3D Printer Nozzles - Hardened Steel vs Brass
- 30 Jan, 2022
Introduction
When it comes to 3D printing nozzles there are so many options to choose from and oftentimes the choice is overwhelming.
For some printers, nozzles are an afterthought and you're probably only changing them once they're worn down to the tip. For others, every part of your 3D printing rig is calculated and meticulously selected and nozzles are no exception
In this article, we go through some of the main types, their uses and ultimately which nozzles you should be using to get the best out of your 3D printer
Brass
Ender 3 / MK8 3D Printer Brass Nozzle
- 0.2mm / 3 Pieces
If you have a 3D printer, chances are you have a brass nozzle installed. Nearly every 3D printer ever brought to market has shipped with brass nozzles, and for good reason!
Brass is an extremely good conductor of heat which simply means it is very efficient in absorbing the heat being generated from your heat block and putting that heat into the filament to melt it. Because of this efficiency, your printer has an easier time of keeping the nozzle at the right temperature and you're more likely to get better prints overall
But as with everything, there is a drawback to brass nozzles which comes about due to its 'softness'. Relatively speaking, brass is a soft metal this is why historically it’s been popular because it's easy to work with and mould into shape
Unfortunately, this softness is a drawback in 3D printing when you decide to start printing with more exotic and abrasive materials. Materials such as carbon fibre, nylon, wood or metal filled filaments and others will more quickly wear away at your nozzle causing it to lose its diameter tolerance and no longer produce consistent, predictable prints
For most printers though, who are using basic materials like ABS, PLA or PETG. Brass nozzles are not only fine but recommended due to those amazing heat transfer properties we just mentioned
Hardened Steel
Ender 3 / MK8 3D Printer Hardened Steel Nozzles
- 0.2mm / 1 Piece
Where brass lacks in its durability, hardened steel nozzles shine (The clue is in their name, they're hard). Hardened steel nozzles are heat-treated steel nozzles that are specifically designed to withstand very abrasive materials and are invaluable if you are looking to print with those sorts of materials consistently
But as with anything good, there are associated downfalls and that's in the form of lower thermal conductivity characteristics and therefore a less efficient transfer of heat between heat block and filament
But not all is lost and this lower efficiency can be compensated for by printing at slightly higher temperatures. The higher temperatures will give your printer more space to keep the nozzle at or above your materials ideal printing conditions
Once you have your printer dialled in with a hardened steel nozzle you'll be able to print abrasive materials with ease. The big advantage here is that you don't have to pay as much attention to the condition of the nozzles and can be fairly confident that the diameter is what you expect
Which nozzle for which material
We've put together a quick reference table showing some of the main filaments around and best practice nozzle material:
| Material | Nozzle Type |
|---|---|
| ABS | Brass |
| Carbon Fibre | Hardened Steel |
| Glow in the Dark | Hardened Steel |
| HIPS | Brass |
| Metal Filled | Hardened Steel |
| Nylon | Brass |
| PETG | Brass |
| PLA | Brass |
| TPE | Brass |
| Wood Filled | Hardened Steel |
Other Nozzle Materials
Stainless Steel
Stainless steel nozzles provide slightly better wear resistance compared to brass nozzles although dont have the thermal efficiency of their brass counterparts
Stainless steel nozzles are typically food grade and therefore wont contaminate the print with lead or other contaminated and in theory, would be suitable for food grade applications
Its important to note here that there are many parts of a 3D printer that come into contact with the filament as well as many different types of filament and just by using a stainless steel nozzle does not instantly guarantee a food safe print
Assembled Nozzles
Assembled nozzles are nozzles which are made out of multiple materials in an attempt to take advantage of the positive aspects of each material and mitigate any inherent issues they have
One popular assembled nozzle has a base body material made up of brass so it has great heat transfer properties while the inner part of the nozzle which makes contact with the filament is made of a harder more wea resistant material which can withstand abrasive materials. Best of both worlds!
Bore Diameter
One of the last variables to take into account when choosing a nozzle its internal bore diameter (How big the hole throguh the nozzle is). Bore diameters typically range from 0.1mm in diameter up to 1mm in diameter which provides alot of flexibility and options
When choosing a bore hole diameter you have to weigh up how precise you'd like to print against how fast you'd like to print. Thes standard on nearly all popular 3D printers is 0.4mm because it provides a good balance between speed and accuracy
So which diameter should you choose. Well a quick rule of thumb is:
| Less than 0.4mm | Greater than 0.4mm |
|---|---|
| + High precision | + Reduced Print Time |
| + Higher Quality overhangs | + Reduced Nozzle related print errors |
| + Easier Support Removal | + Less chance of clogging (Critical for filled filaments) |
| + Barely visble layer lines | + Stronger prints |
| - Long Print Times | - More visible print lines |
| - Higher potential of clogging |
One thing to take note of is that you generally need to keep your layer heights to 80% or less of the bore diameter of your nozzle. That is, if you have an 0.4mm nozzle you would not want to go higher than an 0.32mm layer height. Thats to ensure you get an acceptable wall thickness
What's the best nozzle for me?
Thats a somewhat difficult question to answer. As you can see from all of the information above theres alot of variables that feed into picking the correct nozzle and each nozzle if the 'best nozzle' in different scenarios. Its up to you to weigh up the type of material you're printing, quality of prints and of course the speed of prints
If you're new to 3D printing or just want a nozzle that works and you're only printing with basic materials such as ABS, PLA or PETG you cant go wrong with an 0.4mm brass nozzle
We sell a number of nozzles in our store in a range of sizes from 0.1mm all the way up to 1mm in brass and hardened steel. Click on the product cards below to purchase
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