Nylon (PA6 / PA66) CNC Machining
Tough, wear resistant and quiet in motion: the plastic behind gears, rollers and guide components that see millions of cycles.
Nylon machines into parts that out-wear many metals in dry running contact. Its one quirk is moisture: PA6 absorbs water and dimensions move with it, so we plan the environment into tolerances and suggest PA66 or glass-filled grades where stability matters.
Why Teams Pick It
- Gears, sprockets and wear pads that run quiet
- Rollers and wheels with low wear against steel
- PA66-GF30 for stiffness and temperature to 150 C
- Moisture conditioning planned into tolerance strategy
Machining Notes
| Aspect | How we handle it |
|---|---|
| Cutting | Sharp positive tools, high feed; chip evacuation matters with stringy chips |
| Moisture | Stock conditioned and measured at service humidity for critical fits |
| Tolerance | +/-0.05 mm standard on PA6; +/-0.02 mm realistic on PA66-GF30 |
| Heat | Air blast cooling prevents gumming on deep bores |
| Temperature limit | PA6 to about 100 C, PA66 to 150 C short term |
Parts we make: typical parts. Polymer tolerance capability: tolerance standards.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Will nylon gears change size in humidity?
PA6 can move 0.3 to 0.5 percent with moisture uptake. We quote fit tolerances for the service environment, and for tight fits suggest PA66 or POM instead. Tell us the operating humidity in the RFQ.
PA6 or POM for a gear?
PA6 for toughness and quiet running; POM for lower friction and better dimensional stability. We machine both and quote the tradeoff in the 24-hour response.
Do you machine glass-filled nylon?
Yes, PA6-GF30 and PA66-GF30; abrasive filler means diamond-coated tooling and shorter tool life planning, already priced into our quotes.
Machining a Plastic Part?
Send the drawing; we quote with grade and finish recommendations within 24 hours.
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