--- title: "PA11 Vapor Smoothing: Nylon 11 Results | AMT PostPro" description: "PA11 vapor smoothing with PostPro: food-contact validation on DETECT PA11 with PostPro Pure, the agents and systems for nylon 11, and case studies." canonical: https://amtechnologies.com/materials/pa11/ updated: 2026-10-07 type: material --- Materials · PA11 nylon # Vapor smoothing for PA11 nylon parts. PA11 vapor smoothing reflows the porous surface of a 3D printed nylon 11 part into a smoother, sealed skin. PA11 is made from castor oil and is tougher and more flexible than PA12, which suits parts that flex, are worn or touch food. PostPro systems smooth PA11 from MJF · SLS · SAF · HSS[1]. [Test your parts, free](https://benchmarking.amtechnologies.com/submit?utm_source=amtechnologies.com&utm_medium=material-page&utm_campaign=site-2026&utm_content=pa11-pa11-hero) [Get a price](https://amtechnologies.com/configurator/) No cost to evaluate · Parts returned · Typical turnaround 2–3 weeks[2] Material - **Food contact**: Validated[3] - FABULOUS DETECT PA11 · PostPro Pure - **Processes**: MJF · SLS · SAF · HSS[1] - Powder bed - **Systems**: SFX · SF2X · SF50 · SF100[4] - Every PostPro system Why smooth PA11 ## Tough, flexible, and often in contact with people or food. PA11 parts are chosen for toughness and flexibility, for orthoses, clips, hinges and food-handling parts. Their printed surface is still grainy and porous, which is exactly what those uses cannot have. 1. ### Food contact, tested Parts printed in FABULOUS DETECT PA11 and finished with PostPro Pure were tested by an independent lab: Extractables well within regulatory limits under US FDA 21 CFR §177.1500[3]. 2. ### Comfort against skin Orthotics makers print orthoses in HP PA11 and vapor smooth them for skin contact and hygiene.[5] 3. ### Sealed and cleanable A closed surface takes up less sweat, water and dirt, so parts clean up and stay clean. 4. ### No coating to crack The part’s own surface is reflowed; there is no added layer to crack or peel when a PA11 part flexes. Food contact ## A validated route for food-contact parts. AMT and FABULOUS tested vapor-smoothed DETECT PA11 for food contact. The result applies to that material finished with PostPro Pure. - Food contact Extractables well within regulatory limits under US FDA 21 CFR §177.1500[3] Independent lab test FABULOUS DETECT PA11 · PostPro Pure [Read the food-contact validation](https://amtechnologies.com/news/fabulous-and-amt-validate-3dprinted-food-contact-compliance/) [Arkema PA11 SLS whitepaper](https://amtechnologies.com/resources/whitepapers/sls-printed-nylon-11-parts/) Scope · Validated for this material, finish and test. Other materials, agents and food types need their own testing. It is not an approval of the machine or the agent. Agents and systems ## Which agent, which machine. PA11 runs with PostPro Pure on every system and with FA326 on the SF50 and SF100. **PA11 by printing process and finishing agent** | Process | Material | PostPro Pure | FA326 | FA9202 | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | MJF | PA 11[6] | Listed | Listed | Not listed | | SLS | PA 11[6] | Listed | Listed | Not listed | | HSS | PA 11, PA 12[1] | Listed | Not listed | Not listed | - [SFX Desktop PA11 listed](https://amtechnologies.com/products/vapor-smoothing/postpro-sfx-desktop-vapor-smoothing-system/) - [SF2X Desktop, double chamber PA11 listed](https://amtechnologies.com/products/vapor-smoothing/postpro-sf2x/) - [SF50 Production PA11 listed](https://amtechnologies.com/products/vapor-smoothing/postpro-sf50/) - [SF100 High volume PA11 listed](https://amtechnologies.com/products/vapor-smoothing/postpro-sf100/) Material lists as published on each PostPro product page.[4] In production ## PA11 parts in service. Published stories on vapor-smoothed PA11 parts. - Orthobroker HP MJF · PA11 and TPU ### [Orthoses for daily wear](https://amtechnologies.com/resources/case-studies/3d-printed-orthoses-with-vapor-smoothing/) Reliable, consistent quality for both custom and serial production[5] - FABULOUS DETECT PA11 · PostPro Pure ### [Food-contact validation](https://amtechnologies.com/news/fabulous-and-amt-validate-3dprinted-food-contact-compliance/) Food-contact testing of vapor-smoothed DETECT PA11 parts.[3] Questions ## PA11 vapor smoothing: questions. Short answers from AMT’s published tests and material lists. Anything else, [ask an engineer](https://share.hsforms.com/1lOH82JpuRdSM-4wJ1ZeYlw45o6d?website_source=Vapor+Smoothing&utm_source=amtechnologies.com&utm_medium=material-page&utm_campaign=site-2026&utm_content=pa11-talk). ### Can PA11 be vapor smoothed? Yes. PA11 from MJF · SLS · SAF · HSS[1] is on AMT’s material lists, with PostPro Pure on every PostPro system and FA326 on the SF50 and SF100. ### Can vapor-smoothed PA11 be used in contact with food? For one tested combination, yes: parts printed in FABULOUS DETECT PA11 and finished with PostPro Pure were tested by an independent lab, with Extractables well within regulatory limits under US FDA 21 CFR §177.1500[3]. Other materials and agents need their own testing. ### Which consumable is used for PA11? PostPro Pure on any PostPro system, or FA326 on the SF50 and SF100. The food-contact result above was measured with PostPro Pure. ### Does vapor smoothing add a coating to PA11 parts? No. It reflows a thin skin of the part’s own material, so there is no added layer. Send a part to check the feel of yours. Next step ## See the price. Run the numbers. Hold the part. List prices are public and the cost-per-part math is yours to check, with no email needed for either. The free benchmark puts your own parts, vapor smoothed, in your hands. 1. 01 Quote ### Build your quote Pick a system and its options and get an itemized total on screen, from AMT’s published list prices. [Build your quote](https://amtechnologies.com/quote/) 2. 02 ROI ### Calculate your ROI Compare your cost per part with manual finishing, using your own labor rate and volumes. Every assumption is editable. [Calculate ROI](https://amtechnologies.com/roi/) 3. 03 Benchmark ### Test your parts, free Ship us your parts with a prepaid label. We vapor smooth them and send them back with before-and-after photos and a benchmark report. [Test your parts, free](https://benchmarking.amtechnologies.com/submit?utm_source=amtechnologies.com&utm_medium=material-page&utm_campaign=site-2026&utm_content=pa11-decision) No cost to evaluate · Parts returned · Typical turnaround 2–3 weeks[2] Prices: AMT list prices, excluding tax and shipping; confirmed in your formal quote. [Not sure which system? Help me choose](https://amtechnologies.com/configurator/) ## Sources 1. [Vapor smoothing consumables: PostPro Pure (FA5802), FA326 and FA9202](https://amtechnologies.com/products/vapor-smoothing/consumables/) · AMT · read Oct 6, 2026 2. [PostPro benchmarking: send us your 3D printed parts](https://benchmarking.amtechnologies.com/) · AMT · read Oct 6, 2026 3. [Fabulous and AMT validate food contact compliance for 3D-printed parts using DETECT PA11 and PostPro Pure](https://amtechnologies.com/news/fabulous-and-amt-validate-3dprinted-food-contact-compliance/) · AMT · Apr 7, 2026 4. [Vapor smoothing: SF and X-series family page and SFX, SF2X, SF50, SF100 product pages](https://amtechnologies.com/products/vapor-smoothing/) · AMT · read Oct 6, 2026 · also [AMT](https://amtechnologies.com/products/vapor-smoothing/postpro-sfx-desktop-vapor-smoothing-system/) · also [AMT](https://amtechnologies.com/products/vapor-smoothing/postpro-sf2x/) · also [AMT](https://amtechnologies.com/products/vapor-smoothing/postpro-sf50/) · also [AMT](https://amtechnologies.com/products/vapor-smoothing/postpro-sf100/) 5. [3D-printed orthoses enabled with vapor smoothing (Orthobroker case study)](https://amtechnologies.com/resources/case-studies/3d-printed-orthoses-with-vapor-smoothing/) · AMT · Oct 9, 2025 6. [AMT PostPro brochure: automated post-processing systems for additive manufacturing, V4.0 (June 2026)](https://info.amtechnologies.com/download-document?document_name=brochure) · AMT · Jun 2026