Materials · Mechanical plastics
Nylon machining
Custom nylon parts CNC machined to your drawing or sample: sheaves, sprockets, gears, wear rings and more. Machined in our Aurora, Illinois shop.
Nylon at a glance
- Full name
- Polyamide (PA)
- Also called
- PA 6, PA 6/6, cast nylon, Nylatron®
- Known for
- Toughness, wear resistance and strength
- In water
- Takes on moisture and grows slightly
- Grades
- Extruded, cast, oil-filled, MoS₂-filled and more
Parts in nylon
Nylon parts we machine
The parts we see most often in nylon, and why it suits each job. We machine any nylon part to your drawing or sample, listed here or not.
- Sheaves photo
Sheaves
Tough and quiet, and gentle on wire rope and cable.
- Sprockets photo
Sprockets
Wears well against steel chain, and runs quieter than steel.
- Timing gears photo
Timing gears
Strong, quiet teeth that take shock loads.
- Rollers photo
Rollers
Strong enough to carry load, and quiet on the line.
- Bushings photo
Bushings
Wears well and runs with little or no grease in lubricated grades.
- Wear rings photo
Wear rings
Resists wear in sliding contact with metal.
- Bearing blocks photo
Bearing blocks
Strong enough to carry a shaft, and quiet running.
- Star wheels photo
Star wheels
Tough pockets that take repeated contact with containers.
- Pistons photo
Pistons
Takes shock and wears well in a bore.
Need a different nylon part? Send the drawing, or the old part, and we’ll quote it. Request a quote
Is nylon right for the part?
Where nylon works, and where another plastic may suit
General guidance on how nylon behaves. If your drawing specifies a nylon grade, we machine to it. Compare acetal and nylon
Where it works
- Toughness
- Takes impact and shock loads without cracking.
- Wear
- Resists wear in gears, sheaves and sliding parts.
- Strength
- Strong and stiff for a plastic, so it carries load.
- Quiet running
- Runs quieter than metal and is gentler on mating metal parts.
- Light weight
- Much lighter than the metal parts it often replaces.
- Lubricated grades
- Oil-filled and MoS₂-filled grades run with less friction.
Where another plastic may suit
| If the part needs | Often used instead |
|---|---|
| Wet service or tight fits Nylon takes on moisture and grows. Acetal stays closer to size. | |
| Abrasive or wet wear surfaces For wet, abrasive sliding, UHMW usually lasts longer and absorbs almost no water. | |
| Strong acids Strong acids attack nylon. | |
| Higher temperatures Heat-stabilized grades help, but its heat limit is moderate. |
Grades
Nylon grades
Nylon comes as extruded, cast and filled grades. Name the grade on your drawing, or tell us how the part runs and we’ll suggest one.
| Grade | Typically used for |
|---|---|
| Extruded nylon 6 | General machined parts from rod and plate. |
| Nylon 6/6 | Slightly harder, stiffer and more heat resistant than nylon 6. |
| Cast nylon | Large parts and thick sections. Cast stock comes in large sizes with low internal stress. |
| Oil-filled cast | Lower friction in sliding and wear parts. |
| MoS₂-filled (Nylatron®) | Gears, bushings and wear parts that need lower friction and better wear. |
| Glass-filled | Extra stiffness, and less growth with heat. |
| Heat-stabilized | Parts that run warm for long periods. |
| Food-contact grades | Parts that touch food. Compliance comes with the grade’s supplier documentation. |
| Metal-detectable | Food and pharmaceutical lines where stray fragments must be found. Detectable plastics |
Buyer questions
Nylon FAQs
Something else? Call (630) 904-2525.
All plastics we machineNylatron® is a brand of filled nylon. Its grades are nylon with added lubricants such as MoS₂, for lower friction and better wear. If your drawing specifies a Nylatron grade, we machine the part in that grade. Nylatron® is a registered trademark; CDS is not affiliated with its owner.
Extruded nylon 6 and 6/6 come as rod and plate in smaller sizes. Cast nylon is made in large shapes with low internal stress, so it suits large and thick parts. Both machine well. We machine whichever your drawing names, or suggest one with your quote.
Slightly. Nylon takes on moisture from the air and from water, and grows a little as it does. For wet service or close fits, we allow for it, or suggest a plastic that stays closer to size, such as acetal or UHMW.
Yes. We supply nylon sheet and rod, cut to size when you need it, through our material supply service.