A nozzle's diameter sets the balance between detail and speed: smaller nozzles print finer detail, larger ones print faster and stronger parts. Its material decides what you can print, since abrasive filaments such as carbon-fiber blends wear a soft nozzle out. Quadro will offer nozzle sets as an add-on, so you can set up its four toolheads for the kind of printing you do.
Most people use the nozzle their printer shipped with and never think about it again. A four-toolhead printer has four, so it's worth knowing the options.
Nozzle Size
- Smaller nozzles (for example 0.2 mm) print finer detail and sharper edges, but slowly, and they clog more easily.
- Standard nozzles (for example 0.4 mm) balance detail, speed and reliability, and suit most prints.
- Larger nozzles (for example 0.6 mm and above) print faster with thicker lines and stronger parts, with less fine detail.
For multicolor prints with large color areas, a standard nozzle is a safe start. See How to Start Multicolor 3D Printing.
Nozzle Material
- Brass conducts heat well and works for common filaments such as PLA, PETG and TPU.
- Hardened steel resists wear from abrasive filaments, such as carbon-fiber or glass-fiber blends. It conducts heat less well than brass, so it may need a slightly higher temperature. Quadro supports PLA-CF, so a hardened nozzle is worth having for it. See One Print. Four Materials That Don't Get Along.
When to Change a Nozzle
- Wear after abrasive filaments
- Persistent clogs or inconsistent extrusion
- A different detail or speed requirement
- A different material, for example a hardened nozzle for PLA-CF
Four Toolheads, Four Nozzles
Each Quadro toolhead has its own nozzle, so replacing a worn nozzle or fitting a hardened one affects that toolhead only. You don't have to replace all four at once. Nozzle size is different: all four toolheads in a single print need the same nozzle size, so change them together when you switch sizes. After changing a nozzle, run calibration so the printer knows where the new nozzle is. See How Quadro Calibrates Four Independent Toolheads and Controlling Four Toolheads Is Easier Than You Think.
Pairing With Other Add-Ons
An enclosure helps with temperature-sensitive materials. See Open Frame, Enclosure Add-On. Dry filament matters with any nozzle. See Filament Dryer Box. For engineering uses, see Multi-Material Prototyping.
Key Takeaways
- Small nozzles give detail, large nozzles give speed and strength.
- Use a hardened nozzle for abrasive filaments such as PLA-CF.
- Each Quadro toolhead has its own nozzle, but all four need the same size in a single print.
- Recalibrate after changing a nozzle.
Want to know when add-ons arrive? See Quadro or visit the Kickstarter page.
FAQ
What nozzle size should I use for multicolor printing? A standard size is a safe start. Smaller nozzles add detail and larger ones add speed and strength.
Do I need a hardened nozzle? For abrasive filaments such as carbon-fiber blends, yes, because they wear a soft nozzle quickly.
Do I have to change all four nozzles on Quadro? Only when you change nozzle size, because all four need the same size in a single print. For wear or a hardened nozzle, you change only the one you need to.
Do I need to recalibrate after changing a nozzle? Yes. Run calibration so the printer knows the new nozzle's position.
Will Quadro offer nozzle sets? Yes, as an add-on, with details to come.
