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Nylon, generically polyamide, is a thermoplastic synthetic polymer. As a thermoplastic, it can be molded into various shapes via thermoforming. While nylon can be formed into fibers for rope and fabric, extruded, and injection molded, it has advantages when manufactured via CNC machining. Nylon has excellent thermal, mechanical, and chemical resistance properties when cut from solid stock.
Nylon 6/6 is a widely-used engineering plastic with good toughness, abrasion resistance, and hardness characteristics. Nylon 66 properties make it ideal for load-bearing mechanical components and as such, it is often a good substitute for Plastics. CNC machining in nylon 6/6 results in inexpensive, high-performance parts.
CNC PlasticsNylon 6/6, also written as nylon 6-6, nylon 6,6, or nylon 66, is a more crystalline version of nylon 6. It is also referred to as polyamide 66 or PA 66. It has improved mechanical properties due to its more ordered molecular structure. Nylon 6/6 material for machining has improved temperature resistance and lower rates of water absorption when compared to standard nylon 6. Typical applications include wear pads, guide wheels, and slide bearings.
Generic Nylon 6/6 Properties
| Tensile Strength, Yield (MPa) | Elongation at Break (%) | Hardness (Rockwell M) | Heat Deflection Temperature (°C) at 0.46 MPa | Melting Point (°C) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30-98 | 1-300 | 78-89 | 75-428 | 197-266 |
| Applications | Advantages | Disadvantages | Lead Time | Tolerances |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Structural components like gears, wheels, and consumer electronics casings | Abrasion resistance, moderately high-temperature resistance, high fatigue resistance | High moisture absorption that causes swelling | Starting at 2 days | Standard ±0.010"; ±0.002" are achievable; sub-±0.002" are available after manual review |
As is the case with most plastics, the surface-finishing options are limited. This is especially the case with nylon, which cannot be easily plated. Furthermore, sanding produces a frayed surface that often looks worse than the machined surface. Some possible finishes are listed below:
