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Formlabs Nylon 12 GF Powder
PA12, glass-filledPowderSLS (Fuse series)Formlabs
Quick answer
Formlabs Nylon 12 GF Powder is the glass-filled PA12 for the Fuse SLS series: glass filler raises tensile modulus to 2800 MPa (from 1850 MPa for unfilled Nylon 12 Powder) and HDT at 1.8 MPa to 113 °C, per Formlabs — at the cost of tensile strength (38 MPa) and elongation at break (4% in X/Y). It is the Fuse material for stiff parts that must hold their shape under sustained load and heat.
Nylon 12 GF is Formlabs' stiffness option for the Fuse series, positioned for parts where structural rigidity and thermal stability are the key requirements — static jigs and fixtures, and fixtures that sit under sustained loading. Adding glass to the PA12 base lifts the modulus by roughly half over the unfilled powder and pushes the load-bearing heat deflection temperature from 87 °C to 113 °C.
The other side of the trade is written in the same data: ultimate tensile strength falls from 50 MPa to 38 MPa and elongation at break from 11% to 4%. Formlabs itself warns that thin features in Nylon 12 GF are more prone to breaking than in Nylon 12 because of the increased stiffness and brittleness — this is a material for rigid, chunky parts, not for clips, hinges or thin walls.
Properties (manufacturer datasheet)
| Property | Value | Test method / note |
|---|---|---|
| Ultimate tensile strength | 38 MPa | ASTM D638-14 Type 1 |
| Tensile modulus | 2800 MPa | ASTM D638-14 Type 1 |
| Elongation at break (X/Y) | 4% | ASTM D638-14 Type 1; Z: 3% |
| Flexural modulus | 2400 MPa | ASTM D790-15 |
| Notched Izod impact strength | 36 J/m | ASTM D256-10 |
| HDT @ 1.8 MPa | 113 °C | ASTM D648-16 |
| HDT @ 0.45 MPa | 170 °C | ASTM D648-16 |
Values are reproduced from the manufacturer source(s) listed below, exactly as published. Properties the manufacturer does not publish are omitted rather than estimated — see the sourcing policy.
Processing notes
- SLS powder for Formlabs Fuse series printers, run at a standard refresh rate of 50% (Formlabs allows up to 70% under its guidance for troubleshooting defects).
- Formlabs recommends tuning the printer's bed temperature before the first build in this material, on aged powder.
- Parts carry a stronger Surface Armor shell than Nylon 12 parts and need media blasting to remove it fully.
Typical applications
- Stiff structural components that must not flex
- Static jigs and fixtures, including fixtures under long-term sustained loading
- Parts needing thermal stability at higher service temperatures
- Rigid housings and brackets on Fuse-series production
Frequently asked questions
Nylon 12 GF or plain Nylon 12 Powder?
GF when the part must stay rigid and hold shape under load and heat: modulus 2800 vs 1850 MPa and HDT at 1.8 MPa of 113 °C vs 87 °C. Plain Nylon 12 when the part needs strength and toughness instead: 50 MPa tensile strength and 11% elongation versus 38 MPa and 4% for the GF grade.
What refresh rate does Nylon 12 GF use?
Formlabs specifies a standard refresh rate of 50% virgin powder, and allows up to 70% under its guidance when troubleshooting part defects. That is a higher virgin-powder share than unfilled Fuse nylons typically run, which is part of this material's running cost.
Is the filler glass fibre or glass beads?
Formlabs describes the material as glass-filled PA12 and does not specify the filler form (fibre vs beads) in its published data sheet, so this page does not claim one. EOS, by contrast, explicitly specifies glass beads for PA 3200 GF.
When should I avoid Nylon 12 GF?
For thin features, snap-fits, hinges and anything that must flex or absorb impact. Formlabs notes thin features are more prone to breaking in this material; its 4% elongation at break is the lowest of the Fuse nylon powders listed here.
Last updated: November 2026