While the 0.4-mm nozzle diameter is the reasonable middle ground, there are other options. Why go larger? Available nozzle sizes are 0.5 mm, 0.6 mm, 0.8 mm, and 1.0 mm, but how do these affect your print?

If you’re printing something large that doesn’t require fine detail, consider whether you could benefit from a 0.6-mm or 0.8-mm nozzle upgrade.

Larger Nozzle Sizes

Pros

• Faster print speeds: Since 3D printers draw an object layer by layer, having a larger nozzle allows for a more substantial layer height. This increased height gives you a faster print time, as it takes fewer passes to complete the part.
• Stronger parts: One of the contributors to weaker parts in 3D printing versus, for example, injection molding is the creation of the layers during the printing process. When using a larger nozzle, there are fewer layers, and each is larger and more consistent. On top of that, the larger layer strands have greater surface areas with which to adhere to one another.

Cons

• Hot end demands: With a larger diameter nozzle, more plastic can be pushed out. However, the downside here is the amount of heat required to keep the plastic melted up to the nozzle’s heat break. If the hot end isn’t up to the task of heating the larger mass of plastic (especially when using the 1.0-mm nozzle), one solution is to maintain a slower print speed. Another solution is to upgrade your hot end to something like E3D’s Volcano hot end whose design allows for a larger melt zone and an increased volumetric flow rate.
• Visible layers: One of the major arguments against large-nozzle 3D printing: “Yeah, but I can see layers all over that.” A larger nozzle is only going to accentuate those layer lines.

So we know that large nozzle sizes are ideal for quickly printing large models. but why go smaller? The Ender 3 printers can support smaller nozzle sizes of 0.2 mm, 0.25 mm, or 0.3 mm.

If you’re looking to print small parts that could benefit from high accuracy, perhaps a smaller nozzle could be what you need.

Smaller Nozzle Sizes

Pros

• Subtle layers: When specifying a printer’s layer height, you typically work at around 50% of the nozzle diameter. If you’re looking at making something that’s small and requires fine detail, a 0.2-mm nozzle can easily handle 0.08-mm layer heights.
• Fine detail: Nozzle diameter affects not only layer height, but also X and Y resolution. With a finer nozzle, it’s possible to capture smaller surface details that would otherwise be smoothed out or removed by slicing software working with a larger nozzle.

Cons

• Clogged nozzles: With a much narrower opening, a 0.2-mm nozzle has a higher likelihood of jamming with the smallest impurity or speck of dust than a larger nozzle does. A good filament wipe sponge with mineral spirits can help with this.
• Slow print speeds: A small layer height can lead to massive print times. Trying to make something with a 0.08-mm layer height can take at least three times as long as with a layer height of 0.24 mm. And that’s not including infill or other non-linear considerations.

The material that makes up your Ender 3 nozzle also makes a huge difference. The extrusion nozzle might need to be more durable than the standard brass when printing abrasive filament materials like carbon fiber or metal-filled PLA.

Here’s a list of some materials used for nozzles that you can use to upgrade your Ender 3 if you’re considering abrasive filament, ordered from least to most wear-resistant:

• Brass offers standard wear resistance with excellent heat transfer.
• Stainless steel has better wear resistance and is food-safe.
• Hardened steel has great wear resistance but lower heat transfer. Nozzles in this material may come in several varieties, like blackened or nickel plated.
• Copper with sapphire ruby provides the best wear resistance. Olsson produces a standard ruby nozzle as well as one particularly suited for high temperatures.
• Coated nozzles, such as the “polyphobic” coating of E3D’s Nozzle X also offer high wear resistance suitable for use with the most abrasive filaments, although a E3D V6 hot end upgrade is necessary.

With so many nozzles available, there’s sure to be one that matches your need and application. We hope you’ve enjoyed our survey of different nozzle sizes for the Ender 3 series and their effect on your prints. As always, happy printing!

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Best 3D Printer Nozzle: Types, Sizes & Materials