SLS Powder · Industrial 3D Printing

Nylon 11 Powder (SLS)

A strong, highly ductile bio-based SLS nylon. Nylon 11 takes impact and bends without cracking, which makes it the powder to choose for snap fits, hinges, and biocompatible end-use parts that flex in service.

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71 J/m

Notched Izod Impact

Highest of our SLS nylons

40%

Elongation at Break

Bends without cracking

1.6 GPa

Tensile Modulus

Semi-flexible stiffness

None

Support Structures

Sintered powder needs none

Real Nylon 11 SLS Parts

Actual Formlabs SLS prints in Nylon 11 Powder, not renders.

Array of custom orthotic insoles and footbeds printed in Formlabs Nylon 11 SLS powder on a blue background — Custom orthotic footbeds printed in Nylon 11, nested many to a build.

Hands flexing a thin black eyewear-style frame printed in Formlabs Nylon 11 SLS powder — A thin frame flexed by hand. 40% elongation at break is what lets it bend this far and recover.

Summary & Key Takeaways

Most Impact Resistant SLS Nylon We Print: 71 J/m notched Izod and 40% elongation at break, ahead of Nylon 12, Nylon 12 Tough, and Nylon 12 GF.
Bio-Based: Derived from renewable feedstock rather than petrochemical sources.
Biocompatible: Rated biocompatible on its technical data sheet, which suits orthotics and skin-contact parts.
No Supports, Isotropic Strength: Sintered in a powder bed, so complex geometry needs no supports and strength does not depend on part orientation.

Compare Nylon 11 SLS to Other 3D Printing Materials

A quick, scannable comparison against the alternatives engineers usually weigh against it. All values are shown at once; use the buttons to focus on one comparison at a time.

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Tensile modulus, flexural strength, elongation at break, impact strength, and heat deflection temperature for SLS Nylon 11 versus SLS Nylon 12, SLS Nylon 12 Tough, and Tough 1500 Resin.
Property	Nylon 11 SLS	Nylon 12 SLS	Nylon 12 Tough SLS	Tough 1500
Tensile modulus	1.6 GPa	1.9 GPa	1.45 GPa	1.46 GPa
Flexural strength	55 MPa	66 MPa	42 MPa	41 MPa
Elongation at break	40%	11%	25%	155%
Notched Izod impact	71 J/m	32 J/m	60 J/m	42 J/m
Heat deflection temp (0.45 MPa)	46 °C	87 °C	46 °C	66 °C
Support structures	None required	None required	None required	Removable supports for overhangs

Why Choose Nylon 11 Powder (SLS)?

The ductile end of the SLS nylon range, for parts that have to take a hit or bend in service rather than stay rigid.

Takes Impact Without Cracking

A 71 J/m notched Izod impact strength and 40% elongation at break let clips, hinges, and housings absorb drops and repeated deflection that would crack a stiffer sintered nylon.

No Supports, Any Geometry

Parts are sintered in a powder bed, so internal channels, lattices, and interlocking assemblies print without support structures and come out with uniform surface finish on every face.

Bio-Based and Biocompatible

Nylon 11 is derived from renewable feedstock and is rated biocompatible on its technical data sheet, which is why it is a common choice for orthotics, braces, and other skin-contact end-use parts.

Nylon 11 SLS Design Rules (DFM) at a Glance

Formlabs SLS design guidelines for the Fuse Series. Check your CAD feature dimensions against these limits before uploading your file.

Min. wall thickness (vertical · horizontal)	0.8 mm for both (same minimum whether the wall is supported or unsupported)
Min. pin/wire diameter	0.8 mm
Min. hole diameter	1.0 mm
Min. drain/escape hole (2 per powder-trapping cavity)	3.5 mm
Clearance, mating features separated after printing	0.2 mm (< 20 mm²) · 0.4 mm (> 20 mm²)
Clearance, mating features printed pre-assembled	0.3 mm (< 20 mm²) · 0.6 mm (> 20 mm²)
Clearance between unrelated parts in a build	1.0 mm min · 5.0 mm recommended
Min. embossed detail (raised text/logos)	0.15 mm deep, horizontal face · 0.35 mm deep, vertical face (4.5 mm min. text height)
Min. engraved detail (recessed text/logos)	0.1 mm deep, horizontal face · 0.15 mm deep, vertical face (3.0 mm min. text height)
Max. single-part build size	330 × 330 × 565 mm

Close-up of a textured part printed in Formlabs Nylon 11 SLS powder, showing the matte media-blasted surface — The media-blasted surface up close. Sintered parts have no support scars, so every face looks like this one.

Source: Formlabs' Design specifications for 3D models: Fuse 1, adapted to hold walls to a higher minimum than Formlabs' published figures. Nylon 11 is the most ductile of our SLS nylons, so thin walls flex rather than crack, but the same minimum applies so parts survive depowdering and media blasting. These are general guidelines; thicker cross-sections, hole depth, and part geometry can shift the safe minimums for a specific design. Maximum build size reflects our largest-format SLS printer; actual build size depends on which machine your order routes to.

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about designing, ordering, and using Nylon 11 SLS parts on Form Now.

What is Nylon 11 SLS powder?

Nylon 11 Powder is a strong and highly ductile bio-based material for selective laser sintering (SLS). It is ideal for robust biocompatible parts, functional prototyping, and producing custom or low volume end-use parts that need to bend or take impact.

How tough is Nylon 11 compared to Nylon 12?

Nylon 11 is considerably more ductile and impact resistant. It has a notched Izod impact strength of 71 J/m and 40% elongation at break, against 32 J/m and 11% for Nylon 12. Nylon 12 is stiffer, at a 1.9 GPa tensile modulus and 66 MPa flexural strength versus 1.6 GPa and 55 MPa, and has a much higher heat deflection temperature at 87 °C against 46 °C.

What is Nylon 11 SLS used for?

Nylon 11 is commonly used for snap fits and clips, orthotics, impact-resistant parts, hinge mechanisms, thin-walled parts, and low volume end-use parts that need to flex in service.

Do SLS Nylon 11 parts need support structures?

No. SLS parts are sintered inside a bed of powder that supports the geometry as it builds, so there are no supports to design around or remove. That allows internal channels, lattices, and pre-assembled moving parts, and it means the surface finish is uniform on every face.

Is Nylon 11 biocompatible?

Nylon 11 Powder is rated biocompatible on its Formlabs technical data sheet, which makes it a candidate for orthotics and other skin-contact applications. See the technical data sheet for the specific standards tested and the conditions the rating covers.

What are the minimum wall thickness and hole size design rules for Nylon 11 SLS?

Per Formlabs' design specifications for SLS, we recommend a minimum wall thickness of 0.8 mm for both vertical and horizontal walls, and holes should be at least 1.0 mm in diameter. Any cavity that can trap powder needs two escape holes of at least 3.5 mm. Maximum single-part build size is 330 x 330 x 565 mm.