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PA6 filament

Nylon 6 (polyamide 6)

PA6 (nylon 6) is a strong, tough engineering nylon for demanding mechanical parts. It wears well, flexes without cracking and handles heat, but it soaks up moisture from the air quickly, so it has to be kept dry before and during printing.

69 PA6 filaments from 28 brands, in 119 colours.

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At a glance

Our rating
Ease of printing
Toughness
Stiffness
Heat resistance
Outdoor and UV
Flexibility
  • Needs an enclosure
  • Dry before printing

Typical settings

Median values across all PA6 filaments. Always check the maker's recommendations for a specific filament.

Nozzle
250–290 °C
Bed
80–100 °C
Density
1.14 g/cm³
Max drying temperature
80 °C

Diameters: 1.75 mm (119 colours), 2.85 mm (12 colours)

Colours

Popular PA6 filaments

Browse all 69

Top PA6 brands

About PA6

Properties

  • Very tough and wear resistant, with a slippery surface that suits moving parts.
  • Good heat resistance, higher than PETG and ABS for many grades.
  • Absorbs water: printed parts take on moisture from the air, which makes them more flexible and slightly changes their size.
  • Often sold reinforced with carbon or glass fibre (PA6-CF, PA6-GF) for much higher stiffness.

Good for

  • Gears, bushings, sliders and other wearing parts
  • Tough brackets, clips and living hinges
  • Tool parts, jigs and fixtures
  • Parts near moderate heat, such as engine bay brackets (with a suitable grade)

Less suited to

  • Printers without a heated enclosure or a way to keep the spool dry
  • Precise parts that must not change size in humid conditions
  • Quick prints where PETG would be good enough

Printing tips

  • Nozzle around 250–280 °C and bed around 70–100 °C; check the maker's settings, as grades vary.
  • Dry it thoroughly before printing (often 70–80 °C for several hours) and print straight from a dry box. Wet nylon pops, strings and prints weak, rough parts.
  • An enclosure reduces warping, especially for larger parts.
  • Fibre-filled grades are abrasive: use a hardened steel or similar wear-resistant nozzle.
  • It sticks poorly to some surfaces; a garolite (G10) sheet or glue stick on PEI usually works well.

PA6 questions

Is nylon good for gears?

Yes. PA6's toughness, wear resistance and low friction make it one of the best filaments for gears, bushings and other moving parts.

Is PA6 stronger than PETG?

For tough, wearing parts, yes. PA6 is far more wear resistant and handles repeated stress and heat better than PETG, but it is harder to print and must be kept dry.

What is the difference between PA6 and PA12?

PA6 is stronger and more heat resistant but absorbs much more moisture, which changes its size and properties. PA12 absorbs far less water, so it is more stable and easier to print. See PA6 vs PA12.

Why does nylon filament need drying?

Nylon absorbs water from the air within hours. When wet filament is heated, the water boils and causes popping, bubbles, stringing and weak layers. Dry it before printing and print from a dry box.

Can nylon be used outdoors?

Plain nylon slowly degrades in UV light and changes with humidity, so it is not ideal for long-term outdoor use. For outdoor parts, ASA is more reliable; carbon fibre nylon grades hold up better than plain ones.

Do I need a hardened nozzle for PA6?

Not for plain PA6. You do for carbon or glass fibre filled versions, which wear out a brass nozzle quickly.

Can PA6 handle heat?

Better than most common filaments. Many PA6 grades stay usable well above the temperatures that soften PETG or ABS, and fibre-filled grades go higher still. Check the heat deflection temperature on the specific filament.