{"id":3779,"date":"2022-08-09T20:37:43","date_gmt":"2022-08-09T20:37:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.unionfab.com\/?p=2368"},"modified":"2024-10-17T16:48:14","modified_gmt":"2024-10-17T16:48:14","slug":"nylon-12-for-sls-3d-printing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.unionfab.com\/fr\/nylon-12-for-sls-3d-printing\/","title":{"rendered":"Nylon 12 for SLS 3D Printing: Benefits and Applications"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>This article explores the properties, benefits, and uses of Nylon 12 in Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) 3D printing.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"5dad584e-9db9-4e31-a416-22a7e3f4db23\" data-toc-id=\"5dad584e-9db9-4e31-a416-22a7e3f4db23\">Introduction<\/h2>\n<h3 id=\"a1ef172b-e2c4-428e-b748-ce2db139a5d7\" data-toc-id=\"a1ef172b-e2c4-428e-b748-ce2db139a5d7\">SLS 3D Printing<\/h3>\n<p>SLS (Selective Laser Sintering) uses a laser to melt powder into solid objects layer by layer.<\/p>\n<p>Unlike other 3D printing methods, it requires no support structures.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"aac99657-374a-4bb7-876c-cb5865709c97\" data-toc-id=\"aac99657-374a-4bb7-876c-cb5865709c97\">Nylon 12<\/h3>\n<p>Nylon 12 is a robust and flexible plastic ideal for SLS 3D printing. It has good chemical, heat, and wear resistance, giving it versatility across many applications.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"089fffdd-9e9d-42c2-ba76-82d478ef5df6\" data-toc-id=\"089fffdd-9e9d-42c2-ba76-82d478ef5df6\">What is Nylon 12?<\/h2>\n<h3 id=\"101d8665-2a69-4231-add5-ca9f9ef12b8f\" data-toc-id=\"101d8665-2a69-4231-add5-ca9f9ef12b8f\">Chemical Composition and Properties<\/h3>\n<p>Nylon 12, also called polyamide 12 (PA12), is a long chain polymer made of repeating units of laurolactam molecules.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ufc-dtc-cms.oss-accelerate.aliyuncs.com\/blog\/20220809\/154802_haiizslva.png\" alt=\"\" title=\"\" style=\"width: 500px; display: block; margin: 0 auto;\" caption=\"Hongthong, S.; Leese, H.S.; Allen, M.J.; Chuck, C.J. Assessing the Conversion of Various Nylon Polymers in the Hydrothermal Liquefaction of Macroalgae.&nbsp;Environments&nbsp;2021,&nbsp;8, 34. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/environments8040034\" url=\"\" onclick=\"\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Hongthong, S.; Leese, H.S.; Allen, M.J.; Chuck, C.J. Assessing the Conversion of Various Nylon Polymers in the Hydrothermal Liquefaction of Macroalgae.&nbsp;Environments&nbsp;2021,&nbsp;8, 34. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/environments8040034<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Its chemical formula is [(CH2)11C(O)NH]n. This structure gives Nylon 12 several distinctive properties:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<p><strong>Low Density:<\/strong> Due to its long hydrocarbon chain, Nylon 12 has a lower density than other nylon types.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><strong>High Flexibility:<\/strong> Its molecular structure allows for greater chain movement, increasing flexibility.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><strong>Excellent Impact Resistance:<\/strong> Nylon 12 can withstand high-impact forces without breaking.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><strong>Good Chemical Resistance:<\/strong> It is resistant to various chemicals, oils, and fuels.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><strong>Low Moisture Absorption:<\/strong> Unlike other nylons, Nylon 12 absorbs very little water, maintaining dimensional stability.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"5c3047b9-c51d-4404-94ba-6a23c99ea00c\" data-toc-id=\"5c3047b9-c51d-4404-94ba-6a23c99ea00c\">Unionfab\u2019s High-Performance Nylon 12 for SLS Printing<\/h2>\n<p>Unionfab offers a range of high-performance Nylon 12 materials designed to meet various needs in SLS 3D printing.<\/p>\n<table style=\"min-width: 100px\">\n<colgroup>\n<col>\n<col>\n<col>\n<col><\/colgroup>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p><strong>Feature<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/th>\n<th colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p><strong>Nylon 12 (Black, White)<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/th>\n<th colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p><strong>Nylon 12 Pro (Black)<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/th>\n<th colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p><strong>Nylon 12 Glass-Filled (Off-white, Black)<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p><strong>Base Material<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p>Standard Nylon 12<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p>Improved Nylon 12 (Evonik)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p>Nylon 12 with glass filling<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p><strong>Color Options<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p>White<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p>Black<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p>Offwhite, Black<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p><strong>Detail Quality<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p>Standard<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p>Better, small details (0.4-0.6mm)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p>Less accurate<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p><strong>Toughness<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p>Durable<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p>Better<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p>More durable<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p><strong>Dimensional Accuracy<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p>Stable<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p>Stable<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p>Stable<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p><strong>Printing Suitability<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p>Prototypes, end-use<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p>Small batch printing<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p>Technical parts<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p><strong>Surface Texture<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p>Grainy<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p>Smoother<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p>Granular and porous<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p><strong>Complex Structures<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p>Suitable<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p>Suitable<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p>Suitable<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>For more details, visit Unionfab\u2019s <a target=\"\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" class=\"fake_link link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.unionfab.com\/services\/3d-printing\/sls\">SLS 3D Printing Service<\/a> and <a target=\"\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" class=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.unionfab.com\/services\/3d-printing\">3D Printing<\/a> pages.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ufc-dtc-cms.oss-accelerate.aliyuncs.com\/blog\/20220809\/154814_8mse348nj.png\" alt=\"unionfab instant quote \" title=\"\" style=\"width: auto; display: block; margin: 0 auto;\" url=\"https:\/\/www.unionfab.com\/order#\/anonymous_new_shop_quote\/?origin=MKblog\" onclick=\"window.open('https:\/\/www.unionfab.com\/order#\/anonymous_new_shop_quote\/?origin=MKblog', '_blank')\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 id=\"6d7742d1-4c87-4504-9249-e4c7f0b67c2e\" data-toc-id=\"6d7742d1-4c87-4504-9249-e4c7f0b67c2e\">Advantages of Nylon 12 in SLS Printing<\/h2>\n<h3 id=\"ee4bad28-ea92-409c-b32a-3a0cac40a493\" data-toc-id=\"ee4bad28-ea92-409c-b32a-3a0cac40a493\">How Nylon 12 Improves SLS Printing<\/h3>\n<p>Because of its special qualities, nylon 12 works well with Selective Laser Sintering (SLS). The powder absorbs laser energy well, helping control the process carefully and avoid problems like holes or incomplete melting.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"0e829fdc-6ab6-4c20-a812-43bcf556ea9e\" data-toc-id=\"0e829fdc-6ab6-4c20-a812-43bcf556ea9e\">Impact on Print Quality<\/h3>\n<figure>\n<figure><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/oversea.assets.unionfab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/\u9ed1\u8272\u5c3c\u9f99-13-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"nylon 12 3d printed parts after vapor smoothing\" style=\"width: 600px; display: block; margin: 0 auto;\" caption=\"Source: Unionfab\" url=\"\" onclick=\"\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Source: Unionfab<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Nylon 12 works well for SLS 3D printing. As a powder, it spreads evenly which allows the laser to melt it into very detailed shapes. Unused powder supports overflow areas, so complex designs can be made without the structure collapsing.<\/p>\n<p>Best of all, nylon 12 stays the same size after fusing together with the laser, so the final print is the right size without extra work.<\/p>\n<p>This makes nylon 12 very reliable for SLS. Objects can be printed accurately while keeping an intricate design.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"aa3683b4-f147-4fad-b98a-1dd38892d26b\" data-toc-id=\"aa3683b4-f147-4fad-b98a-1dd38892d26b\">Thermal Characteristics and Performance<\/h3>\n<p>Nylon 12 powders melt quickly when hit by the laser, allowing parts to be built efficiently layer by layer.<\/p>\n<p>Nylon 12 also maintains its shape even with temperature changes. This consistency is important for applications that will face varying environments.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"5c823f55-3292-4492-bd91-178dbfb73a96\" data-toc-id=\"5c823f55-3292-4492-bd91-178dbfb73a96\">Applications and Use Cases of Nylon 12 in SLS Printing<\/h2>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ufc-dtc-cms.oss-accelerate.aliyuncs.com\/blog\/20220809\/154828_ctgzd9ww0.png\" alt=\"\" title=\"\" style=\"width: 600px; display: block; margin: 0 auto;\" caption=\"Source: Unionfab\" url=\"\" onclick=\"\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Source: Unionfab<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3 id=\"9343682c-626c-49ae-aa75-061fda1aac1d\" data-toc-id=\"9343682c-626c-49ae-aa75-061fda1aac1d\">Aerospace and Automotive Industries<\/h3>\n<p>Nylon 12 is used to make parts for airplanes and cars because it&#8217;s strong and light. Examples include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<p>Brackets<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Clips<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Covers<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 id=\"4a156975-adf4-4065-896e-67a44afe629e\" data-toc-id=\"4a156975-adf4-4065-896e-67a44afe629e\">Consumer Products and Fashion<\/h3>\n<p>Nylon 12 is ideal for creating everyday items and fashion accessories:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<p>Customized phone cases<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Watch bands<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Jewelry<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 id=\"33a93764-c23c-44f7-930a-ee6be3227341\" data-toc-id=\"33a93764-c23c-44f7-930a-ee6be3227341\">Medical and Dental Applications<\/h3>\n<p>In the medical and dental fields, Nylon 12 is used to print custom-fit items:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<p>Braces<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Dentures<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Surgical tools<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 id=\"54510f88-57d8-4db0-af48-82e40f491039\" data-toc-id=\"54510f88-57d8-4db0-af48-82e40f491039\">Prototyping and Low-Volume Production<\/h3>\n<p>Nylon 12 is great for making prototypes and small batches of products. Its benefits include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<p>Quick and efficient prototype creation<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Cost-effective for low-volume production<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"9002c93c-4bd4-46ac-a157-304402110dc0\" data-toc-id=\"9002c93c-4bd4-46ac-a157-304402110dc0\">Nylon 12 Post-Processing Options<\/h2>\n<p>Nylon 12 surfaces are grainier compared to resin prints.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ufc-dtc-cms.oss-accelerate.aliyuncs.com\/blog\/20220809\/154848_1hk9kv0u5.png\" alt=\"White Nylon Parts After Smoothing\" title=\"\" style=\"width: 400px; display: block; margin: 0 auto;\" caption=\"White Nylon Parts After Smoothing.Source: Unionfab\" url=\"\" onclick=\"\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>White Nylon Parts After Smoothing.<\/em><br \/><em>Source: Unionfab<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>Popular Post-Processing Options<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<p><strong>Vapor Smoothing<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><strong>Dye Black Painting<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><strong>Raw Painting<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"cbfc6a09-6e99-459c-904c-7daa9f4dcf69\" data-toc-id=\"cbfc6a09-6e99-459c-904c-7daa9f4dcf69\">Challenges and Considerations of SLS Nylon 12<\/h2>\n<h3 id=\"7c27ecac-23e5-457f-9e5c-b5587c2df882\" data-toc-id=\"7c27ecac-23e5-457f-9e5c-b5587c2df882\">Cost Implications<\/h3>\n<p>Nylon 12 can be expensive compared to other materials. This is important, especially if you need to make many parts or work with a tight budget.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"3bfefa96-24f4-462f-b1f0-fda5ac12b97b\" data-toc-id=\"3bfefa96-24f4-462f-b1f0-fda5ac12b97b\">Post-Processing Requirements<\/h3>\n<p>After printing with Nylon 12, parts often need extra work to be finished. This can include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<p><strong>Cleaning<\/strong>: Removing any leftover powder from the surface.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><strong>Smoothing<\/strong>: Making the surface smoother by sanding, polishing or vapor smoothing.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><strong>Painting or Coating<\/strong>: Adding color or a protective layer. These steps can take extra time and effort, something to consider when planning your project.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"a50860c2-a69a-41de-b497-cc3be5dc72b4\" data-toc-id=\"a50860c2-a69a-41de-b497-cc3be5dc72b4\">Conclusion<\/h2>\n<p>Nylon 12 is a strong, flexible, and durable material that is excellent for SLS 3D printing.<\/p>\n<p>Whether producing low-volume complex parts or mid-production runs, Nylon 12 facilitates reliable 3D printing of high-quality components.<\/p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This article explores the properties, benefits, and uses of Nylon 12 in Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) 3D printing.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_eb_attr":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3779","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.unionfab.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3779","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.unionfab.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.unionfab.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.unionfab.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.unionfab.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3779"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/wp.unionfab.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3779\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.unionfab.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3779"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.unionfab.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3779"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.unionfab.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3779"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}