PA6 and PA66 parts cut on 3-, 4-, and 5-axis machines, with moisture and tolerance discussed before cutting starts. Prototype quantities or 10,000+ part runs, no minimum order quantity. Quotation and DFM analysis back within 12 hours.
Four failures we see on incoming PA drawings and finished parts.
Nylon absorbs moisture from shop air. A part checked dry on the machine can grow 0.1–0.3% within days. If the drawing calls ±0.05 mm, that drift alone eats the whole band. We agree on a conditioning state before the first cut.
PA is soft and springy. Clamp pressure and cutter push deflect a 1.5 mm wall during cutting, then it releases. The part looks fine on the machine and bows once unclamped. Light finishing passes and low clamp force fix most of it.
Too much spindle speed or a dull tool melts nylon instead of cutting it. You get stringy burrs and a smeared face that will not clean up. Sharp carbide, high feed per tooth, and air blast keep the cut cold.
PA6, PA66, PA12, and 30% glass-filled PA machine differently and hold different tolerances. Picking cast PA6 for a part that needs stiffness in humidity leads to callbacks. Grade selection should come from load, temperature, and moisture exposure.
Two capabilities decide whether a PA nylon part holds tolerance: heat control at the cut and a plan for moisture after it.
Nylon cuts best when the tool edge is sharp and the chip is thick enough to carry heat away. We run uncoated or polished carbide with high positive rake, keep spindle speed moderate, and use air blast instead of flood coolant. Coolant can be absorbed and later bleed out of the part.
Feed per tooth matters more than raw RPM. A light chip rubs the surface, builds friction, and melts the material into a smear. We set the feed so each tooth bites, then finish with a spring pass to release residual stress before the final dimension is taken.
PA nylon is hygroscopic. A dry-machined part will grow as it takes on ambient moisture, and a part machined at equilibrium will shrink if it later dries out. Neither state is wrong; the mistake is not saying which one applies to the drawing.
For tight parts we machine from conditioned stock and let the blank sit before finishing. For parts that will run wet or outdoors, we cut dry and note the expected growth so the inspector measures at the same state the end user will see. This is a conversation, not a default.
General guidance only. Load, temperature, and moisture exposure decide the final call.
| Grade | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| PA6 (cast or extruded) | Brackets, covers, wear pads | Higher moisture uptake than PA12 |
| PA66 | Stiffer structural parts, gears | Poor dimensional stability in humid air |
| PA12 | Precision parts, fuel and air lines | Lower strength than PA66 |
| PA6 + 30% glass fiber | Stiff housings, load-bearing arms | Abrasive to tooling, edge chipping |
| PA + MoS₂ or oil-filled | Bushings, sliding surfaces | Filler can smear on fine finishes |
Everything from a single prototype to a 10,000+ part run, in one shop.
Plates, covers, and prismatic nylon parts with simple setups and quick turnaround.
Long parts and multi-face cuts on one fixture, fewer re-clamps, less chance of distortion.
Contoured nylon housings and undercut features cut in one setup on 16 simultaneous 5-axis centers.
Turned bushings, rollers, and threaded nylon parts on mill-turn centers.
One-off PA parts for fit checks, quotation and free DFM analysis within 12 hours.
Bead blasting, tumbling, and polishing tuned for soft plastics, not metal settings.
Standard scope on every plastic job we run.
| Item | What we do | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Part size | Up to 4,000 mm maximum processing size | Larger parts quoted case by case |
| Volume | One prototype to 10,000+ parts | No minimum order quantity |
| Tolerance | Held to the drawing after moisture state is fixed | ±0.005 mm applied to metal work |
| Inspection | 100% inspection before shipment | Reports on request |
| Lead time | Parts ship in 3–5 days | Production can start within 24 hours |
| Confidentiality | Secure uploads, NDA available | Signed before files are opened |
Fifteen years cutting plastics and metals, three wholly-owned plants in Dongguan and Singapore.
The same inspection discipline applies to PA nylon once the moisture state is agreed.
16 simultaneous 5-axis, 12 four-axis mills, 27 three-axis machines, and 16 mill-turn centers.
Quotation and free DFM analysis within 12 hours of receiving a drawing.
Raw material check, in-process monitoring, and final inspection on every order.
ISO 9001:2015, IATF 16949:2016, ISO 13485:2016, and ISO 27001:2022.
Nylon clips and covers need to survive vibration and underhood heat without cracking at the boss.
Parts must hold dielectric spacing and stay dimensionally stable across a wide humidity range.
Bushings and guides in filled PA need a smooth bore and predictable clearance after break-in.
Thin-wall enclosures need clean edges and no melted flash around connector openings.
It depends on the grade and the part size. On unfilled PA, a realistic band on a well-supported feature is around ±0.05 mm after the moisture state is fixed. Long thin sections and glass-filled grades open that up.
The ±0.005 mm figure we quote applies to metal work. For nylon we agree a tolerance per feature rather than applying one number to the whole drawing.
Match the machining state to the service state. If the part will sit in a dry enclosure, machine dry. If it will live in humid air or contact water, machine from conditioned stock.
Either way, the inspection report notes the state so the numbers mean something when you measure the part again weeks later.
PA6 and PA66 come up most for general parts. PA12 is common for precision work and fluid handling because it takes up less moisture.
Glass-filled and MoS₂-filled grades are available when stiffness or sliding wear matters. Filled grades are more abrasive, so tool life and edge quality need closer watching.
Yes, with plastic-appropriate settings. Bead blasting and tumbling work well for softening tool marks and breaking edges.
Polishing to a mirror finish is harder on unfilled PA because the material smears. If a cosmetic finish matters, tell us at quote stage so we can pick the grade and the sequence together.
POM machines cleaner and holds tighter tolerances with less moisture movement. PEEK handles higher temperatures and costs more.
Nylon sits between them on cost and toughness. It is a good pick when impact resistance and wear matter more than dimensional stability.
Yes. The filler makes the material abrasive, so we use carbide or diamond-coated tooling and expect shorter tool life.
Glass-filled parts also chip at sharp edges. We design the toolpath to enter and exit away from critical corners where the drawing allows.
One part. There is no minimum order quantity, so a single prototype and a 10,000+ part run go through the same quoting process.
For one-offs we can often ship in 3–5 days, with production starting within 24 hours of an approved order.
Uploads are secure and treated as confidential. An NDA is available on request and we can sign before files are opened.
We hold ISO 27001:2022, which covers how we manage information security across the three plants.
Upload the drawing or a 3D file. We come back with a quotation, a DFM note, and a moisture plan, not a generic price list.
12-hour quote100% inspectionNo MOQNDA on request
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Upload your 3D model or 2D drawing and get a quotation with a free DFM analysis. Maximum processing size 4,000 mm.
CNC Metals 13 grades
CNC Plastics 10 grades
Machines & processes 12 options
Surface & post-processing 10 options
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