NylonX has shortly change into one in every of our favourite filaments for sturdy, sturdy, and ready-to-use elements. This is an in-depth take a look at Nylon X, and a few printing tricks to get probably the most out of this nice new materials.
Posted on September 7, 2016
by
Taylor Landry
Nylons are a incredible group of 3D printing supplies. Glorious chemical, abrasion, and impression resistance coupled with its sturdiness and toughness make it an ideal selection for sturdy, practical 3D printed elements.
The principle “cons” of nylon filaments are the dearth of rigidity, comparatively excessive shrink price, and the truth that it’s extremely hygroscopic (absorbs water from the air).
Enter Nylon X.
By including chopped carbon fibers to nylon, we improve the rigidity, scale back the shrink price, and the quantity of water it may well take in, whereas nonetheless sustaining the sturdiness and toughness of nylon.
Ideas and beneficial settings for succeeding with NylonX:
NylonX is a Nylon at its root – because of this the identical practices for 3D printing Nylon must be used. Beneath are specifics for NylonX, however yow will discover deeper data in our article ‘PRINTING WITH NYLON.’
Extruder Temperature: 250 – 265°C
Nylon X, like different nylons, will extrude at decrease temperatures, however elements simply delaminate and break when not printed scorching sufficient. An all-metal hotend is beneficial for these printing temperatures, learn extra right here.
Mattress Adhesion: 60 – 70°C heated mattress with PVA based mostly glue stick
We like Elmer’s Washable disappearing purple glue stick. Nylon does not stick properly to BuildTak, PEI, or different comparable mattress surfaces. Heated glass with glue, or a sheet of Garolite LE are the perfect choices.
Print Velocity
There aren’t any particular pace necessities or limitations for Nylon X. It prints properly from 10 – 80mm/s relying in your nozzle measurement, temperature, and layer top settings.
Dry Filament Earlier than Printing
To dry filament, place it in an oven at 180°F – 200°F for six to eight hours. After drying, retailer in an hermetic container, ideally with desiccant. Be taught extra right here.
Nozzles
A chrome steel or hardened nozzle is required. Carbon fiber may be very arduous and abrasive and can shortly abrade and smash brass or different mushy steel nozzles.Bigger nozzles (0.6mm and bigger) produce extremely sturdy elements. It is because interlayer adhesion is immediately proportional to hint width. For the best power elements, strive printing with the biggest nozzle you should utilize in your scorching finish.
Layer cooling followers are not beneficial
How does NylonX examine to different supplies?
We’ve been printing carbon fiber PLA, PETG, and ABS for some time now. The carbon fiber does the identical factor to those supplies. PLA, which is already stiff and pretty brittle, turns into even stiffer and extra brittle. PETG and ABS, that are each pretty ductile and impression resistant, additionally change into significantly extra brittle with added carbon fiber. All 3 appear to delaminate simpler as properly, which is probably going as a consequence of the truth that the fibers don’t chemically bond to the bottom resin and create what primarily are tiny weak factors all through the half.
NylonX is totally different although. As a result of nylon is significantly more durable and extra sturdy than ABS, PLA, and PETG, sacrificing a small quantity of impression resistance for a big improve in stiffness is a superb trade-off.
The Testing!
To indicate the distinction, we 3D printed an element and did some testing.
The design is 60mm vast, 10mm deep, and 25mm tall. The unsupported span is 50mm.
They had been all printed at 0.25mm layers, 25% infill, 3 perimeters, and 5 strong prime/backside layers. These settings make the bridge strong. To bridge this hole, we now have our bridge pace set to 20mm/s and the cooling fan at 100%. Discovering the suitable settings to your particular printer will relying on the ambient air temperature, how dry the filament is, your printer’s layer cooling capacity, and the size of the bridge.
We used a power gauge and pressed down slowly to deflect the bridge sufficient to the touch the desk.
These GIFs present the take a look at being carried out on Nylon 645, NylonX, PLA, PETG, and PETG with carbon fiber.
Nylon 645
Nylon X
PLA
PETG
PETG with CF
We additionally shot a couple of clips exhibiting these elements being bent by hand
PLA
PETG
Nylon X
We ran 6 elements of every materials with the power gauge. This is what we discovered:
Nylon 618: 2.6 – 3.5 lbs
Nylon X: 6.6 – 7.81 lbs
PLA : 6 -11 lbs (it typically breaks throughout first bend, and virtually at all times breaks on 2nd or third bend)
PETG: 4.5 – 7 lbs (completely creases/deforms on the bend)
Carbon Fiber PETG: 12 – 18 lb (at all times shatters on first try)
So Nylon X is just barely much less stiff than PLA, however it maintains the toughness and sturdiness of nylon. This makes for superior practical elements.
The opposite nice function of NylonX is that the carbon fibers scale back the shrink price throughout printing. For those who’ve ever printed with ABS or Nylon, you’ve probably skilled warping or curling in your half. There are methods to assist stop this, however NylonX just about eliminates any points with warping or curling. The added fibers assist to maintain the fabric dimensionally steady.
So, should you’re on the lookout for sturdy, sturdy, and practical elements, decide up some Nylon X and begin printing. It is superior stuff.
We shot some extra footage exhibiting the power of Nylon X. Keep tuned – these movies are coming quickly.
As at all times, Pleased Printing!
