Nylon PA6

Advanced

Polyamide 6

Extremely tough, durable engineering thermoplastic with excellent wear resistance and low friction. Highly hygroscopic — must be printed from an active dry box. Requires enclosure.

⚠ IMPORTANT: Dry Your Filament Before Every Print

All filaments — including Nylon PA6 — absorb moisture from the air. Printing with wet filament causes stringing, bubbling, weak layer adhesion, and poor surface finish. This is the single most overlooked cause of bad prints.

Always dry your filament per the manufacturer's recommendations printed on the spool label before printing, especially if the spool has been open for more than a few days or stored in a humid environment. Read our complete filament drying guide →

About the Temperatures & Speeds Listed Below

The print temperatures and speeds shown on this page are general industry ranges — not a one-size-fits-all prescription. Every printer brand and model has different capabilities. A Bambu Lab X1C can print PLA at 500 mm/s; an Ender 3 with a Bowden extruder performs best at 40–80 mm/s.

Always follow your specific printer manufacturer's recommended settings and the temperature range printed on your filament spool label. Start at the lower end of the range and dial in from there.

Material Properties

Strength9/10

Flexibility2/10

Heat Resistance7/10

Printability4/10

Nylon PA6 is part of the Nylon family. See the complete Nylon guide →

Best For

Gears
hinges
bushings
cable ties
mechanical components under constant stress and motion

Avoid For

Open-air printing without an enclosure
Beginners / first prints

Pro Tips

01Dry at 80°C for 12 hours; print from sealed dry box — no workaround for wet nylon
02Heated enclosure (chamber 50-60°C) required; use Garolite G10 bed surface
03Keep cooling fans completely off; nylon requires slow, consistent cooling

Print Speed by Printer Tier

Print speeds vary dramatically by printer. The speeds listed in product specs (like "500 mm/s") are maximum capabilities — not recommended everyday speeds. Use this table as a general guide and always follow your printer manufacturer's recommended settings.

High-End (Bambu X1C, P2S, H2D)

Print Speed: 150–300 mm/s

High-acceleration direct-drive systems. Follow manufacturer slicer presets.

Mid-Range (Bambu A1/A1 Mini, Prusa MK4, Creality K1)

Print Speed: 60–150 mm/s

Good performance at moderate speeds. Follow slicer presets for best results.

Entry-Level (Ender 3 series, Bowden extruders)

Print Speed: 30–60 mm/s

Start slow and tune up. Follow your printer manufacturer's recommended settings.

Quick Specs

Print Temp250–280°C

Bed Temp80–100°C

Cost / kg$40–$60

EnclosureRequired

DryingRequired

DifficultyAdvanced

Drying Note: Even filaments marked "Not Required" benefit from drying if the spool has been open or stored in a humid area. When in doubt, dry it.

Buy Nylon PA6 Filament

Recommended brands: Hatchbox, eSUN, Polymaker, Bambu

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