CNC Machining Materials

Nylon

At a glance

Processes

CNC Mill
CNC Lathe

Lead Time

As fast as 3 days

Colors

Neutral (slightly translucent), black

Tolerance

With drawing: as low as +/- 0.005 mm
No drawing: ISO 2768 medium

Price

$

Applications

Gears and sliders, large parts, general-purpose, wear & heat-resistance applications

About the material

Nylon 6/6 is the most commonly used of the Nylon family of plastics. It enjoys relatively high chemical and heat resistance, and is stiff enough to retain its shape, but tough enough not to permanently deform under load.

Two of the most notable use cases for Nylon are in medical devices and electronics insulation, notably screws and spacers for panel mounted circuit boards.

Glass-filled Nylon boasts many great properties such as high rigidity, strength, hardness, toughness and dimensional stability. This material may be used in assemblies requiring mechanical damping or electrical insulation. Common applications include electrical housings, washers, medical devices and aerospace parts.

Material Properties

Nylon 6/6

Tensile Strength

11,200 PSI

Elongation at Break

50%

Hardness

Rockwell R110

Density

1.13 g/㎤
0.04 lbs / cu. in.

Maximum Temp

185° F

McMaster Part Number

8540K323

Nylon (30% Glass-Filled)

Tensile Strength

13,500 PSI

Elongation at Break

3%

Hardness

Rockwell M88

Density

1.13 g/㎤
0.04 lbs / cu. in.

Maximum Temp

230° F

McMaster Part Number

1473t23

Material Finish

Nylon comes in neutral and black colors. Neutral has a milky-white finish and is slightly translucent.

Design Recommendations

Min Wall Thickness

0.5 mm

Min End Mill Size

0.8 mm (0.03 in)

Min Drill Size

0.5 mm (0.02 in)

Max Part Size (xyz, mill)

1200 x 500 x 152 mm [x,y,z] (mill)
152 x 394 mm [d,h] (lathe)

Undercuts

Square profile, full radius, dovetail profiles

Radii : Depth

Depth must not exceed 12x drill bit diameter.
For end mills, depth must not exceed 10x tool diameter.

Cost Saving Tip

To reduce costs, limit the number of part setups, the number of inspection dimensions or tight tolerances, and deep pockets with small radii.

Nylon FAQs

Can nylon be machined?

Yes. Nylon 6/6 is the most commonly used of the Nylon family of plastics. It enjoys relatively high chemical and heat resistance, and is stiff enough to retain its shape, but tough enough not to permanently deform under load.

Is nylon a non metal?

Nylon does not have metal in it. It is a strong, stiff engineering synthetic thermoplastic linear polyamide. Nylon is often used as a substitute for low-strength metals.

What is the strongest type of nylon?

Nylon 6/6 has a PSI of 11.2000. It is the most commonly used of the Nylon family of plastics, however, glass-filled Nylon is stronger with a 13,500 PSI. It boasts many great properties such as high rigidity, strength, hardness, toughness and dimensional stability. This material may be used in assemblies requiring mechanical damping or electrical insulation. Common applications include electrical housings, washers, medical devices and aerospace parts.

What is nylon used for in CNC machining?

Two of the most notable use cases for Nylon CNC machining are in medical devices and electronics insulation, notably screws and spacers for panel mounted circuit boards.

Glass-filled Nylon boasts many great properties such as high rigidity, strength, hardness, toughness and dimensional stability. This material may be used in assemblies requiring mechanical damping or electrical insulation. Common applications include electrical housings, washers, medical devices and aerospace parts.

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