Nylon PA12 Filament – Properties, Advantages & Applications in 3D Printing

Nylon PA12 filament is a high-performance engineering material known for its extreme toughness, low moisture absorption, and excellent chemical resistance. PA12 is one of the most reliable nylon materials for FDM 3D printing and is ideal for functional parts that must withstand high mechanical stress.

Important note: Nylon PA12 is highly hygroscopic and must be thoroughly dried before printing to avoid clogs and poor print quality.

Advantages of Nylon PA12 Filament

• Very high impact and break resistance
• High temperature resistance
• Excellent chemical resistance
• Low warping and good dimensional stability
• Very good layer adhesion for strong functional parts
• High abrasion resistance and self-lubricating effect

Printing & Material Characteristics

Compared to other nylon variants, PA12 is significantly easier to print, as it absorbs less moisture and tends to warp less. However, dry storage and potential drying before printing are essential to achieve optimal results.

Optimal Print Settings for Nylon PA12

• Printing temperature: 250–285 °C
• Heated bed: 60–90 °C
• Build chamber: enclosed recommended
• Cooling fan: 0–20% (for maximum layer adhesion)
• Speed: 30–60 mm/s

Tip: Nylon PA12 should be dried for 4–6 hours at around 70 °C before printing to prevent stringing, bubbling, and matte surfaces.

Typical Applications of Nylon PA12 Filament

• Mechanical functional parts with high load requirements
• Gears, bearings, guides & moving components
• Machinery parts, mounts & technical components
• Impact- and shock-absorbing components
• Parts exposed to chemical and thermal stress
• RC models, drones, automotive prototypes

Nylon PA12 vs. PA6 / PA66 – When Is PA12 the Better Choice?

Nylon PA12 is significantly more moisture-resistant and easier to print than PA6 or PA66. It is the ideal choice when:

• low warping and high dimensional accuracy are important,
• parts are exposed to high mechanical stress,
• chemical resistance is required,
• reliable layer adhesion is needed.

Further Information & Downloads

Nylon PA12 Printing Settings and Material Information

Datasheet for our Z3D Nylon PA12 Filament

Why Z3D Nylon PA12 Filament?

Our Z3D Nylon PA12 filament offers maximum durability, outstanding impact resistance, and excellent dimensional accuracy. It is the perfect choice for engineers, hobby makers, and professional applications where robust, long-lasting, and reliable functional components are required.