PA12 (Nylon 12)
⬡ Chemical Resistant
240–270
°C
Print Temp
70–90
°C
Bed Temp
100
°C
Max Service
Overview
Nylon 12 - engineering-grade with excellent fatigue resistance, low friction, impact tough. Easier to print than PA6. Ideal for functional parts needing toughness + flexibility. Print 240-270C nozzle, 70-90C bed.
Properties
Difficulty
advanced
Flexibility
semi-flex
Layer Adhesion
excellent
Enclosure
recommended
Heated Bed
required
Dry Storage
required
Pros
- Excellent fatigue resistance
- Low friction and self-lubricating
- High impact resistance
- Flexible without breaking
- Good chemical resistance
- Better moisture resistance than PA6
Cons
- Must be kept bone-dry
- Requires high bed temp
- Warps on large prints without enclosure
- Expensive
- Limited color range
Best For
- Gears
- hinges
- snap fits
- cable ties
- brackets
- any part needing repeated flex without fatigue
Avoid For
- Moisture-exposed storage
- cosmetic parts (rough surface)
- beginners
Storage
Extremely hygroscopic. Dry 12-16h at 80C before every print. Print from dry box. Even overnight exposure degrades quality.
Laser Compatibility
LASER INTERACTION
Safety: DANGER — same hazard class as PA6.
Fumes: Releases laurolactam and other nitrogen-based combustion products. All nylon variants produce toxic fumes when burned.
Warning: Never laser PA12/Nylon 12 parts. The longer carbon chain releases different but equally hazardous compounds.
Brands
Prusament PA11 CFBambu Lab PA12-CFPolymaker PA12Fiberlogy PA12Matterhackers Pro PA