Polymaker PolyMide CoPA
Manufactured by Polymaker
Quick Summary
This Polymaker PolyMide CoPA review covers a nylon that removes nylon’s scariest barrier. Thanks to Polymaker’s Warp-Free technology, CoPA prints on a 30–50 °C bed without a heated chamber — unheard of for a material this tough. You still have to respect nylon’s moisture sensitivity, but the printing itself is far more approachable than typical PA.
Print Settings
Polymaker lists 250–270 °C nozzle and a low 25–50 °C bed, fan off, at 30–50 mm/s. The non-negotiable step is drying: 80 °C for 6 hours before printing. Nylon pulls water from the air fast, and wet filament steams in the nozzle, ruining layers and surface finish.
Print Quality
Once dry, CoPA produces exceptionally tough, wear-resistant parts with excellent layer adhesion and a degree of self-lubrication that suits gears, bushings, and living hinges. The warp-free behavior keeps bases flat without the chamber heat normally required, widening the range of printers that can run it.
Where It Falls Short
Moisture management is relentless — leave a spool out and quality collapses until you re-dry it. It is also a premium engineering material, priced well above PLA or PETG, and overkill for non-mechanical prints.
Verdict
For tough, wear-resistant mechanical parts, PolyMide CoPA makes nylon genuinely practical on ordinary printers. Keep it dry and it rewards you; ignore the drying and it will frustrate you.
- Polymaker PolyMide CoPA vs prusament asa — Prusament ASA wins for UV and outdoor use; PolyMide CoPA is the tougher, more wear-resistant engineering material for gears and mechanical parts — and prints with less warping fuss.
Does PolyMide CoPA really print without an enclosure?
Largely, yes. Polymaker's Warp-Free technology lets it print on a 30–50 °C bed without a heated chamber, which is unusual for nylon. An enclosure still helps the largest parts, but most prints succeed without one.
What temperature should I print PolyMide CoPA at?
Print at 250–270 °C with a 25–50 °C bed and the fan off. The most important step is drying: nylon is extremely hygroscopic, so dry it at 80 °C for 6 hours before printing or it will pop and string badly.
Why dry nylon before printing?
Nylon absorbs water from the air faster than almost any other filament. Wet nylon steams in the nozzle, causing popping, stringing, weak layers, and a rough surface. Dry storage and pre-print drying are mandatory for good results.