Nozzle and Layer Height Guide
Model printing times are most affected by a combination of layer height and nozzle size.
The majority of 3D printers will come standard with a 0.4 mm nozzle made of brass. A good middle ground between quality and time is 0.2 mm layer heights.
Recommendation
| Nozzle Size | Layer Height |
|---|---|
| 0.4 mm | 0.2 mm |
Comparison table: nozzle size | print time | max/min layer height
| Nozzle Size | Min Layer Height | 25×25×25 mm Cube Time | Max Layer Height | 25×25×25 mm Cube Time | Recommended Line Width | Max Line Width (+120%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.4 mm | 0.08 mm | ~47 min | 0.28 mm | ~9 min | 0.45 mm | 0.6 mm |
| 0.6 mm | 0.18 mm | ~12 min | 0.42 mm | ~6.5 min | 0.62 mm | 0.8 mm |
| 0.8 mm | 0.24 mm | ~9 min | 0.56 mm | ~7 min | 0.82 mm | 1.0 mm |
| 0.2 mm | 0.06 mm | ~90 min | 0.14 mm | ~45 min | 0.22 mm | 0.3 mm |
Nozzle Material
| Material | Material Usage | Cost | Notes | Other Considerations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brass | Non-abrasive | $ | Standard on most printers | Replace often when print quality is lost |
| Steel | Abrasive | $$ | More abrasion resistance | May require slightly higher temperature |
| Hardened Steel | Abrasive | $$$ | Recommended for abrasive materials | May require slightly higher temperature |
| Diamond Back | Abrasive | $$$$$$ | Will last forever | May require slightly higher temperature |
| Types | Notes |
|---|---|
| Mk4 / 8 | Seen on older printers, not as common today |
| Bondtech CHT | High-flow Mk4 / 8 |
| All-in-one | Vendor-specific, has all hotend components |