Material details
Black PA12 Nylon for the 3D printing with HP Multi Jet Fusion (MJF) technology
I wait: • • • •
Details: • • • • •
Resistence: • • • • •
Flexibility: • • •
– High density and low porosity
– Fine details and thin walls
– Isotropic mechanical properties
Description
Black PA12 nylon is a polyamide molded with technology HP Multi Jet Fusion (MJF), an additive manufacturing process that uses chemical melting and detailing agents combined with thermal energy to selectively solidify nylon powder, layer by layer. It is one of the most widely used materials in 3D printing professional for functional prototypes and final production parts.
Advantages over SLS printing
The MJF process produces parts with higher density and lower porosity compared to SLS technology. This translates into superior mechanical properties, more detailed surfaces and thinner walls: the minimum thickness is 0.6 mm against the 0.8 mm of the SLS white plastic.
Another key advantage of the MJF is the’mechanical isotropy: The part's strength is uniform across all three axes (X, Y, Z), unlike other technologies like FDM where the Z axis is significantly weaker. This makes PA12 MJF nylon particularly suitable for structural parts and components subjected to stress in different directions.
Mechanical behavior
As with SLS white plastic, mechanical properties vary as a function of thickness. With walls of 0.6–1 mm the parts are flexible; above the 2 mm They become rigid. The material offers excellent impact resistance, good chemical resistance (oils, greases, aliphatic hydrocarbons, alkalis), and stability to atmospheric agents and UV light.
Nylon PA12 MJF is suitable for a wide range of applications: functional prototypes, mechanical parts, gears, hinges, electronics housings, connectors, manufacturing jigs and fixtures, automotive components, and medical devices.
Available finishes
Natural grey (raw) – the material's native color after sandblasting. The surface is gray on the outside and black on the inside. The most economical option.
Dyed black – The parts are dyed black by immersion in a dye bath. The dye penetrates the material, ensuring a uniform, scratch-resistant color. This is the standard finish for most orders.
Mechanical polishing (vibratory finishing) – The parts are sanded in a tumbler to obtain a smoother, more uniform surface. Vibratory finishing removes approximately 0.1 mm of material from the surface.
Painting – Parts can be painted in any RAL color for a superior quality finish, suitable for aesthetic prototypes and display pieces.
Chemical Smoothing – treatment that gives a shiny and waterproof surface, similar to injection molding.
For custom finishes or specific needs, contact us.
Maximum volume and print quality
Maximum printable volume: 380 × 284 × 380 mm
(volume may vary slightly depending on the production provider used)
Printing is available in two modes:
Fast – 0.11 mm layers, reduced time and costs. Ideal for prototypes and dimensional testing.
Top Mechanical – 0.08 mm layer thickness, dimensional tolerances of ±0.3 mm, finer details, and superior mechanical properties. Recommended for functional parts and production.
You can not insert multiple objects into a single template / file.
Main features
- Moving and articulated parts: Yes (minimum clearance between parts: 0.5 mm)
- Waterproof: Yes (MJF parts are waterproof out of the box)
- For food: No
- Biocompatible: Yes (USP Class I-VI, ISO 10993 compliant)
- Suitable for dishwashers: Yes
- Recyclable: No
- Heat resistant: up to 175°C (thin parts begin to warp above 95°C)
- UV resistance: good (stable to light and atmospheric agents)
- Layer thickness: 0.08 mm (Top Mechanical) / 0.11 mm (Fast)
- Isotropic mechanical properties in all 3 axes
To find out all the rules to follow to create a model with this material, consult the sheet Technical details. For a complete guide to preparing your file, read our 3D printing guide.
Modeling Guides
We have prepared step-by-step guides for the most popular 3D modeling software:
- Autodesk Fusion – for mechanical design and parametric CAD
- Rhinoceros – for design, jewelry and architecture
- Blender – for digital sculpture and organic forms
- SketchUp – for architectural modeling and interior design
If your model was generated with AI, check out our guide on How to 3D print AI-generated models.
Technical details
DIMENSIONS
Maximum printable volume: 380 × 284 × 380 mm
(actual volume may vary slightly depending on the production provider)
Minimum object size: 10mm (X+Y+Z)
WALL THICKNESS
Minimum wall thickness: 0.6 mm (flexible)
Recommended thickness for stiffness: ≥ 2 mm
Maximum recommended thickness: 10 mm (surface defects may occur beyond this value – in this case it is advisable to empty the model while maintaining 4 mm walls)
CLEARANCE AND MOVING PARTS
Minimum distance between moving parts (clearance): 0.5 mm
For large objects the clearance must be greater.
Unmelted material outlet hole: minimum 4 mm
Minimum hole diameter: 1 mm
DETAILS AND TEXT
Minimum size for object details: 0.2 mm
Embossed text: minimum 0.5 mm thick and 0.5 mm high
Engraved text: minimum 0.5 mm deep; engraving width must be at least equal to depth
Note: Very thin cuts (0.3–0.6 mm) may retain debris from sandblasting.
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES (indicative values – HP PA12 MJF, Top Mechanical mode)
Tensile strength (UTS): 48 MPa
Tensile modulus: 1,800 MPa
Flexural strength: 50 MPa
Elongation at break: 11–20%
Impact strength (Charpy, notched): 5–6 kJ/m²
Density: 1.01 g/cm³
THERMAL PROPERTIES
Heat deflection temperature (HDT, 0.45 MPa): 175°C
Deformation temperature for thin parts: ~95°C
Melting point: 187°C
CHEMICAL RESISTANCE
Good resistance to: oils, greases, aliphatic hydrocarbons, alkalis, salts, detergents, fuels.
Not resistant to: concentrated strong acids, chlorinated solvents.
CERTIFICATIONS
Biocompatibility: USP Class I-VI, ISO 10993-5, ISO 10993-10
Compliance: REACH, RoHS, PAHs
Flammability: UL 94 HB
For more information contact us.
For 3D file preparation requirements, please see our 3D printing guide.
