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Hello guys,

I just got a E3D HARDENED STEEL NOZZLE to print colorfabb XT-CF20 filament and I was wondering if there is a reason for me to change it back to the original E3D nozzles when printing non-abrasive material like ABS or PLA?

Thanks,

Pierre

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The biggest difference is that steel conducts heat poorly compared to brass (that’s why the heat-break is made of steel). This means is takes longer for the nozzle to heat up and it can be difficult to maintain consistent temperatures at high speeds. Even when printing slow I notice that some materials don’t flow as well out of steel. Personally, I use both hardened and stainless steel nozzles often but only when necessary. I’m constantly changing nozzles on all my machines anyway so it’s not a big deal for me. Brass is definitely best in terms of performance.
Hope that’s helpful.
-Jesse

1 Like
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Thanks for the answer, I appreciate it!