General Questions
What services does Nylon3DPrint offer?
We provide industrial nylon 3D printing via SLS & MJF in PA12/PA11, including Carbon-Fiber (CF), Glass-Filled (GF), and ESD-safe grades—plus depowdering, media finishing, vapor smoothing, dyeing, inserts/tapping, light machining, and metrology. From rapid prototypes to production parts, we deliver documented, repeatable quality.
Do you work with clients outside the U.S.?
Yes. We serve customers worldwide and align with common U.S./EU engineering standards and documentation practices (drawings with GD&T; FAIR-style inspection on request).
Materials & Technical
What nylon materials do you offer?
PA12 (general-purpose toughness, chemical resistance) and PA11 (bio-based, higher ductility/impact). Specialty options include CF-reinforced, GF-reinforced, and ESD-safe nylons for electronics handling. We’ll recommend a grade based on strength, temperature, chemical exposure, or ESD targets.
How accurate are your printed parts?
Typical SLS/MJF accuracy is ±0.20–0.30 mm or ±0.2% (whichever is greater), geometry-dependent and after standard conditioning. For critical fits, we add machining or reaming to achieve tighter features.
What surface finish can I expect?
As-printed surfaces are comparable to Ra ~10–20 μm. We offer media tumbling and vapor smoothing to reduce roughness and improve appearance/sealing (cosmetic faces ≤~3–5 μm Ra typical), plus dyeing for uniform color.
Do you provide inserts, tapping, and light machining?
Yes. We install heat-set/threaded inserts, perform drilling/reaming/tapping on critical holes, and can face or slot features for tighter tolerances where needed.
What are the maximum build size and minimum feature recommendations?
- Build volume (machine-dependent): up to ~380 × 284 × 380 mm (MJF) and ~300 × 300 × 300 mm (SLS) per part.
- Minimum wall: ≥0.8–1.0 mm (use 1.5+ mm for loaded features or large spans).
- Holes: ≥1.0–1.5 mm as-printed; precision holes should be reamed/drilled post-print.
- Threads: print pilot and tap/insert for best strength and repeatability.
- Living hinges (PA12/PA11 only, short span): possible with careful thickness/orientation—ask for DfAM review.
Can you inspect and certify parts?
Yes. On request we provide CMM/3D scan reports, material batch certificates, and process traceability aligned to your quality plan.
Post-Processing & Quality
What post-processing options are available?
Depowdering, media tumble, vapor smoothing, dyeing (black and custom colors), drilling/reaming/tapping, heat-set inserts, sealing, logo/deboss cleanup, and dimensional inspection. We’ll propose a route balancing performance, cost, and lead time.
Do you help with DfAM (design for additive manufacturing)?
Absolutely. We review CAD/drawings, recommend orientation/nesting, ribbing and boss design, hole/slot compensations, and call out features that should be machined post-print to hit tight tolerances.
Orders & Logistics
What file formats do you accept?
STEP (.step/.stp), Parasolid (.x_t/.x_b), and native CAD on request; STL/3MF meshes for quick quotes. Please include drawings for tolerances, finishes, inserts, and inspection notes.
What are typical lead times?
Rapid prototypes: ~3–7 business days depending on queue and finishing. Production lots with smoothing/inserts/inspection: ~1–2 weeks. Urgent programs can be scheduled—tell us your target dates.
What’s the minimum order quantity?
No strict MOQ—single prototypes to full production batches are welcome. Per-part pricing improves with batch consolidation and shared finishing/inspection.
Design Guidelines
Any quick tips to improve outcomes?
- Call out critical-to-function features/dimensions on a drawing.
- Use consistent wall thickness, add ribs/bosses for stiffness, and include generous fillets.
- Plan machining allowances where tight fits are required.
- Prefer heat-set inserts over printed threads for durability.
- Avoid long unsupported spans; add drain/clean-out holes for powder removal on enclosed volumes.
- Indicate cosmetic faces so we prioritize smoothing/dyeing there.
Security & Compliance
Can you handle sensitive projects?
Yes. We follow strict data handling and can sign NDAs. If you have specific compliance or documentation needs, let us know and we’ll align our workflow accordingly.