Guide · Maintenance parts
Carbon fiber and other abrasive filaments: which nozzle, which size
Which nozzles makers rate for carbon fiber and filled filament, why small nozzles jam, and what bigger nozzles really change, from maker pages and CNC Kitchen.
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Picks that fit
- Micro Swiss MK8 plated A2 tool-steel wear-resistant nozzle, 0.4 mm (M2585‑04)Check price on Amazon
- Sovol hardened steel nozzle kit for SV08 / T300, 0.4 mm x2Check price on Amazon
- Micro Swiss FlowTech CM2 hardened tip nozzle (M2904)Check price on Amazon
Short answer
Use a nozzle whose maker states it is abrasion resistant or made for abrasive filament, not brass. Then check the filament maker's minimum nozzle size: some fillers have particles close to the size of small nozzles and jam them. A larger nozzle makes stronger parts mainly because it lays down more material, not because each gram is stronger.
Picks that fitAll picks and how to choose
- Micro Swiss MK8 plated A2 tool-steel wear-resistant nozzle, 0.4 mm (M2585‑04)Check price on Amazon
- Sovol hardened steel nozzle kit for SV08 / T300, 0.4 mm x2Check price on Amazon
- Micro Swiss FlowTech CM2 hardened tip nozzle (M2904)Check price on Amazon
Which nozzles makers mark abrasion resistant
Carbon fiber, glass fiber and metal-filled filaments are abrasive: the filler grinds the nozzle bore wider over time.
- E3D V6: E3D marks its hardened steel, Nozzle X and ObXidian nozzles as abrasion resistant, and its brass, stainless steel and plated copper nozzles as not.[1]
- E3D Revo DiamondBack: a solid polycrystalline diamond tip on a brass carrier, marked abrasion resistant from 0.25 to 0.80 mm.[2]
- 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]
Those statements belong to those nozzles. Another brand's "stainless" or "plated" nozzle is not abrasion resistant just because E3D's hardened version is; look for the maker's own statement.
Picks that fit3 products
Match the nozzle to your hotend first. MK8 printers Micro Swiss lists, such as the Ender 3 and Ender 3 Pro: the 0.4 mm A2 (M2585-04).
More on choosing
Sovol SV08, T300 or SV06 ACE: Sovol's hardened steel kit for SV08/T300 (on an SV06 ACE, use the nozzles only, not the kit's heater blocks). A printer already fitted with a Micro Swiss FlowTech hotend: the FlowTech CM2 nozzle (M2904); it does not fit stock hotends. Check the filament maker's minimum nozzle size before choosing 0.4 mm. On Amazon, check that 'Ships from / Sold by' shows Amazon.com or the brand.
MK8 nozzle for abrasive filament
Micro Swiss MK8 plated A2 tool-steel wear-resistant nozzle, 0.4 mm (M2585‑04)
Sovol hardened steel nozzle kit for SV08 / T300, 0.4 mm x2
Micro Swiss FlowTech CM2 hardened tip nozzle (M2904)
Even a wear nozzle wears
E3D calls ObXidian exceptionally wear resistant, yet it says materials with aggressive fillers can cause significant wear even on ObXidian nozzles.[4] Treat any wear nozzle as a part that lasts longer, not one that lasts forever. If extrusion gets thinner or first layers change after a run of filled filament, inspect the nozzle.
The rest of the hotend matters too
The nozzle is not the only part filled filament touches. ELEGOO does not recommend carbon fiber filament on the Neptune 3 Pro, Plus and Max hotend, because it quickly wears the PTFE tube and the nozzle.[5] If your hotend has a PTFE lining that runs down to the nozzle, check what its maker says before printing filled materials.
Particle size vs small nozzles
Small nozzles and filled filaments are a poor match. E3D warns that some filled filaments contain particles close to or larger than small nozzle sizes, which significantly increases jam risk, and advises checking the filament maker's minimum orifice size.[6] That warning is general; it is not a rule for any one filament.
So before you load a carbon fiber spool:
- Find the filament maker's stated minimum nozzle size on the spool label or product page.
- Use that size or larger, in a wear-resistant nozzle.
- If the maker states no minimum, ask them before you try a small nozzle.
CHT and other multi-channel nozzles
Bondtech says its CHT nozzles split the filament into three thinner strands, and that meaningful flow gains need a nozzle of at least 0.6 mm.[7] Bondtech's coating is nickel over brass or bi-metal, and the page gives no maximum temperature, so check that any CHT you consider is offered in a wear-resistant version before using it with filled filament.
Bigger nozzles: stronger parts, same strength per gram
A common reason to move up to 0.6 mm or 0.8 mm for carbon fiber is strength. CNC Kitchen's 2019 PLA hook tests found that larger-nozzle parts were stronger because they contained more material, while strength per gram barely changed with nozzle size.[8] The author's point was throughput: more strength per hour of printing, not better layer bonding. That was PLA on one Prusa MK3S with three samples per set, not carbon fiber, so treat it as a direction rather than a number for your part.
| Question | What the source says |
|---|---|
| Brass with carbon fiber? | E3D: brass V6 is not abrasion resistant |
| Smallest nozzle for a filled filament? | E3D: check the filament maker's minimum orifice |
| CHT gains below 0.6 mm? | Bondtech: meaningful gains need 0.6 mm or more |
| Is 0.6 mm stronger? | CNC Kitchen: more material, not more strength per gram |
Next
Questions
Will carbon fiber filament ruin a brass nozzle?
It wears it. E3D marks its brass V6 nozzles as not abrasion resistant, and ELEGOO does not recommend carbon fiber on the stock Neptune 3 hotend because it quickly wears the PTFE tube and nozzle.[1][5]
Can I print carbon fiber with a 0.2 mm nozzle?
Check the filament maker first. E3D warns that some filled filaments contain particles close to or larger than small nozzle sizes, which significantly increases jam risk, and says to check the filament maker's minimum orifice size.[6]
Is a 0.6 mm nozzle stronger than a 0.4 mm?
Parts can be stronger because they hold more material. In CNC Kitchen's 2019 PLA hook tests, larger-nozzle parts were stronger, but strength per gram barely changed with nozzle size.[8]
Does a hardened nozzle last forever?
No. E3D says materials with aggressive fillers can cause significant wear even on its ObXidian nozzles, which it calls exceptionally wear resistant.[4]