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Replacing the Nozzle

Over time, nozzles can wear out or become irrevocably clogged. Replacing the nozzle is a common maintenance task that can restore your printer's performance. This guide shows you how to safely replace the nozzle on your MY-Mini 3D Printer.

Tools Required

  • A new nozzle of the correct size and type for your hotend
  • A wrench or socket that fits your nozzle
  • Pliers or an adjustable wrench to hold the heater block
  • A torque wrench (optional, for precise tightening)

Why Replace the Nozzle?

  • Wear and Tear: Brass nozzles are soft and will wear out over time, especially when printing with abrasive filaments like carbon fiber, glow-in-the-dark, or wood-fill. A worn nozzle will have a larger diameter than specified, leading to over-extrusion and a loss of detail.
  • Uncloggable Blockage: Sometimes a clog is so severe that it cannot be cleared by normal methods.
  • Changing Nozzle Size: You may want to switch to a different nozzle size for faster prints (e.g., 0.6mm) or for more detailed prints (e.g., 0.25mm).

Procedure

1. Heat Up the Hotend

  • This is the most important step. You must heat the hotend to printing temperature (or slightly hotter, e.g., 250°C) before trying to remove the nozzle. The metal expands when hot, and trying to remove a cold nozzle can cause it to snap off inside the heater block.
  • Unload any filament from the printer.

2. Grip the Heater Block

  • Use a pair of pliers or an adjustable wrench to firmly grip the heater block. This is crucial to prevent the entire hotend from twisting, which could damage the delicate heat break.

3. Unscrew the Old Nozzle

  • While holding the heater block steady, use the correct size wrench or socket to turn the nozzle counter-clockwise to unscrew it.
  • Be careful, as the nozzle and heater block are very hot. Place the hot nozzle on a heat-resistant surface.

4. Clean the Threads

  • While the heater block is still hot, it's a good idea to use a wire brush to clean the threads where the nozzle screws in, removing any old filament residue.

5. Screw in the New Nozzle

  • While still holding the heater block and while it is still hot, screw the new nozzle in by hand until it is finger-tight.
  • Important: The nozzle must be tightened against the heat break inside the heater block, not against the heater block itself. There should be a small gap between the hexagonal head of the nozzle and the heater block when it is fully tightened.

6. Final Tightening

  • Use your wrench to give the nozzle a final quarter-turn. Do not overtighten. If you have a torque wrench, the recommended torque is usually around 1.5 - 2.5 Nm.

7. Re-level the Bed

  • A new nozzle may have a slightly different length than the old one. It is essential to re-level your print bed and reset your Z-offset to prevent the nozzle from crashing into the bed.

That's it! You have successfully changed the nozzle on your MY-Mini 3D Printer. Now you are ready to get back to printing.