Nylon, but which one?

[RWD3M]

Hi all,

Anyone know anything about Nylon?

As a follow on to my question about turning box section into channel (which I won't now be doing by the way, I'll be having it folded ), which nylon should I be using to make some guide blocks from?

I've had quite a trawl online and have found many options, Nylon 6, 66, 612, 12... and I have no idea what any of those numbers means Can anyone enlighten me?

Thanks,

 

[Buzza]

Worth a look here, https://www.directplastics.co.uk/
Lots of product usage info.

 

[Kram]

Anyone know anything about Nylon?

It machines, to quote somone on here, "like dog sh.t".

Could I suggest delrin/acetal as an alternative? Cuts like butter, very pleasant to use and has low friction, often used as guide blocks.

As for nylon grades, 6 and 66 are the common ones I believe. One is better for higher temperatures. It sounds like your use is for a bearing guide way and so there are many other grades with carbon/oil/ptfe as friction reducers, which may help. I've no experience of them, but belive it does not improve the machining properties.

 

[RWD3M]

Worth a look here, https://www.directplastics.co.uk/
Lots of product usage info.

Cheers @Buzza, I've got some reading to do

 

[ajlelectronics]

It machines, to quote somone on here, "like dog sh.t".

The other option is to print the shapes required from Nylon 66 or a blend of 6 and 66.

 

[RWD3M]

...Could I suggest delrin/acetal as an alternative? ...

You absolutely can. It's for use in guiding....Hmm, picture a car ramp where the bed slides up and down inside the uprights. Those guides, on a much smaller scale.

 

[RWD3M]

The other option is to print the shapes required from Nylon 66 or a blend of 6 and 66.

I hadn't thought of that! Good idea.

 

[Agroshield]

It's for use in guiding....Hmm, picture a car ramp where the bed slides up and down inside the uprights

That sounds a lot like how a Hiab or any other telescoping jib crane works. See what they use for their slider blocks and use the same. Nylon is used a lot in rolling elements (wheels) but I do not know if it is used in sliding. I think Mr Aardvark knows something of the Hiab contraptions so he might be able to help.

 

[RWD3M]

That sounds a lot like how a Hiab or any other telescoping jib crane works. See what they use for their slider blocks and use the same. Nylon is used a lot in rolling elements (wheels) but I do not know if it is used in sliding. I think Mr Aardvark knows something of the Hiab contraptions so he might be able to help.

@The_Yellow_Ardvark, is this so?

 

[RWD3M]

That sounds a lot like how a Hiab or any other telescoping jib crane works. See what they use for their slider blocks and use the same. Nylon is used a lot in rolling elements (wheels) but I do not know if it is used in sliding. I think Mr Aardvark knows something of the Hiab contraptions so he might be able to help.

Yes, though there will be little, if any compressive forces on the guides themselves.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

@The_Yellow_Ardvark, is this so?

Indeed.
Different type for different load applications.

 

[Kram]

UHMWPE may be another choice for guide blocks, low friction. I am not sure if its good on creep - which HDPE is rubbish for - put a weight on it and it will squish out of the way.

UHMWPE will deform continually as long as the stress is present, an effect known as creep.
Maybe not suitable for high load applications

The other option is to print the shapes required from Nylon 66 or a blend of 6 and 66.

Does it print any better than it machines? I suspect if it did, we would see more nylon prints..
Nylon is probably best where injection moulded. I did make up a crude injection mold for it once. Temperature control is critical as it has only a small window before it degrades.

 

[Hood]

Acetal or if determined to go Nylon get Oilon.

 

[ajlelectronics]

Does it print any better than it machines? I suspect if it did, we would see more nylon prints..
Nylon is probably best where injection moulded. I did make up a crude injection mold for it once. Temperature control is critical as it has only a small window before it degrades.

Overture Easy Nylon prints nicely. I use it for gearstick bushes. It is a 6/66 blend.

 

[Agroshield]

Hiab themselves call it an "advanced, oil-filled, nylon material" (https://webshop.hiab.com/en/hiab/bearings/slide-pads/).

I wonder if there would be a way of 3D printing something in nylon so that it is porous, along the same lines as a sintered bronze Oilite bearing, such that it could be impregnated with oil.

These people mention UHMW (https://blog.truckloaders.co.uk/how-long-should-hiab-wear-parts-last-under-constant-use)

Just for the bragging rights, what you really want is Lamigamid, which sounds like something from a Tolkien book: (https://www.roechling.com/uk/industrial/industries/plastics-for-crane-and-lifting-systems). The PA6 and PA12 they put alongside their product grades presumably align with those of standard nylon (see also: https://www.mcam.com/en/applications/wear-pads).

 

[ajlelectronics]

I wonder if there would be a way of 3D printing something in nylon so that it is porous, along the same lines as a sintered bronze Oilite bearing, such that it could be impregnated with oil.

Nylon is highly hygroscopic so possibly if dry and immersed in oil, it might impregnate?

 

[nickk]

I made these many years ago,used on a floating deflector in a river weir,I used Delrin,although they look thin they held up well and are still in service.

 

[Hood]

Hiab themselves call it an "advanced, oil-filled, nylon material" (https://webshop.hiab.com/en/hiab/bearings/slide-pads/).
....

See my post above, Oilon.

Do rollers every now and again from it, just about as horrible to turn as nylon but nice finish and lasts well.

 

[bricol]

You absolutely can. It's for use in guiding....Hmm, picture a car ramp where the bed slides up and down inside the uprights. Those guides, on a much smaller scale.

Used to use black nylatron in just that sort of application - blocks with a slot cut into them to use as a guides, wrapped around 50x50x5 RSA. And as solid blocks secured to run against hollow sections.

If you like the sound of oilon - I may have some going spare if you're not after massively thick or large pieces.

 

[indy4x]

UHMWPE may be another choice for guide blocks, low friction. I am not sure if its good on creep - which HDPE is rubbish for - put a weight on it and it will squish out of the way.

UHMWPE would probably be my choice, easy to machine and don't think it suffers from 'creep'

Pretty sure it's what synthetic winch rope is made from

Have also seen it used as body lift spacers on 4x4's and its what was used on the 4x4 picture I'm my avatar