How long does a brass nozzle last?
I've had my MK3 for about a year. Statistics say I've run through 10,252 m in 159 days. I'm not noticing a change in quality, but I don't wanna wait until the car falls apart before I change the oil.
I'm running 90% PLA, 9% PETG, and maybe 1% flexible. Total WAGs but I print PLA mostly. How long do the stock nozzles last? Any benefit in Ruby? What are the tale-tell signs of nozzle wear?
RE: How long does a brass nozzle last?
A brass nozzle will wear over time, even with non-abrasive filaments. If you notice stringing or declining print quality, consider a swap. Ruby is overkill. It is great if you print very high-temp filaments. Otherwise, it's over-priced for what you get and is very fragile. I've got a bunch of notes on nozzles here.
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He is intelligent, but not experienced. His pattern indicates two dimensional thinking. -- Spock in Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan
RE: How long does a brass nozzle last?
@bobstro
I learned a lot, thanks. I still don't know how often I should change it though. I'm looking for a "every 3,000 miles" type recommendation. You think every 10,000 hours is good? It's not that money's no object, but I'll happily spend $20 on a new nozzle every 6 months if that's what it takes.
RE: How long does a brass nozzle last?
[...] I learned a lot, thanks. I still don't know how often I should change it though. I'm looking for a "every 3,000 miles" type recommendation. You think every 10,000 hours is good? It's not that money's no object, but I'll happily spend $20 on a new nozzle every 6 months if that's what it takes.
I'm not aware of anything that specific. If your nozzle runs across the top of filament regularly, it'll wear out faster even at fewer hours. If your filament is a bit more abrasive, times will vary. If it gets dinged up during maintenance, quality can suffer. "When I notice" is my rule. If I notice any odd extrusion I don't hesitate to toss the nozzle if a quick cold pull doesn't resolve the issue. I've tossed maybe 4-5 in 3 years of regular printing. Perhaps someone from the community that runs a farm can make a suggestion. In a case where you're doing large productions, having a PM replacement schedule makes sense. I think it's overkill for the hobbyist.
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He is intelligent, but not experienced. His pattern indicates two dimensional thinking. -- Spock in Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan
RE: How long does a brass nozzle last?
You can use flatbed scanner to compare new and used nozze to determine how much it is gone.