Guide · Maintenance parts
Brass, hardened steel, ruby and tungsten carbide nozzles
Which nozzle material each maker rates for abrasive filament, what temperatures they state, and whether hardened steel really needs hotter printing.
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Picks in this topic
- Micro Swiss MK8 plated A2 tool-steel wear-resistant nozzle, 0.4 mm (M2585‑04)Check price on Amazon
- Micro Swiss MK8 plated M2 hardened high-speed-steel nozzle, 0.4 mm (M2500‑04)Check price on Amazon
- Sovol hardened steel nozzle kit for SV08 / T300, 0.4 mm x2Check price on Amazon
Short answer
For plain PLA, PETG and ABS, a brass nozzle is what E3D describes for the job. For carbon fiber, glass fiber or metal-filled filament, choose a nozzle whose maker states it is abrasion resistant or made for abrasive filament. A high temperature rating is a different property: some 500 °C nozzles are not abrasion resistant. Hardened steel does not automatically need hotter printing.
Picks in this topicSee the shortlist
- Micro Swiss MK8 plated A2 tool-steel wear-resistant nozzle, 0.4 mm (M2585‑04)Check price on Amazon
- Micro Swiss MK8 plated M2 hardened high-speed-steel nozzle, 0.4 mm (M2500‑04)Check price on Amazon
- Sovol hardened steel nozzle kit for SV08 / T300, 0.4 mm x2Check price on Amazon
The short answer by material
- Brass: E3D's 1.75 mm V6 brass nozzles are rated to 300 °C and described for standard non-abrasive printing such as PLA, PETG and ABS.[1]
- Hardened steel: E3D rates its hardened steel V6 nozzle to 350 °C and marks it abrasion resistant.[2]
- Tool steel and high-speed steel: Micro Swiss sells MK8 nozzles in plated A2 tool steel and in M2 high-speed steel (below).
- Diamond, ruby and tungsten carbide tips: a hard tip set into a softer body. Each maker states different things, so read the table.
A hardened steel nozzle or any other wear nozzle only earns its place when you print abrasive filament.
E3D's V6 table: temperature and abrasion
E3D publishes both a temperature rating and an "abrasion resistant" answer for each V6 material. It rates brass and ObXidian at 300 °C, hardened steel at 350 °C, and stainless steel, plated copper and Nozzle X at 500 °C.[2] It marks hardened steel, Nozzle X and ObXidian as abrasion resistant, and brass, stainless steel and plated copper as not abrasion resistant.[2]
| E3D V6 nozzle | Rated temperature | Abrasion resistant (E3D) |
|---|---|---|
| Brass | 300 °C | No |
| Hardened steel | 350 °C | Yes |
| ObXidian | 300 °C | Yes |
| Nozzle X | 500 °C | Yes |
| Stainless steel | 500 °C | No |
| Plated copper | 500 °C | No |
E3D also notes that the usable limit of the whole hotend is set by its heater, sensor, heat break and firmware, not by the nozzle rating.[2] These labels are E3D's for E3D nozzles; do not apply them to another brand's stainless or plated nozzle.
Other makers' wear nozzles, as they describe them
- Micro Swiss A2 (MK8): heat-treated A2 tool steel with TwinClad XT plating, made for abrasive filaments such as carbon fiber and metal-filled materials.[3] Micro Swiss's own pages disagree on its hardness and state no maximum temperature, so we publish neither.
- Micro Swiss M2 (MK8): M2 high-speed steel hardened to 68 HRC, which Micro Swiss says can operate up to 450 °C without losing hardness.[4] That is a statement about the material, not a rating for your hotend.
- Micro Swiss CM2 (MK8): a copper chromium zirconium body plated in electroless nickel, with a hardened M2 steel tip.[5] The page states no maximum temperature and names no intended filaments.
- E3D Revo DiamondBack: a solid polycrystalline diamond tip on a brass carrier, rated to 300 °C and marked abrasion resistant.[6]
- E3D Revo HT: rated to 500 °C but marked not abrasion resistant.[7]
- Dyze Design tungsten carbide: a fine-grade tungsten carbide tip in a steel housing, listed at a 500 °C maximum working temperature and 25 MPa maximum working pressure.[8] It is not solid tungsten carbide, and these figures belong to Dyze's nozzle only.
- Olsson Ruby: mostly brass, with a ruby at the tip.[9] The maker's instructions cover installation torque and cleaning but give no maximum temperature.[10]
Even a wear nozzle wears. E3D says materials with aggressive fillers can cause significant wear even on ObXidian.[11]
Does steel need hotter printing?
Not as a rule. In a 2020 CNC Kitchen flow test, an E3D hardened steel nozzle extruded noticeably less than brass only below 200 °C, and the author concluded that a quality steel nozzle likely does not need a higher temperature unless you print very cold.[12] That is one nozzle in one setup. If your prints change after a swap, re-run a temperature and flow check rather than adding a fixed number of degrees.
Which one to choose
- Printing only unfilled PLA, PETG or ABS: brass is what E3D describes for that work.
- Printing carbon fiber, glass fiber or metal-filled filament: pick a nozzle whose maker states abrasion resistance or abrasive use, in your printer's nozzle standard.
- Printing above 300 °C: check both the nozzle rating and your hotend's own limit, and remember the two properties are separate.
The nozzle must also match your hotend's standard (MK8, V6, Volcano, Revo or Prusa Nozzle); a material choice does not change that.
Next
Questions
Do I need a hardened nozzle for PLA?
No. E3D describes its brass V6 nozzles for standard non-abrasive printing such as PLA, PETG and ABS. A wear-resistant nozzle matters once you print filled filament such as carbon fiber.[1]
Does hardened steel need a higher printing temperature?
Not as a rule. In one 2020 CNC Kitchen flow test, an E3D hardened steel nozzle extruded noticeably less than brass only below 200 °C, and the author concluded a quality steel nozzle likely does not need a higher temperature unless you print very cold. That is one setup, not every nozzle.[12]
Which nozzles resist carbon fiber?
E3D marks its hardened steel, Nozzle X, ObXidian and Revo DiamondBack nozzles as abrasion resistant, and Micro Swiss makes its plated A2 MK8 nozzle for abrasive filaments such as carbon fiber. Check that the maker states it for the exact nozzle you buy.[2][6][3]
Is a high-temperature nozzle also abrasion resistant?
Not necessarily. E3D rates its Revo HT nozzles to 500 °C but marks them as not abrasion resistant, and its 500 °C stainless and plated copper V6 nozzles are also not abrasion resistant.[7][2]
Can a nozzle's temperature rating tell me how hot my printer can go?
No. E3D notes that the usable limit of the whole hotend is set by its heater, sensor, heat break and firmware, not by the nozzle alone.[2]