In additive manufacturing, heat matters. A uniform heat source is required to deliver consistent heat to the heating block. The heating block transfers energy to the nozzle and enables the media to be dispensed. Maintaining an accurate and uniform heat at the nozzle tip can be a challenge. The best way to ensure consistent heat across the nozzle is to select the proper nozzle and pair it with a quality cartridge heater.

While brass is the most popular material chosen for printer nozzles, there are other options to consider. Brass is inexpensive and has excellent conductive properties, but it is soft and will take damage over time. Stainless steel is a great alternative, but it doesn't heat as efficiently as brass. The best performance nozzles are a composite design consisting of a brass neck and a ruby tip. This delivers an optimum heat profile paired with rugged performance.  Keep reading..