Types Of 3D Printing Nozzles. What Are the Best Nozzles for Ender 3, Ender 3 Pro/V2 (Nozzle Size)

In 3D printing, one of the smallest changes that make a big impact on the quality of your 3D prints is the change in the Nozzle size. If you are using the relatively accepted industry standard of 0.4mm Nozzle, then your parts will have a good balance between quality and speed.

However, you can also increase the nozzle size and print a lot quicker and stronger. With big nozzles, parts will not be smooth while smaller nozzles can give more detailed and smoother prints. But the smaller nozzle takes more time to print than normal.

Types Of 3D Printing Nozzles:

Let’s look into some of the different Nozzle materials and sizes, why there are so many different nozzles, and how they can be used?

1. Brass Nozzle

Most 3D printers come with a brass nozzle and there’s a reason for that. Brass is very thermally conductive which means it transfers the heat from the heater block into the nozzle and eventually to filament a lot quicker than other materials.

However, Brass Nozzles have their drawbacks as being soft and this soft metal wears down when printing abrasive filaments like closing off the hole or expanding to an unusable size.

2. Stainless Steel Nozzle

Stainless steel is another material you can see in Nozzles. It is wear-resistant and will be able to hold up against the abrasives better than brass. But still, it’s not the best at its ability.

It is good at avoiding filaments covering the nozzle and prevents itself from getting ugly. So, this nozzle stays cleaner a lot longer than other Nozzles might.

 3. Hardened Steel Nozzle

The next step up from wear resistance from stainless steel is hardened steel. That’s the steel that has been specially treated in order to be very wear-resistant to the point that if you treat it properly, it shouldn’t wear down for a year or couple of years. It is a great material for nozzles if you are printing filaments like Nylon X all day long.

4. Olsson Ruby Nozzle

The pinnacle of wear-resistant nozzles is the Olsen Ruby. This is the nozzle that is designed to be brass, so it is very thermally conductive except the tip of it has a small ruby in it. It means that it won’t wear down. It is completely abrasive resistant against Nylon X, Carbon Fiber. etc

In other words, whatever you throw at it, it stands indestructible.

There are also other types of Specialty Nozzles like Nickel Plated copper which means that coppers are more thermally conductive than brass so they will take on the heat a lot easier.

In conclusion, you can get a lot of different makeup for Nozzles and they all serve a specific purpose. Apart from different materials, Nozzles also vary by the diameter of their orifice. So you can get 0.1mm, 0.2mm, 0.4mm, 0.5mm, 0.6mm, 0.8mm, 1.0mm, 1.2mm and more. So, all these different sizes serve different purposes and it takes time to find out what each size is best for. 

So wondering which is the best 3D printer Nozzle? Read through till the end.

Generally, a brass nozzle with a 0.4mm diameter is considered best for 3D printing because it sets the balance between quality and speed. Brass is known for its thermal conductivity meaning it transfers the heat efficiently from the heating unit to the nozzle faster. 

If you want high resolution and print quality, then smaller size nozzles work great. While you may use larger nozzles for faster 3D printing speeds.

There is a lot more education around opting for the right nozzle for 3D printing. Also what Nozzle Size/diameter is best for 3D printing.

There are many Nozzle sizes in 3D printing as below

• 0.1mm
• 0.2mm
• 0.4mm
• 0.6mm
• 0.8mm
• 1.0mm

Each nozzle size has its own applications, pros, and cons. Nozzle size can be selected based on various printing parameters such as printing speed, and quality. etc

If you want to print parts on a large scale then speed is the key and large nozzles are ideal to achieve the speed.

It is important to consider the desired quality with which the object needs to be printed and accordingly nozzle size needs to be decided.

Many users say that 0.4 and 0.8mm nozzle diameters produce designs of good quality and timing. While printing miniature, less diameter is preferred such as 0.1-0.4mm. 

A smaller nozzle size is mandatory if you need fine details with quality. Be mindful to sacrifice the printing time.

If you want to print in a short time, then a larger nozzle is the key. Printing can also be affected by the durability and strength of the object. 

Can 3D Printer Nozzles Be Interchanged?

There is no universal interchange for the nozzles because each comes with a different thread size. Usually most of the printer brands like Creality, Prusa, and Anet use m6 thread in common. The nozzle brand E3D also follows the M6 thread size.

There are two threading sizes M6 and M7 and different nozzles can be used on the same printer if their thread sizes are the same. 

Brands such as MK8, E3D & MK6 all have M6 threading sizes and hence these can be interchanged. Also, the MK10 nozzles come with M7 threading sizes. 

What are the BEST Nozzles for PLA, TPU, PETG, ABS & Carbon Fiber Filaments?

Best Nozzle for Printing PLA Filament

PLA can be printed at its best with a 0.4mm brass nozzle. The 0.4mm nozzle offers great thermal conductivity and offers quality with speed. Layer height can also be reduced to 0.1mm to produce detailed prints. 

Best Nozzle for ABS Filament

ABS filament is less abrasive and hence 0.4mm Brass nozzle would serve the purpose. If you are printing for a longer duration, then upgrading to a hardened steel nozzle will be the best. 

Best Nozzle for PETG Filament

PETG is also a non-abrasive filament and is similar to ABS/PLA. It can be well printed with a 0.4mm brass nozzle even at high temperatures. Brass offers the high thermal conductivity needed for PETG printing. 

PETG parameters differ by brand and type, make sure to read the specs and accordingly choose the nozzle. 

Best Nozzle for TPU Filament

TPU filament is a flexible filament that can be printed with a 0.4mm nozzle. Along with the nozzle, the extruder type also has a huge impact as the flexible filament cannot travel long distances. 

Thus a direct drive extruder is considered better than the Bowden type to print TPU. 

Best Nozzle for Printing Carbon Fiber Filament

Carbon Fiber is known for its abrasiveness to other filaments. While printing Carbon fiber, the nozzle diameter gets enlarged after some time. In order to withstand the high abrasiveness, a hardened steel nozzle is considered over the brass nozzle. 

The inner diameter of the hardened steel nozzle needed for Carbon Fiber is 0.6 – 0.8mm. 

Amazon has a great set of Creality Hardened Tungsten Metal MK8 which has 5 nozzles of different diameters such as 

• 0.2 mm
• 0.33mm
• 0.4 mm
• 0.5 mm respectively. 

Best Nozzles for Ender 3, Anet & Prusa – Replacement/Upgrade

If you are thinking about which nozzle is best for your Ender 3 Pro / Ender 3 V2. Prusa or Anet 3d printer then Brass nozzle is the best. Again, every nozzle type has its pros and cons. Brass Nozzle can print the normal filaments such as PLA, ABS, and PETG without any issues. 

What Size Nozzle Comes With Ender 3? / Stock Ender 3 Nozzle Size

By default, the Ender 3 printers come with a 0.4 mm size brass nozzle. This is also called stock Ender 3 Nozzle Size.

What Size Nozzle Comes With Ender 3 Pro? / Stock Ender 3 Pro Nozzle Size

The stock Ender 3 Pro Nozzle Size is 0.4mm made of Brass metal. This is a standard ender 3 Pro nozzle diameter that is ideal for printing many objects.

What Size Nozzle Comes With Ender 3 V2? / Stock Ender 3 V2 Nozzle Size

The stock Ender 3 V2 Nozzle SIze is 0.4 mm in diameter ideal for numerous printing tasks.

But if you want to print abrasive filaments on your Ender 3 pro / Prusa / Anet then a hardened steel nozzle is needed. 

If you are a regular printer of abrasive materials then the Olsson Ruby nozzle is preferred for its long life. 

Amazon has a product by the name LUTER-24 Piece Nozzle Kit which is great for Ender 3 / Prusa /Anet 3D printers. 

It consists of 

• Two 0.2mm Nozzles
• Two 0.3mm Nozzles
• Twelve 0.4mm Nozzles
• Two 0.5mm Nozzles
• Two 0.6mm Nozzles
• Two 0.8mm Nozzles
• Two 1.0mm Nozzles 

All the nozzles are stored in a plastic box container.