, use ASA. PA Nylon is the pick when toughness, wear resistance, and low friction matter most — not when you need the highest heat or sunlight resistance.
Does nylon absorb moisture after it’s printed?
Yes — nylon continues to absorb moisture over time, and parts can swell slightly and change dimensionally as they take on humidity. For tight-tolerance parts, account for this, and store both filament and finished parts dry when precision matters.
What colors and sizes are available, and how fast does it ship?
5 colors — Black, Natural, White, Red, and Blue — on 1 kg and 3 kg spools at $36.99 per 1 kg spool. All colors are made-to-order and ship in 1–3 weeks from Michigan. Pick your color and spool size in the buy-box, or call (248) 707-2950 for case quantities.