What SLS PA12 nylon parts actually cost
Short answer: most small functional parts in SLS PA12 nylon cost $2.50 to $11 each for one part, and about a third less each in batches. Brackets, clips, gears, knobs, latches and small jigs fit that range. A palm-sized electronics enclosure runs about $4.50 to $20 per piece. Large housings run $100 or more, because they take up much more of the printer.
These aren't estimates. We took 21 real parts from well-known open-source hardware projects and ran each one through our instant quoter on 19 October 2026. Every price below is what you would pay us that day.
How we priced them
- Parts: 21 publicly licensed CAD files from Prusa Research, Voron Design, the Thor and BCN3D Moveo robot arms, OpenBCI and HARDWARIO. Each name links to the project; we don't re-host the files.
- Material: SLS PA12 nylon in natural gray, bead blasted (included), plus the price with black dye.
- Speed: Standard. Economy is 15% cheaper per part, and the faster speeds cost more.
- Not included: shipping and sales tax. Ground shipping is free when an order's parts total $50 or more.
- Prices are per part, for an order of that many identical parts.
Real prices: SLS PA12 nylon, per part
| Part (source project, license) | Size (mm) | 1 | 10 | 50 | 100 | Black dye, qty 1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raspberry Pi mounting bracket (Voron 2.4, GPL-3.0) | 63 × 54 × 7 | $5.40 | $3.78 | $3.51 | $3.24 | $6.18 |
| Power supply bracket (Voron 2.4, GPL-3.0) | 65 × 20 × 14 | $4.72 | $3.30 | $3.07 | $2.83 | $5.59 |
| NEMA 17 motor holder (Prusa Original i3 MK3S, GPL-2.0) | 48 × 42 × 19 | $7.18 | $5.03 | $4.67 | $4.31 | $8.16 |
| Stepper spur gear (Thor robot arm, CC-BY-SA-4.0) | 24 × 24 × 23 | $4.04 | $2.83 | $2.63 | $2.42 | $4.81 |
| Encoder control knob (Prusa Original i3 MK3S, GPL-2.0) | 36 × 31 × 8 | $3.13 | $2.19 | $2.03 | $1.88 | $3.81 |
| DIN-rail PCB clip (Voron 2.4, GPL-3.0) | 62 × 18 × 10 | $3.75 | $2.63 | $2.44 | $2.25 | $4.51 |
| Cable strain-relief clip (Prusa Original i3 MK3S, GPL-2.0) | 27 × 14 × 13 | $2.46 | $1.73 | $1.60 | $1.48 | $3.10 |
| Pulley alignment jig (Voron 2.4, GPL-3.0) | 47 × 32 × 3 | $2.88 | $2.01 | $1.87 | $1.73 | $3.56 |
| Fan trimming fixture (Voron Stealthburner, GPL-3.0) | 97 × 48 × 16 | $10.66 | $7.46 | $6.93 | $6.39 | $11.67 |
| Wrist motor holder (Thor robot arm, CC-BY-SA-4.0) | 44 × 43 × 12 | $4.95 | $3.46 | $3.22 | $2.97 | $5.76 |
| Gripper jaw (BCN3D Moveo, MIT) | 72 × 21 × 18 | $6.01 | $4.21 | $3.91 | $3.61 | $6.83 |
| Gripper finger (Thor robot arm, CC-BY-SA-4.0) | 60 × 18 × 16 | $5.28 | $3.70 | $3.43 | $3.17 | $6.13 |
| Extruder latch (Voron Stealthburner, GPL-3.0) | 42 × 22 × 10 | $3.28 | $2.29 | $2.13 | $1.97 | $3.95 |
| Cooling fan shroud (Prusa Original i3 MK3S, GPL-2.0) | 43 × 28 × 20 | $4.70 | $3.29 | $3.05 | $2.82 | $5.49 |
| Extruder idler (Prusa Original i3 MK3S, GPL-2.0) | 32 × 26 × 17 | $3.94 | $2.76 | $2.56 | $2.36 | $4.67 |
| IoT sensor enclosure HWE101, half A (HARDWARIO TOWER, CC-BY-SA-4.0) | 37 × 34 × 16 | $4.54 | $3.18 | $2.95 | $2.72 | $5.40 |
| IoT sensor enclosure HWE101, half B (HARDWARIO TOWER, CC-BY-SA-4.0) | 46 × 37 × 34 | $8.88 | $6.22 | $5.77 | $5.33 | $10.11 |
| OpenBCI board case: base (OpenBCI Ultracortex Mark IV, GPL-3.0) | 67 × 67 × 10 | $7.65 | $5.36 | $4.98 | $4.59 | $8.63 |
| Einsy controller case: doors (Prusa Original i3 MK3S, GPL-2.0) | 106 × 92 × 16 | $20.20 | $14.14 | $13.13 | $12.12 | $22.28 |
| Exhaust filter housing (Voron 2.4, GPL-3.0) | 155 × 144 × 45 | $97.60 | $68.32 | $63.44 | $58.56 | $101.09 |
| Robot arm electronics box (BCN3D Moveo, MIT) | 272 × 111 × 88 | $262.38 | $183.67 | $170.55 | $157.43 | $272.04 |
Priced with the MakePartsNow instant quoter on 19 October 2026. Prices change as our rates change: upload a file to see today's price.
What drives SLS nylon cost
1. How much nylon the part contains. A 1.8 cm³ cable clip costs $2.46; an 11 cm³ motor holder costs $7.18. Thick, solid sections cost more than thin, shelled ones.
2. How much of the build chamber the part takes up. In SLS, parts are printed inside a block of powder, so a large, open part costs more than its weight suggests. The fan trimming fixture holds only 8.7 cm³ of nylon but spans 97 mm, so it costs $10.66, more than the denser 12.6 cm³ gripper finger ($5.28). The exhaust filter housing is mostly air inside a 155 × 144 × 45 mm footprint, and costs $97.60.
3. Quantity. Across all 21 parts, the price per part drops by 30% at 10 pieces, 35% at 50 and 40% at 100. If you'll need more later, a batch now is usually cheaper than ordering one at a time.
4. Color. Black dye added $0.64 to $1.23 per small part in this set. It adds more on large parts.
5. Speed. Economy takes 15% off; Fast and Faster add 30% and 50%.
SLS nylon or FDM? Cost compared on the same parts
For small parts, SLS nylon is close to FDM PETG on price, and sometimes cheaper. The bigger and bulkier the part, the more FDM pulls ahead on price.
| Part | Size (mm) | SLS PA12, qty 1 | FDM PETG, qty 1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cable strain-relief clip | 27 × 14 × 13 | $2.46 | $3.01 |
| Stepper spur gear | 24 × 24 × 23 | $4.04 | $3.89 |
| NEMA 17 motor holder | 48 × 42 × 19 | $7.18 | $5.26 |
| Gripper finger | 60 × 18 × 16 | $5.28 | $4.61 |
| Fan trimming fixture | 97 × 48 × 16 | $10.66 | $5.56 |
| Einsy controller case: doors | 106 × 92 × 16 | $20.20 | $9.63 |
| Exhaust filter housing | 155 × 144 × 45 | $97.60 | $23.79 |
| Robot arm electronics box | 272 × 111 × 88 | $262.38 | $91.65 |
Choose SLS PA12 when the part is functional or customer-facing:
- nearly even strength in every direction;
- no support marks;
- fine features, snap fits and living hinges;
- good chemical and wear resistance;
- the same result on part 1 and part 100.
Choose FDM for big brackets, housings and fixtures where cost matters more than finish.
Both are on the same quote, so you can switch materials and compare before you order.
How to lower the price of an SLS part
- Shell thick sections. SLS needs no internal supports, and walls down to 0.8 mm print. A 2 to 3 mm shell often does the same job as a solid block at a fraction of the nylon.
- Order in batches. 10 pieces costs 30% less per part than 1.
- Pick Economy when you're not in a hurry: 15% off.
- Combine parts in one order to pass $50 and get free ground shipping.
- Consider FDM for large, simple parts (see the table above).
Size limits
SLS parts can be up to 165 × 165 × 300 mm. The largest part in this set, a 272 mm long electronics box, fits lengthwise. FDM goes up to 340 × 320 × 340 mm for bigger parts.
Frequently asked questions
Is SLS 3D printing expensive?
Not for small parts. In this test, 18 of the 21 parts cost under $11 for one piece and under $7 each at 50. SLS gets expensive for large, boxy parts that fill the printer, where FDM is usually the better buy.
Is there a minimum order?
No. One part plus shipping is the smallest order.
How do I get a price for my own part?
Upload a STEP, STL, 3MF or OBJ file and the price appears in seconds. You don't need to talk to anyone or wait for a quote.
How fast do SLS parts ship?
Production takes at least 2 days at Standard speed. Your quote shows the exact ship date for each speed before you order.
Why do some small parts cost more than bigger ones?
Price follows both the nylon in the part and the space it takes up in the printer. A thin but wide fixture can cost more than a compact, solid part.
Price your part
We print more than 3,000 parts a month. Upload your file to see the real price at any quantity, in nylon or FDM, in seconds. Get an instant price →
Source projects and licenses: Prusa Original i3 MK3S (GPL-2.0), Voron 2.4 and Voron Stealthburner (GPL-3.0), Thor robot arm (CC-BY-SA-4.0), BCN3D Moveo (MIT), OpenBCI Ultracortex (GPL-3.0), HARDWARIO TOWER enclosures (CC-BY-SA-4.0). Part names link to each project. These projects don't endorse MakePartsNow.