Slice Engineering has introduced a new and powerful nozzle for FFF 3D printers.
Don’t let the size fool you. Slice Engineering has rolled out a new nozzle for FFF 3D printers that’s sure to pack a punch in terms of power. You might be thinking, “A nozzle? Isn’t that just a small piece of the 3D printer puzzle?” But this tiny component can make or break your 3D printed masterpiece.
The nozzle is indeed a crucial part of any FFF 3D printer, even though it’s minuscule in size. It’s the conduit through which all the material shaping your printed object flows. Any variations or issues cropping up within the nozzle can give rise to a whole host of quality problems.
The Nozzle Erosion Conundrum
The primary culprit behind quality issues? Nozzle erosion. This pesky problem pops up when abrasive materials like carbon fiber or glass composite materials are 3D printed repeatedly. These hardy additives outlast the typical nozzle, gradually wearing it down over time.
The result is a nozzle with a slightly larger diameter than initially intended, meaning your flow rate calculations are off-kilter. And voila, you’re faced with a quality issue.
To tackle this, hardened nozzles come to the rescue. These nozzles, made from materials tougher than the usual soft brass used in most FFF devices, can withstand the onslaught of abrasive materials. This could mean anything from specialized steels to titanium.
The Heat Dilemma
However, hardened nozzles bring along their own bag of problems: thermal conductivity. Brass is a go-to choice for most nozzles because of copper’s exceptional thermal conductivity, ensuring the material heats up efficiently as it travels through the hot end.
The downside to hardened nozzles? They aren’t quite as heat-conductive. This means you might have to compromise print speed or up the extrusion temperatures. So basically, you’ve swapped one issue for another.
The GammaMaster Solution
But don’t despair. Slice Engineering has conjured up an advanced solution. Enter the GammaMaster nozzle, a marvel crafted from a proprietary alloy. This alloy not only boasts thermal conductivity but also resists abrasion.
Slice Engineering claims the new nozzle is a whopping 2.7X more conductive than your standard hardened steel nozzles, effectively counteracting the speed and temperature hiccups.
Guaranteed Longevity and Resistance
Plus, the company shows confidence in the nozzle’s longevity by offering a limited lifetime warranty. As Slice Engineering puts it, “The GammaMaster Nozzle will print the entire gamut of thermoplastic materials. From basic PLA to glass fiber reinforced PEI, the GammaMaster Nozzle excels at printing abrasive filaments with a Rockwell C hardness level of 63.”
The icing on the cake? The GammaMaster nozzle comes with a special coating that prevents adhesion. So, no more plastic layers sticking to your nozzle.
Priced at US$25, this nifty nozzle is now up for grabs in two formats, RepRap and AP3X. Just be aware there might be a wait due to high demand, and that’s not surprising.
