The nozzle, which is responsible for depositing filament on the print bed to bring 3D objects to life, has one of the most difficult assignments of any other component in a 3D printer. It’s the component that has the most significant influence on the finished quality of your projects, not to mention how long it takes to print. As a result, finding the ideal nozzle to improve your 3D printing expertise is well worth your time.
With 3D printing growing more and more popular, there are many nozzles of various diameters and types to select from, as manufacturers add more choices to the market, which may test even the most patient builders wanting to figure out which one is ideal for their requirements. What is the finest 3D printer nozzle?
To address that issue, we’ve put up this helpful list of the greatest nozzle choices accessible. You’ve come to the correct spot if you’re on the verge of pulling your hair out and need some advice on how to navigate through it.
Knowing What A 3D Printer Nozzle Is
The nozzle of a 3D printer is the component of the extruder through which molten filament is supplied to the print bed. The material and diameter of the nozzle have an influence on which consumables can be utilized in a 3D printer and the quality of produced objects.
The majority of FDM 3D printers allow you to swap nozzles based on the print’s intended purpose. Although these components are quite adaptable and do not require frequent replacement, the user must be informed about the various systems in order to tackle current issues and avoid significant issues with the extruder.
The Principle Of Working Of A Nozzle
The nozzle in a 3D printer is a tiny through-hole component that is inserted into the heating cube and makes up part of the hot end. The filament enters the extruder, where it melts rapidly. The nozzle is adjacent to the thermal chamber and serves as a feed tube for the liquid filament. When discussing the characteristics of a 3D printer’s nozzles, two main variables are considered: hole size and material.
The most prevalent nozzles are those made of brass with a 0.4 hole diameter, which is commonly used. Brass is a very cost-effective material that works well with standard filaments such as PLA and ABS.
While brass is easier to source and machine, it does have some disadvantages. If you’re printing in glow-in-the-dark PLA or metallics, for example, be aware that the softness of brass might cause difficulties.
Due to the continual extrusion of filament with solid particles, the inside walls of the nozzle will be abraded and worn down, making it unusable.
The smoothness of the molten plastic issuing from the nozzle is disrupted, causing a deterioration in 3D printing quality. Consumables with higher abrasiveness or melting points require nozzles constructed of harder materials.
Nozzle Sizes
The diameter of a nozzle determines the level of detail in printed products, affecting not only line width but also recommended layer height. When printing with a 0.15mm nozzle, you can get a higher X and Y resolution (compared to a regular 0.4mm nozzle).
Thinner lines, on the other hand, produce more accurate sharp angles when using a properly calibrated 3D printer since the work of its mechanics is taken into account.
Set the layer height to 25–50 percent of the nozzle diameter for optimum print quality. The layers adhere better when printed at a lower layer height. For example, with a 0.4mm 3D printer nozzle, it is advised to use a layer height ranging from 0.1 to 0.2 mm.
When printing ultra-thin layers (less than 0.05mm in height), you’ll need a 3D printer nozzle with a diameter of 0.2mm to obtain an excellent result. The following are some of the disadvantages of utilizing a nozzle with a smaller diameter:
- high chances of clogging;
- the printhead must move a greater distance to cover the same amount of surface area. A larger nozzle does in fewer strokes, which results in a slower printing speed.
The advantages and disadvantages of using nozzle diameters that are huge are similar to those of printing with a larger number of nozzles. If the printed model does not imply high detail. Utilizing a nozzle with a 0.8mm orifice can even improve the print result.
Wider extrusion reduces print time. For example, a 0.8mm wall might be printed in half the time as a two-line wall with a 0.4mm tool.
Nozzle Material Types
Stainless Steel
By default, all 3D printers have stainless steel nozzles. This is more difficult to print with than brass. It’s possible to create filaments reinforced with solid particles like carbon fiber and metal using a stainless steel nozzle.
Nozzle erosion does not occur over time, even if you print for a long time. As a result, the printing quality will not suffer either. The disadvantage of steel over brass is its poor thermal conductivity. This can result in a lack of consistent extrusion speed, especially when using large nozzle diameters.
Tungsten Carbide
A 3D printer may now be fitted with a tungsten carbide nozzle, which is a first for the industry. This component is made by the Canadian firm DyzeDesign. The concept was derived from the mining sector, where tungsten ceramics are used to sever metals and bore rocks.
Tungsten carbide is a material that has great hardness, abrasion resistance, and thermal conductivity. The idea was initially presented on Kickstarter, and the nozzle may now be purchased from the manufacturer’s website.
The cost of the part is slightly lower than that of Olsson Ruby, but it’s still more expensive than brass and steel. As a result, it should only be used in cases where traditional nozzles have failed.
Brass
Brass nozzles, which are cheap and simple to produce, are ideal for desktop 3D printers. The brass is the most flexible of all materials used in the manufacture of this part. With its affordability and accessibility, it’s perfect for broad usage.
Ruby
The additive manufacturing business is adopting various methods. One of which is the Olsson Ruby nozzle, which was created by Anders Olsson. He is a research engineer at Uppsala University in Sweden. This sort of nozzle was designed for 3D printing with boron carbide filaments in experiments at Uppsala University in Sweden.
Make sure the material you’re using is recyclable. Just one kilo of this plastic causes regular brass and steel nozzles to become unusable. Anders Olsson’s invention is a ruby-tipped brass nozzle that maintains the thermal conductivity of brass while also having excellent abrasion resistance.
Because such a solution is currently prohibitively expensive. The ruby nozzle has not been widely used, and there isn’t much long-term usage data on the component.
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