How to change the nozzle without damaging the hotend
Changing a nozzle takes five minutes and fixes many chronic issues. The key is to do it hot: doing it cold will damage the thread or strip the block.
What the failure looks like
Increasingly thin lines, unresolved under-extrusion, plastic leaking from the heatbreak, or simply wanting to print faster.
Causes, most likely first
- 01
Wear from abrasives
Brass wears out extremely quickly with carbon, wood or glow.
- 02
Unrecoverable clog
After several unsuccessful cold pulls.
- 03
Diameter change
To gain speed or detail.
Step-by-step fix
1. Heat to 240 °C
The plastic inside must be liquid; otherwise, you will twist the heatbreak when turning.
2. Remove the filament
And move the fan out of the way if it gets in the path.
3. Hold the heater block
Always use a spanner. If you do not hold it, you will twist the thermistor and the heater cartridge.
4. Unscrew the nozzle while hot
Using a socket wrench or spanner of the correct size. Be careful: it is hot.
5. Fit the new one and leave a 0.5 mm gap
Screw it in completely, back off half a turn, heat up and tighten against the heatbreak while hot. This creates a perfect seal with no leaks.
6. Recalibrate the Z-offset
Mandatory: the new nozzle is rarely at the exact same height.
| Diameter | Use case | Usable layer height |
|---|---|---|
| 0.2 mm | Miniatures and fine detail | 0.05-0.12 mm |
| 0.4 mm | All-rounder | 0.12-0.28 mm |
| 0.6 mm | Functional and fast parts | 0.2-0.4 mm |
| 0.8 mm | Large parts, scale models, volume | 0.3-0.6 mm |
So it doesn't happen again
- Always keep a spare nozzle in your drawer.
- Fit hardened steel if you are going to print any filled material.
Related questions
Why are there leaks from the top after changing?
Because you did not tighten it while hot against the heatbreak. Redo step 5.
Is a 0.6 mm nozzle worth it?
For functional parts, absolutely: almost twice as fast with minimal loss of detail.
Keep reading
What if it isn't worth your time?
Sometimes the part is more urgent than the learning curve. We're a workshop in Viladecavalls: send us the file and we'll print it with the right material and settings.
Still not working?
Tell Marco which printer and material you use and he'll tell you what to change.
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