Focused Materials. Superior Results. For Rapid Prototyping and End-Use Applications.
FDM:
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- PLA - High stiffness, good detail, affordable.
- ABS - Commodity plastic offers improved mechanical and thermal properties compared to PLA.
- PETG - Good for mechanical parts with high impact resistance and flexibility. Sterilizable.
SLS:
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- Nylon PA12 - Used to substitute functional injection moulded parts, good chemical and impact resistance, good under mechanical stress, stable in high temperature environments.
What is Nylon PA12 (SLS) good for?
SLS 3D printing with nylon PA 12 is great for a wide range of functional, end-use parts because of both the strengths of the SLS process and the material properties of PA12.
Core Strengths of PA12 (Nylon 12):
Mechanical Properties
• High strength-to-weight ratio
• Excellent impact resistance
• Durable under mechanical stress
Thermal Properties
• High heat deflection temp (~175°C dry, ~90°C wet)
• Stable in high-temp environments (not as good as glass- or carbon-filled variants, but good)
Chemical Properties
• Excellent chemical resistance to oils, greases, fuels, hydraulic fluids, and alkalines.
• Moisture resistance: Lower water absorption than PA6 or PA11 (but still slight dimensional change if saturated)
Wear and Friction
• Good abrasion and wear resistance, making it ideal for moving or interfacing components
UV and Weathering
• Moderate UV resistance — okay for short-term outdoor exposure, but may degrade over long term without coating
Applications Where PA12 Excels:
•Enclosures & housings for electronics, sensors, and rugged devices
•Brackets, mounts, and fixtures under stress or chemical exposure
•Manifolds and fluid routing components
•Medical tools and guides (biocompatibility possible with proper certification)
•Automotive under-hood components (resistant to heat and chemicals)
•Functional prototypes that mimic injection-molded parts
•Snap-fit components and hinges
•Wear parts like bushings, spacers, and sliders