What is cast nylon?
Cast nylon (MC nylon, PA6) is produced by casting liquid monomer into moulds, giving large, low-stress blanks that are machined into finished parts. Grades such as oil-filled and lubricated variants improve wear and friction further.
Where it beats metal
- Weight — about one-seventh the weight of steel, easier to handle and less inertia
- Self-lubrication — runs with little or no grease; ideal where lubrication is difficult
- Wear on mating parts — protects steel shafts, ropes and rails
- Noise and shock — absorbs vibration, runs quieter
- Corrosion — does not rust, suits wet and chemical environments
Typical parts
Bushes, wear pads and plates, rollers and wheels, sheaves and pulleys, gears, star wheels, feed screws, guides, slides, thrust washers, chute liners and insulation parts — usually made to drawing.
Where metal still wins
Cast nylon has lower stiffness and a lower temperature limit than metal, and absorbs some moisture, which changes dimensions slightly. For very high loads, high temperatures or very tight dimensional tolerances, steel or bronze is still the better choice. Good design allows for clearance and the operating temperature.