---
title: "Nylon CNC Machining | Nylon 6, 6/6, Cast Nylon Parts | OpenSpindle"
description: "Get quotes for custom nylon parts from independent machine shops. Nylon 6, 6/6, cast nylon, and MDS-filled grades machined into gears, bearings, and wear parts. Upload a drawing."
canonical: https://openspindle.com/materials/nylon
---

# Custom nylon parts from independent machine shops

Nylon is the go-to engineering plastic for gears, bearings, and wear parts: tough, self-lubricating, and quiet under load. It also absorbs moisture, which swells the part and shifts dimensions, so design and tolerancing around that up front. Upload a drawing and hear back from shops that machine nylon every day.

## Nylon shops on OpenSpindle

Real shops that machine nylon and other engineering plastics. See their equipment and talk to the person making your part.

[Browse all nylon shops](https://openspindle.com/manufacturers?material=Nylon%206%2CNylon%2066)

## Nylon grades shops run most

Grade sets strength, wear behavior, and how much the part moves with moisture. These are the ones you will see quoted; if yours is not here, ask when you request a quote. One caveat applies to all of them: nylon absorbs water, which lowers stiffness and grows the part, so account for it before you pick a grade.

### Nylon 6 (extruded)

The general-purpose grade. Tougher and easier to process than 6/6, with good impact resistance, but absorbs slightly more moisture. Stocked widely in rod, plate, and tube.

**Best for:** General wear parts, impact-loaded parts, prototypes

### Nylon 6/6

Higher strength, stiffness, and heat resistance than Nylon 6, with a higher melting point. The default when you need more load capacity or service temperature, though it is a bit more brittle.

**Best for:** Structural parts, gears, higher-temperature parts

### Cast nylon (Type 6)

Cast in large sections with lower internal stress and better wear resistance than extruded stock. Machines to a stable finish in thick parts where extruded rod would move or crack.

**Best for:** Large sheaves, rollers, wear pads, big machined blanks

### MDS-filled nylon

Cast nylon filled with molybdenum disulfide, which colors it black and improves wear and bearing performance. Lower friction and better load capacity make it a common bearing and bushing choice.

**Best for:** Bearings, bushings, wear surfaces, bushed rollers

### 30% glass-filled nylon

Glass fiber raises stiffness, strength, and dimensional stability and cuts moisture-driven movement. It is more abrasive to machine and less tough than unfilled grades.

**Best for:** Rigid brackets, structural parts, dimensionally critical parts

## Material Properties

Representative values for Nylon 6/6, dry as-molded. Numbers shift once the part absorbs moisture, which is the property that most affects nylon design.

| Property | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Density | ~1.14 g/cm³ (0.041 lb/in³) |
| Tensile strength (dry) | ~11 ksi (79 MPa) dry as-molded |
| Max continuous service temp | ~85–105 °C (185–220 °F) |
| Friction & wear | Low friction, good wear resistance; self-lubricating |
| Chemical resistance | Good vs solvents, oils, fuels; attacked by strong acids |
| Moisture absorption | ~2.5–3% at saturation; swells and lowers stiffness |
| Machinability | Good; stress-relief and moisture control matter for tolerances |

Moisture absorption is the single most important nylon design consideration. As the part takes on water it grows and softens, so hold tolerances loose on critical features, condition the stock, and expect dimensional change in service.

## Stock Forms

- **Plate & block** -- Milled wear pads, guides, and prismatic parts from cast or extruded stock.
- **Round bar** -- Turned bushings, rollers, sheaves, and gears from rod.
- **Sheet** -- Cut and machined slides, guides, and wear strips from sheet.

## Processes That Run This Material

- [CNC Machining](https://openspindle.com/capabilities/cnc-machining.md) -- Milled wear pads, guides, and gears from cast plate and block.
- [CNC Turning](https://openspindle.com/capabilities/cnc-turning.md) -- Turned bushings, rollers, and sheaves from nylon rod.
- [Waterjet Cutting](https://openspindle.com/manufacturers?capability=Waterjet%20cutting) -- Cold cutting of nylon plate with no melted or heat-affected edge.
- [5-Axis Machining](https://openspindle.com/manufacturers?capability=5-axis%20milling) -- Complex nylon geometry in a single setup, holding light cuts to limit stress.

## Finishes

Nylon parts normally ship as-machined. It does not plate or anodize, so the meaningful choices are stock color and how you manage moisture, not a coating.

- **Natural (off-white / cream)** -- The standard unfilled color. Best strength and toughness, and easy to see wear or cracking on the surface.
- **Black (MDS-filled)** -- Molybdenum disulfide filled cast nylon. Black throughout with better wear and bearing performance, common for bushings and slides.
- **As-machined** -- No coating. Nylon machines to a clean, low-friction surface that is ready to run for most wear and bearing parts.
- **Moisture conditioning** -- Soaking or controlled equilibration to the service humidity before final machining, so the part reaches its working size instead of moving on the shelf.

Design around moisture-driven dimensional change rather than a surface finish. Nylon does not accept plating or anodizing; if you need a harder or more stable surface, consider a glass-filled grade or acetal.

## Applications

- Gears
- Bearings & bushings
- Wear pads & guides
- Rollers & sheaves
- Insulators
- Sprockets
- Seals
- Marine hardware

Nylon shows up wherever parts slide, roll, or mesh and need to run quietly with little lubrication.

## How It Compares

How nylon stacks up against the other plastics shops quote most.

### [Delrin (acetal)](https://openspindle.com/materials/delrin.md)

- Acetal is far more dimensionally stable and absorbs very little moisture, so it holds tolerances better
- Nylon is tougher, takes impact better, and has the edge in wear and bearing life
- Acetal machines to tighter, more repeatable tolerances; nylon parts move with humidity

**Verdict:** Choose nylon for toughness and wear where some dimensional movement is acceptable. Choose acetal when tight, stable tolerances matter more than impact resistance.

### [PEEK](https://openspindle.com/materials/peek.md)

- PEEK handles far higher temperatures and loads and is far more chemically resistant
- Nylon costs a fraction of PEEK and is easy to source in large sections
- PEEK is dimensionally stable and low-moisture; nylon is not

**Verdict:** Choose nylon for everyday wear parts at low cost. Choose PEEK when heat, chemicals, or stability justify a much higher material price.

## Frequently Asked Questions

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

Nylon 6 is tougher, has better impact resistance, and is easier to process, but absorbs slightly more moisture. Nylon 6/6 has higher strength, stiffness, and heat resistance with a higher melting point, at the cost of being a bit more brittle. Use Nylon 6 for impact and general wear parts, and 6/6 when you need more load capacity or service temperature.

### Why does nylon absorb moisture and does it matter?

Nylon is hygroscopic and takes on roughly 2.5 to 3 percent water at saturation. As it absorbs moisture the part grows dimensionally and loses stiffness, which is the single most important nylon design consideration. Hold critical tolerances loose, condition the stock to the service humidity, and expect the part to move in service.

### When should I use cast nylon instead of extruded?

Cast nylon is made in large sections with lower internal stress and better wear resistance, so it machines to a stable finish in thick parts. Extruded rod and plate are fine for smaller parts and are widely stocked, but big blanks can move or crack. For large sheaves, rollers, and thick wear pads, cast nylon is the better choice.

### Is nylon a good bearing or gear material?

Yes. Nylon is self-lubricating, quiet, and wears well against metal, which makes it a common gear, bushing, and bearing material. MDS-filled cast nylon lowers friction further and improves load capacity for bearing surfaces. Just design for moisture-driven dimensional change so running clearances stay in range.

### How does nylon compare to Delrin (acetal)?

Acetal is far more dimensionally stable and absorbs very little moisture, so it holds tight tolerances better. Nylon is tougher, takes impact better, and generally has the edge in wear and bearing life. Choose acetal when stable tolerances are critical and nylon when toughness and wear matter more.

### Can nylon be plated, painted, or anodized?

No. Nylon parts ship as-machined; it does not accept plating or anodizing. The meaningful choices are stock color, natural off-white for best toughness or black MDS-filled for better wear, and how you manage moisture before and after machining. If you need a harder or more stable surface, consider a glass-filled grade or acetal.

### What file formats should I send for a nylon part?

STEP, IGES, X_T, DWG, DXF, or a dimensioned PDF. Include the grade (for example Nylon 6, Nylon 6/6, or cast MDS-filled), critical dimensions with tolerances, quantity, and a note on service conditions such as humidity or load so the shop can advise on moisture and grade.

## Related Materials

- [Delrin](https://openspindle.com/materials/delrin.md)
- [PEEK](https://openspindle.com/materials/peek.md)
- [Aluminum](https://openspindle.com/materials/aluminum.md)
- [Stainless Steel](https://openspindle.com/materials/stainless-steel.md)
- [Brass](https://openspindle.com/materials/brass.md)
- [Copper](https://openspindle.com/materials/copper.md)

## Get nylon part quotes

Upload a drawing once and compare quotes from independent shops that machine nylon gears, bearings, and wear parts.