What is the difference between Nylon 6 and Nylon 6/6?

Nylon 6 has better toughness and impact resistance. Nylon 6/6 has higher stiffness, higher melting point, and better dimensional stability at elevated temperatures. Nylon 6/6 is preferred for bearing and high-temperature applications.

What are the challenges of machining nylon?

Nylon absorbs moisture from the air, causing swelling and dimensional changes. Heat generation during machining can cause melting. Dried nylon should be machined promptly and stored in dry conditions.

What is the best nylon grade for gears?

Nylon 6/6 is commonly used for gears and wear parts due to its higher stiffness and operating temperature range. For high-wear applications, MoS₂-filled nylon provides self-lubrication.

Can nylon be used in food contact applications?

Yes, unfilled Nylon 6 and 6/6 are FDA-compliant for food contact applications. Glass-filled grades are not FDA-compliant.

What industries use CNC nylon machining?

Industrial equipment, automotive, food processing, electronics, and medical. Nylon is specified where wear resistance, low friction, and impact resistance are required.

How is nylon machined differently from other plastics?

Sharp carbide tooling and appropriate speeds are required. Nylon chips can be stringy and require proper evacuation. Moisture control is essential for close-tolerance parts.

CNC Nylon

CNC nylon machining is the precision processing of nylon (polyamide) resins using computer-controlled cutting tools. Nylon is a tough, versatile engineering thermoplastic with excellent wear resistance, low coefficient of friction, high impact strength, and good chemical resistance. Common grades include Nylon 6, Nylon 6/6, Nylon 6/12, and glass-filled or MoS₂-filled grades for enhanced properties.

Nylon machines well with sharp carbide tooling. Key challenges include moisture absorption (causing dimensional changes) and heat generation during machining (risking melting). Dried materials should be machined promptly or stored in dry conditions. Tolerances are held to ±0.02-0.05mm standard. Applications include gears, bearings and bushings, wear parts, conveyor components, automotive parts, and food processing equipment.

Our CNC Machining Services

From prototype to production — reliable quality, on-time delivery

We provide precision CNC machining services for a wide range of materials including aluminum, steel, stainless steel, copper, brass, titanium, PEEK, PTFE, acetal, nylon, and other engineering plastics. Our manufacturing capabilities cover 3-axis, 4-axis, and 5-axis CNC milling, as well as CNC turning, suitable for both prototype development and high-volume production runs.

With ISO 9001:2015 certification and a commitment to quality, we serve customers across aerospace, automotive, medical, electronics, industrial equipment, and consumer goods industries. Our in-house capabilities include surface finishing, anodizing, powder coating, heat treatment, and inspection with CMM and optical measurement equipment.

We offer competitive pricing, flexible lead times, and full material traceability. From simple brackets to complex precision components, we deliver parts that meet your specifications with reliable quality and on-time delivery.

Case StudiesMore+

SLINAR - High-Transparency PC 3D Printed E-Bike Outer Snap Ring with Integrated Clear Headlight Lens Cover Assembly

High-Transparency PC 3D Printed E-Bike Outer Snap Ring with Integrated Clear Headlight Lens Cover Assembly-nylon

Materials

Aluminum 5083-H111

Aluminum 5083-H111 | 3.3547 | 54300| AlMg4.5Mn0.7

Aluminum 5083 (CNC) is a strain hardening aluminum alloy with excellent corrosion resistance. Suitable for marine applications. Can be welded.

Understand Aluminum 5083-H111

Aluminum 6063

Aluminum 6063 | EN AW-6063 | 62400| AlMg0,7Si

Aluminum 6063 has good mechanical properties and can be heat treated. Suitable for aerospace applications. Can be welded.

Understand Aluminum 6063

Aluminum 5052

Aluminum 5052 | EN AW-5052 | 3.3523 | AlMg2,5

Aluminum 5052 is a strain hardening aluminum alloy with excellent corrosion resistance. Suitable for marine applications. Can be welded.

Understand Aluminum 5052

Aluminum 2024-T351

Aluminum 2024-T351 | 3.1355 | 24530 | AlCu4Mg1

Aluminum 2024 is a high-strength alloy with excellent fatigue resistance. Suitable for aerospace applications.

Understand Aluminum 2024-T351

Aluminum 7050

Aluminum 7050 | EN AW-7050 | 3.4144| AlZn6CuMgZr

Aluminum 7050 has excellent mechanical properties with good ductility, high strength, toughness and good resistance to fatigue. Suitable for aerospace applications.

Understand Aluminum 7050

Aluminum MIC-6

Aluminum MIC6

Aluminum MIC6 is a light weight material that can be easily machined at high speed and is free from tension, contaminants and porosity.

Understand Aluminum MIC-6

Aluminum 6082-T651

Aluminum 6082-T651 | 3.2315 | 64430 | AlSi1MgMn

Aluminum 6082-T651 (CNC) has very similar composition and properties to 6061, with slightly higher tensile strength. Compliant with British Standards.

Understand Aluminum 6082-T651

Aluminum 2017A

Aluminum 2017A | 3.1325 | 24530 | AlCu4MgSi

Aluminum 2017 has a higher ductility and formability than Aluminum 2014 and has intermediate strength.

Understand Aluminum 2017A

Aluminum 7075-T651

Aluminum 7075-T651 | 3.4365 | 76528 | AlZn5.5MgCu

Aluminum 7075-T651(CNC) is an aerospace-grade material with excellent strength-to-weight ratio and strength and hardness comparable to steels. T651 is the temper of Aluminum 7075, and to achieve this temper, the alloy is solution heat-treated, stress relieved, and then artificially aged.

Understand Aluminum 7075-T651

Aluminum 2014

Aluminum 2014 | 3.1255 | 24345 | AlCu4SiMg

Aluminum 2014 is easily machined and can be hardened to get strengths comparable to steel, but is prone to corrosion. Suitable for aerospace applications.

Understand Aluminum 2014

Aluminum 6061-T651

Aluminum 6061-T651 | 3.3211 | 65028 | AlMg1SiCu

Aluminum 6061-T651 is commonly used in aerospace, automotive and construction industry, as it is valued for its high strength, excellent machinability, and good weldability. The "T651" designation indicates that the material has been heat-treated to a specific level of hardness.

Understand Aluminum 6061-T651

Aluminum 7075-T7351

Aluminum 7075-T7351 | 3.4365 | 76528 | AlZn5.5MgCu

Aluminum 7075-T7351 is commonly used in aerospace and defense applications, as well as automotive and transportation, as it is valued for its high strength, excellent machinability and good fatigue resistance. The "T7351" designation indicates that the material has been heat-treated to a specific level of hardness.

Understand Aluminum 7075-T7351

Aluminum 6061-T6

Aluminum 6061-T6 | 3.3211| 65028| AlMg1SiCu

Aluminum 6061 (CNC) is the most popular aluminum alloy. It has good strength-to-weight ratio, excellent machinability and natural corrosion resistance.

Understand Aluminum 6061-T6

Aluminum 6082

Aluminum 6082 | 3.2315 | 64430| AlSi1MgMn

Aluminum 6082 (CNC) has very similar composition and properties to 6061, with slightly higher tensile strength. Compliant with British Standards.

Understand Aluminum 6082

Aluminum 6060

Aluminum 6060 | 3.3206 | AlMgSi

Alloy 6060 offers good strength, relatively good corrosion resistance and is suitable for decorative anodizing.

Understand Aluminum 6060

Aluminum 7075-T6

Aluminum 7075-T6 | 3.4365 | 76528 | AlZn5,5MgCu

Aluminum 7075-T6 (CNC) is an aerospace-grade material with excellent strength-to-weight ratio and strength and hardness comparable to steels.

Understand Aluminum 7075-T6

Applications

Gears & Mechanical Drives

Spur, helical, and worm gears
Gear trains and drive components
Sprockets and timing pulleys
Rack and pinion systems

Bearings & Bushings

Plain bearings and journal bearings
Flanged bushings and thrust washers
Wear pads and guide rings
Conveyor roller bearings

Industrial Equipment

Conveyor chain guides and wear strips
Hopper liners and chute liners
Scraper blades and seal rings
Pump components and impellers

Automotive

Thrust washers and spacer rings
Shift fork components
Fuel system components
Cable and wire guides

Food Processing

FDA-compliant conveyor components
Cutting boards and wear strips
Guide rails and food-grade parts

Capabilities

We machine Nylon 6, Nylon 6/6, and Nylon 6/12 in unfilled, glass-filled, and MoS₂-filled grades. Equipment includes CNC milling and turning centers with sharp carbide tooling. Moisture-controlled storage and machining conditions are maintained. Tolerances held to ±0.02-0.05mm standard, ±0.01mm precision. ISO 9001:2015 certified.

Finishes

As-Machined

Standard finish for nylon parts
Smooth, functional surface
Ra 1.6 – 3.2μm typical

Bead Blasting

Uniform matte texture
Used for industrial parts
Removes tool marks

Brushing

Directional grain pattern
Used for decorative industrial parts
Smooths visible surfaces

Tumbling

Edge deburring
Surface smoothing on large quantities
Uniform edge radius

Moisture Conditioning

Controlled moisture absorption for dimensional stability
Required for close-tolerance parts
Improves toughness

Technical Specs

Nylon Grade	Type	Tensile (MPa)	Elongation (%)	Hardness (Shore D)	Key Properties	Common Uses
Nylon 6	Unfilled	75-85	30-50	75-85	Tough, machinable, good wear	Gears, bushings, general
Nylon 6/6	Unfilled	80-90	20-40	80-85	Stiffer, higher melting point	Bearings, high-temp parts
Nylon 6/12	Unfilled	60-70	40-60	70-80	Low moisture absorption	Precision parts, hydraulic
Nylon 6 (30% GF)	Glass-filled	130-150	3-5	85-90	High stiffness, heat resistance	Structural, high-load parts
Nylon 6 (MoS₂)	MoS₂-filled	70-80	20-30	75-80	Self-lubricating, low friction	Bearings, wear parts

Parameter	Capability
Max Part Size (Milling)	2,000mm x 800mm x 600mm
Max Part Size (Turning)	600mm diameter x 1,500mm length
Standard Tolerance	±0.02 – 0.05mm
Precision Tolerance	±0.01mm
Surface Finish (As-Machined)	Ra 1.6 – 3.2μm

FAQs

What is the difference between Nylon 6 and Nylon 6/6?

Nylon 6 has better toughness and impact resistance. Nylon 6/6 has higher stiffness, higher melting point, and better dimensional stability at elevated temperatures. Nylon 6/6 is preferred for bearing and high-temperature applications.
What are the challenges of machining nylon?

Nylon absorbs moisture from the air, causing swelling and dimensional changes. Heat generation during machining can cause melting. Dried nylon should be machined promptly and stored in dry conditions.
What is the best nylon grade for gears?

Nylon 6/6 is commonly used for gears and wear parts due to its higher stiffness and operating temperature range. For high-wear applications, MoS₂-filled nylon provides self-lubrication.
Can nylon be used in food contact applications?

Yes, unfilled Nylon 6 and 6/6 are FDA-compliant for food contact applications. Glass-filled grades are not FDA-compliant.
What industries use CNC nylon machining?

Industrial equipment, automotive, food processing, electronics, and medical. Nylon is specified where wear resistance, low friction, and impact resistance are required.
How is nylon machined differently from other plastics?

Sharp carbide tooling and appropriate speeds are required. Nylon chips can be stringy and require proper evacuation. Moisture control is essential for close-tolerance parts.