How to correctly change the nozzle of your 3D printer

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To properly change the nozzle on your 3D printer, you must heat the Hotend to 200 °C, remove all of the filament and then unscrew the hot nozzle using a ratchet wrench and a 6 mm tube. Now you can screw on the new nozzle.

what tools to use

Usually when you buy your 3D printer, it comes with a small wrench that is used to change the nozzle, at least that is the case with Creality printers, but this tool is usually very thin, and what it does is mark the nozzle and sometimes even break it. I do not recommend using it.

Instead, you will do it with your own tools, to safely remove the nozzle and avoid costly mistakes.

You will need at least 3 tools.

1. English or French key.
2. Ratchet wrench with 6mm socket (for MK8 nozzles) or larger if the nozzle is larger.
3. Cutting pliers (they can be the ones that come with the printers).

7 Steps to correctly change the nozzle of your 3d printer

1. Preheat the mouthpiece.
2. Remove the filament if you have it.
3. Remove the casing with the fans.
4. Unscrew the nozzle.
5. Take out and clean the mouthpiece.
6. Place the new nozzle on and tighten it.
7. Assemble everything.

1. Preheat the nozzle

You will need to heat the nozzle to 200°C, whether or not you have filament in the printer.

This is necessary to either remove whatever filament you have, or to unscrew the nozzle while hot.

In your 3D printer menu choose a temperature of 200°C for a PLA filament or 230°C for a Petg filament.

2. Remove the filament if you have it.

Once the nozzle has reached 200°C you will need to remove the filament completely.

This is necessary to prevent filament from continuing to ooze out when removing the nozzle.

Remember to cut the tip with the pliers and leave it ready to use again.

3. Remove the casing with the fans

In the case of ender 3 and similar printers, No It will be possible to fit the wrench unless you remove the fan housing.

You can only avoid this option when you have gained experience and know how to control your own strength.

Remove the fan housing and remove the silicone from the heater block.

4. Unscrew the nozzle

To unscrew the nozzle without breaking the Hotend, you will need to use the wrench to hold the aluminum block while you unscrew the nozzle with the pipe wrench.

To do this, you will first need to remove the silicone cap if you have one.

Position the wrench so that it can hold the heating block to prevent it from turning when you remove the nozzle.

Now use a socket wrench to unscrew the nozzle.

5. Remove and clean the nozzle

Once you've unscrewed the nozzle, I recommend you clean it by removing the remains of plastic with the pliers..

Now wait for it to cool before storing it in its storage place (Only in case you are going to reuse it).

If you are not going to reuse it, throw it away immediately so that it does not get mixed with newer nozzles.

Another option may be to store it in a closed container so that it can be stored clean the nozzle at another time.

6. Fit the new nozzle and adjust it

!!Be careful when screwing the nozzle on because it heats up instantly!!

With at least a couple of turns you will be able to use the ratchet to adjust the nozzle.

Remember that whenever you do this process you must use the wrench, so that the aluminum block does not break (unless you are an advanced user and know how to control your strength).

7. Assemble everything

Put everything back the way it was and you're done.

Put the silicone back on the heating block and put the extruder housing back on with its fans.

Tighten the necessary screws.

From this moment, you can place the filament you want.

If you reached this step then you managed to correctly change the nozzle of your 3D printer

Video on YouTube: 3D control

Things I DO NOT recommend

1. Leave the filament on: Retract the filament a few millimeters or centimeters can burn the Bowden tube and cause Under-extrusion problems.
2. Use the factory key: This tiny wrench will do nothing but damage your mouthpiece.
3. use excessive force: Applying excessive force to loosen or tighten can lead to breaking the nozzle or the screws holding the block to the Hotend, or damaging it in some way.

Things I DO recommend

• If the nozzle is no longer useful, Throw it away immediately because it can be mixed with new ones or those that are still useful and it will be a problem to identify them.
• level the bed:Whether you put in a nozzle of the same size, or a different size, I recommend re-leveling the print bed.
• Modify the settings in Cura: Remember that if you changed the nozzle size, you will need to set it in Cura or your laminating program, otherwise you will get errors in your work.