Which Nylon is Best for 3D Printing? PA12+CF vs CFPA6 скачать в хорошем качестве

Which Nylon is Best for 3D Printing? PA12+CF vs CFPA6

In this video, we’re breaking down one of the most misunderstood but powerful materials in high-performance 3D printing: Carbon Fiber Reinforced Nylon 12, also known as PA12CF. How does PA12CF compare to the widely used CFPA6 (Carbon Fiber Nylon 6)? Is it really easier to print? What about strength, flexibility, warping, and water absorption? And more importantly, when should you be using it instead of PA6? We go hands-on with real parts, real tests, and real use cases — no fluff, just facts. PA6 is known for its rigidity, impact resistance, and wide availability. But it comes with serious challenges: it warps, absorbs moisture like a sponge, and degrades over time with thermal cycling. On the other hand, PA12CF has longer molecular chains, resulting in superior dimensional stability, significantly lower moisture absorption (0.5% vs 3% in PA6), and much better printability — especially for larger, more complex parts. We printed functional automotive parts, including brake cooling ducts for a Nissan 350Z, using PA12CF on the 22 IDEX. No warping. No support failures. Just clean, reliable parts, printed overnight on default settings. That’s the difference real users care about. But what are the tradeoffs? PA12CF is slightly more flexible and has a lower usable temperature than PA6 (around 175°C vs 190°C). That flexibility can be a good thing depending on your application, but if you’re building parts that will take a hammering — think jigs, fixtures, or impact tooling — PA6 might be the better call. For aerospace, motorsports, and manufacturing teams, PA12CF shines. McLaren F1 uses both PA6 and PA12CF in their cars — for aero ducts, tooling, and custom fan shrouds — printed trackside using Stratasys systems. Because they need quick turnaround, high strength, and consistent results, nylon 12’s low moisture uptake and excellent layer adhesion make it the clear winner for long-run, production-grade prints. We also put PA12CF through burn tests, torsion tests, and real-life stress. From watching it twist under torque to seeing how it reacts to open flame, this video gives you raw data and side-by-side footage to help you decide when PA12CF is the right material for your job. If you’re selling parts, producing large batch runs, or need material you can rely on — even if it sits on the machine for three days straight — PA12CF is hard to beat. Use PA6 when you need rigidity, heat resistance, and high impact strength. Use PA12CF when you want accuracy, reduced warping, and easier, more reliable printing. Watch the full breakdown and see which one makes sense for your shop, print farm, or engineering team. At Vision Miner, we specialize in Functional 3D printing, especially high-performance plastics like PEEK, ULTEM, PPSU, PPS, CFPA, and more. We also have extensive experience with 3D scanners and a whole array of solutions available for purchase. If you’re interested in using functional 3D printing and materials in your business, feel free to reach out, and we can help you make the right choice for your application. Call 833-774-6863 or email [email protected], and we’re here to help! Follow Us ►Facebook:   / visionminer   ►Instagram:   / visionminer   ►Twitter:   / visionminer   ►TikTok:   / visionminer   00:00 Introduction 00:55 What is Nylon 12 01:48 Nylon 12 Brake Ducts 02:20 Nylon 12 vs Nylon 6 03:49 How We Printed These Parts 04:54 How McLaren Uses 3D Printed Nylon 06:35 When You Should Use Nylon 12 08:17 UTM Tests 09:50 Torsion Tests 10:32 Flame Tests 13:00 Subscribe!