Nylon CNC Machining Services
Nylon PA6 and PA66 are tough, wear-resistant polyamides used for bearings, gears, bushes and wear strips where friction, vibration or impact would damage metals.
PA6, PA66, glass-filled and MOS2-filled grades
Tolerances to +/-0.10 mm typical for plastic parts
Cast and extruded stock available
What Is Nylon?
Where nylon beats metal on cost and noise, and how to keep it dimensionally stable.
Nylon is a family of polyamides. PA6 and PA66 (nylon 6 and nylon 6/6) are the engineering workhorses, with tensile strengths in the 70 to 85 MPa range and elongations of 30 percent or more. They are tough, light, self-lubricating, and they damp vibration, which is why nylon dominates bearings, gears, washers and wear strips in everything from conveyors to domestic appliances.
Filled and unlubricated grades
Glass-filled nylon at 30 to 50 percent GF roughly doubles the stiffness and reduces thermal expansion, at the cost of some toughness. MoS2 and oil-filled grades drop the coefficient of friction and reduce wear on dry bearings. Cast nylon (PA6G) is denser and more dimensionally stable than extruded stock and is preferred for thick-walled parts.
The dimension trap
Nylon absorbs water from the air and from coolant. The part grows several tenths of a percent over the first weeks of service, then stabilises. Tolerances should be specified at the operating humidity, and tight-tolerance features are usually dry-machined and then conditioned so the part arrives at its final dimension.
Related capabilities: CNC Machining, CNC Milling, CNC Turning, 5-Axis Machining. Dimensional limits, thread rules and surface roughness grades are listed on the tolerances and specifications page, and volume-based routing is covered under production solutions.
Nylon Mechanical Properties
Typical values at room temperature for the condition most often machined. Use them for material screening, then confirm against the mill certificate for the exact heat and product form.
| Property | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Density | 1.13 g/cm3 (PA6 and PA66) |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 80 MPa dry, lower when conditioned |
| Elongation at break | 30 to 100 percent |
| Elastic modulus | 3.0 GPa dry, down to 1.0 GPa conditioned |
| Continuous service temperature | 120 C in air, 80 C in water |
| Melting point | 220 C for PA6, 265 C for PA66 |
| Water absorption | about 9 percent at saturation for PA6 |
| Coefficient of friction | 0.35 against steel, unlubricated |
| Limiting PV on bearings | about 0.05 MPa.m/s unlubricated |
Typical room-temperature values compiled from public ASM, MatWeb and mill datasheets. Actual values vary with temper, section thickness and product form; request the EN 10204 3.1 certificate for critical applications.
Machining Characteristics of Nylon
How the material behaves in the cut, and what that means for tooling, fixtures, cycle time and achievable tolerance.
Sharp, polished tooling
Standard carbide works, but polished flutes prevent the part from being torn by a rough edge.
Coolant management
Avoid prolonged coolant exposure or the part picks up moisture and grows. Compressed air or light mist is preferred.
Stress relief
Cast and extruded stock carry internal stress. Rough-outs are stress relieved before finishing in thick or asymmetric parts.
Wall thickness
Uniform sections reduce warp on cooling after machining. Hollow or thin-walled sections should be supported during cuts.
Threads and fasteners
Coarse threads hold far better than fine threads in nylon. Inserted metal threads are used where repeated assembly is expected.
Glass-filled grades
More abrasive than base resin; expect faster tool wear. Carbide grades survive but PCD tooling is preferred for high-volume production.
Design and Machining Checklist
Practical rules that reduce cost and scrap on Nylon parts. Share them with your design team before the drawing is frozen.
- Use cast PA6G instead of extruded stock for large or thick-walled parts to reduce warp and shrinkage.
- Design parts at the operating humidity and tolerances they will see in service.
- Verify tolerances on critical features only after parts have conditioned in service, or pre-condition the parts before inspection.
- Specify coarse threads with generous thread engagement to avoid strip-out in nylon components.
- Use glass-filled grades for structural components that need stiffness and thermal stability.
- Avoid prolonged soaking in aqueous solutions; nylon absorbs water and dimension stability is affected.
Surface Finishing Options
Finishes are selected for corrosion resistance, wear, appearance, electrical behaviour or cleanliness. Specify only what the function needs.
As-Machined
Ra 0.8 to 3.2 um, suitable for most sliding and load-bearing surfaces.
Bead Blasting
Fine glass or aluminium bead giving a uniform matte appearance and consistent surface roughness.
Annealing and Conditioning
Controlled moisture-content thermal treatment to lock in dimensions after machining.
Molykote and Lubricant Impregnation
Oil-filled materials or post-machining lubricant impregnation for permanent dry-bearing properties.
Polishing
Mechanical polish to a bright finish for visible trim and sliding contacts.
Bonding and Welding
Solvent and adhesive bonding is widely used; ultrasonic and spin welding are also effective on PA6.
Typical Applications
Where Nylon is most often specified, and why it wins against the alternatives.
Bearings and bushings
Dry-running bushings, thrust washers and wear strips in conveyors, mixers and machine tools.
Gears and rollers
Drive gears, pulleys and rollers where vibration damping and low noise outweigh the need for maximum stiffness.
Seals and gaskets
Back-up rings, support rings and custom seals in hydraulic and pneumatic systems.
Fasteners and spacers
Standoffs, washers, insulators and threaded spacers in electrical and electronic assemblies.
Industrial housings
Pump and valve components, fairings and noise-damping covers on industrial equipment.
Food and beverage processing
FDA-compliant white grades for guides, scrapers and wear components in food production.
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