Your Guide to SLS: Advantages, Materials, and Best Practices
Selective Laser Sintering for complex, functional prototypes and end-use parts. Advantages, materials, design guidelines, and faster production.
Read the ArticlePA11 (SLS) 3D Printing Material
Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) · Nylons
Bio-based nylon with high ductility and impact resistance.
What Is PA11 (SLS)?
Nylon PA11 is a bio-based polyamide that is more ductile and impact-resistant than PA12, with excellent elongation. It excels at parts that must flex, absorb impact, or survive repeated stress - living hinges, snap-fits, and durable functional components.
Nylon Polyamide 11 - SLS, printed with Selective Laser Sintering (SLS). Every order is reviewed by our engineering team - no minimum order quantity.
When to choose PA11 (SLS)
Choose PA11 when your nylon part must survive impact, repeated flexing, or snap-fit assembly and disassembly. PA11's 40–50% elongation and high impact resistance make it the nylon to pick for living hinges, snap clips, prosthetic sockets, sports equipment, and any part that must bend without breaking.
PA12 is stiffer and more dimensionally stable, so if your part needs to hold shape under load without flexing, PA12 is the better choice. PA11 is about 35% less stiff (1,100 MPa vs 1,730 MPa flex modulus), which means it deflects more under the same load - a feature when you want flexibility, a problem when you need rigidity.
For flexible parts that need to be elastomeric rather than just ductile - gaskets, bumpers, soft grips - TPU (85A, 90A, or 95A) is the right family. PA11 bends and survives impact, but it is still a rigid plastic at rest. TPU is a true elastomer that compresses and rebounds like rubber.
Material Properties
Representative values - process- and orientation-dependent. Full technical datasheet available on request.
Process
Selective Laser Sintering (SLS)
Tensile strength
47 MPa
Elongation at break
40–50%
Flexural modulus
≈ 1,100 MPa
Heat deflection (HDT)
157 °C @ 0.45 MPa
Density
1.02 g/cm³
Max build size
≈ 350 × 350 × 550 mm
Min wall thickness
0.8 mm
Resolution / layer
≈ 110 µm
Relative cost
$$$ (1 = lowest, 4 = highest)
Design Guidelines
Plan features to print reliably and assemble cleanly in PA11 (SLS). Need DFM help?
Min wall
0.8 mm - 1.0 mm+ recommended
Min feature
0.75 mm - fine detail limit
Min hole Ø
1.5 mm - prevents powder entrapment
Drainage
≥ 3 mm holes - for hollow sections
Dimensional tolerances
Typical tolerance is ±0.3 mm or ±0.3%, matching PA12. PA11 may exhibit slightly more post-print shrinkage than PA12 due to differences in crystallization behavior. For parts with living hinges, ensure the hinge region is oriented in the XY plane for maximum flexibility. Post-machining is available for critical features.
Printing notes
SLS PA11 parts are produced on industrial powder-bed systems. PA11 sinters at approximately 195-200 °C using the same laser sintering process as PA12, with support-free design freedom. PA11 powder is bio-sourced from castor oil and handled in controlled-humidity environments. Cooling cycles are critical - rushing cool-down reduces the elongation and ductility that make PA11 valuable. Z-axis properties are approximately 80% of XY.
How PA11 (SLS) Compares
PA11 (SLS) alongside related materials.
| PA11 (SLS) | PA12 (SLS) | TPU 95A | PA12 (MJF) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tensile strength | 47 MPa | 48 MPa | 27.3 ± 0.8 MPa | 48 MPa |
| Heat deflection (HDT) | 157 °C @ 0.45 MPa | 154 °C @ 0.45 MPa | - | 175 °C @ 0.45 MPa |
| Flexural modulus | ≈ 1,100 MPa | 1,730 MPa | Low–medium (elastomer) | 1,730 MPa |
| Elongation | 40–50% | 15–20% | 250–350% | 15–20% |
| Density | 1.02 g/cm³ | 1.01 g/cm³ | 1.22 g/cm³ | 1.01 g/cm³ |
| Relative cost | $$$ | $$$ | $$ | $$ |
When to Use PA11 (SLS)
Where PA11 (SLS) fits, where it doesn't, and what to use instead.
Living hinges and snap-fit clips
40–50% elongation survives thousands of flex cycles without cracking - the benchmark nylon for snap arms that must withstand daily assembly and disassembly.
Consumer ProductsImpact-resistant functional housings
Absorbs sharp impacts that crack PA12 (15–20% elongation) - the right nylon for hand-held devices, ruggedized enclosures, and field equipment.
EngineeringSports equipment and wearable components
Bio-based, ductile, and comfortable against skin - used in shin guards, helmet inserts, and protective gear where impact absorption matters.
Consumer ProductsProsthetic sockets and orthotic devices
Impact resistance and ductility handle the cyclic mechanical demands of daily prosthetic use; bio-based feedstock appeals to medical procurement.
Medical DevicesDuctile end-use components
35% less stiff than PA12 (1,100 vs 1,730 MPa) - a feature, not a bug - for parts that must give under load rather than crack.
EngineeringStrengths
- 40–50% elongation vs PA12's 15–20% - absorbs impact and cyclic stress that would crack standard nylon within the first few hundred cycles
- Bio-based from castor oil - one of the few engineering polymers with renewable feedstock, preferred by sustainability-conscious procurement teams
- SLS powder-bed process delivers the same support-free design freedom and near-isotropic properties as PA12 with far higher ductility
Keep in mind
- 35% lower stiffness than PA12 (1,100 vs 1,730 MPa flex modulus) - deflects more under the same load, which is a problem when rigidity is the requirement
- Matte, slightly grainy surface like all SLS nylons - media tumbling or dyeing needed for cosmetic or handled parts
- Sinters at slightly different temperatures than PA12 - cannot be mixed in the same build tray, so batch sizing affects cost differently
Finishes & Colors
Finishing options and in-stock colors for PA11 (SLS).
Standard
De-powdered, matte natural finish.
Best for: Functional parts
Media Tumbled
Smoother, satin surface.
Best for: Handled parts
Dyed Black
Acid dye penetrates the surface.
Best for: Cosmetic uniformity
In-Stock Colors
Natural / White
Black
Custom colors and dyeing available on request. Contact us for options.
PA11 (SLS) FAQ
PA11 is more ductile and impact-resistant with higher elongation, so it's the better pick for living hinges, snap-fits, and parts that flex or take impact. PA12 is stiffer and more dimensionally stable.
PA11 is a rigid nylon with high elongation - it bends and snaps back but feels solid at rest. TPU is a true elastomer that compresses and deforms like rubber. For snap-fits, living hinges, and impact absorption in a rigid form factor, choose PA11. For gaskets, grips, and parts that must feel soft, choose TPU.
Yes. PA11's high elongation (40–50%) and excellent fatigue resistance make it one of the best 3D-printed materials for snap-fits that must be assembled and disassembled many times. Design snap deflection to stay within 50% of the maximum elongation for long service life.
Yes. PA11 is derived from castor oil (ricin plant), making it one of the few engineering polymers with a renewable feedstock. The sintered material retains the same mechanical performance as petroleum-based nylons.
We hold ±0.3 mm or ±0.3% on SLS PA11, matching PA12. For living-hinge features, orient the hinge in the XY plane for best flexibility. Critical fits can be post-machined.
PA11 is at the $$$ tier, comparable to PA12. It is cost-effective for runs of 10–500 parts, especially for parts that require toughness and flexibility that PA12 cannot deliver. For higher volumes, injection molding typically becomes cheaper.
PA11 is widely used in prosthetic sockets and orthotic devices because of its impact resistance, ductility, and bio-based feedstock. It is comfortable against skin and survives the mechanical demands of daily use.
Technical Documents
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