Laser cutting out pa6 polyamide (nylon)

 A robust technical plastic ideal for dynamic applications.

Polyamide is a hard, strong technical plastic with many different names. It is known under the brand name Nylon but perhaps you also know it as PA or PA6. Other names are Sustamid, Ertalon, Nylon 6, PA 12, PA66, Akulon, Ultramid, Zytel, and Nylatron.

Nylon is found in many forms; in clothing, as thread and rope, as hard parts or as foil in the packaging industry. But here we are talking about polyamide sheets roughly 1 mm to 10 mm thick that you can have laser cut according to your design.

Typical properties of polyamide are:

• tough
• high mechanical strength
• high impact resistance
• wear-resistant
• good sliding properties (low friction)
• High moisture absorption

Laser cutting

Polyamide can be laser cut quite neatly. A thin melt edge forms along the cut on the bottom of the plate. This is thin (0.1~0.5mm). You can remove the melt edge with a deburrer, a utility knife, or with a file or sandpaper. Another option is to choose protective film on the underside during the ordering process. You will then receive the laser-cut parts with film and after removal, the melt edge is also gone. This remains on the film. The top side of the laser cut is neat and tidy. 

Alternatives

The properties of Nylon are very similar to those of POM (Polyacetal). Therefore, for most applications, POM is a good alternative to Nylon.

Application

Sectors in which laser-cut polyamide semi-finished products or parts are used:

• automotive 
• oil and gas
• offshore
• automation
• bakeries
• meat and fish processing
• chemistry
• mechanical engineering
• wind energy
• food industry