Our vast 3D printing community not only has an in-depth understanding of Ultimaker products but is also happy to share their expertise with all users, enabling 3D printers to achieve more. Now, one of the biggest contributors, Anders Olsson, has developed the ultra wear-resistant 3D printing nozzle CC Red 0.6.
What are the features of the ultra wear-resistant ruby nozzle CC Red 0.6?
. Can use highly abrasive materials
. Has undergone extensive testing with 3D printing carbon fiber
. Made with an ultra wear-resistant ruby core
. 0.6mm diameter, balancing print precision and speed
. As quick to replace as regular Ultimaker nozzles
. Sufficient width to prevent clogging
. First released in mid-November this year
Anders Olsson is the developer of the Ultimaker 2+ nozzle used for 3D printing with boron carbide. Now, Anders has developed our print core CC Red 0.6 – an ultra wear-resistant ruby nozzle for the Ultimaker S5, which is still as quick to replace as other nozzles.
Anders is a research engineer at Uppsala University in Sweden, well-known in the 3D printing industry for his expertise in boron carbide composites (boron carbide is one of the hardest materials in the world).
. Developing an ultra wear-resistant nozzle
Printing with such highly abrasive materials requires a nozzle that lasts longer than brass. When printing with boron carbide, brass nozzles get damaged and produce residue. In addition to wear affecting nozzle precision, the high-strength composite material itself can corrode other connections of the nozzle. Both types of wear can affect print quality.
The initial inspiration came from the need for 3D printing high-content boron carbide composites, a material that is stronger than regular boron carbide but also quite expensive. Ultimaker S5 3D printers can use dual nozzles, allowing simultaneous printing of both regular and concentrated boron carbide composites in a single product, ensuring that expensive materials are only used where truly needed. The ability to maintain print head stability and higher wear resistance simultaneously was the biggest reason for considering ruby as the core.
. Why choose ruby?
Ruby is extremely hard, chemically stable, and non-toxic. Even if it wears down, there is no danger (for example, the cobalt binder in tungsten carbide can cause problems in neutron states). Ruby provides full functionality for 3D printing with any abrasive filament. In addition to abrasive materials, Anders also tested non-abrasive general filaments, finding almost no drawbacks.
3DMart will also start selling this Ultimaker CC Red 0.6 ruby nozzle simultaneously in mid-November this year.
With a diameter of 0.6 mm, it achieves the best balance between 3D printing speed and precision. Furthermore, the sufficient diameter width helps prevent clogging, as abrasive materials containing fibers can cause feeding issues when using smaller nozzles.
The testing team also cut open a nozzle, and after printing approximately twenty-five kilograms of carbon fiber, it remained intact with no wear observed. When printing with regular carbon fiber filament, brass nozzles typically withstand 300 grams of printing, stainless steel nozzles one kilogram, and hardened steel nozzles three to five kilograms. However, ruby is wear-resistant but somewhat brittle, so avoid dropping or impacting it. Handle with care during cleaning, and do not expose the nozzle to flame, as the surrounding brass might deform and damage the ruby core.
. What makes materials "abrasive"?
Generally, all composite filaments (e.g., metal, ceramic, carbon fiber, etc.) are abrasive, unless the composite material's hardness is significantly lower than that of common brass (e.g., wood). However, some are not easily noticeable; for example, some fluorescent or bright materials contain ceramic powders to produce luminescence, which also makes the filament abrasive. (The right side of the image shows the wear on a brass nozzle during 3D printing.)
Anders is currently still testing special materials that are radiation-resistant, magnetic, conductive, or can be fired into ceramic objects after printing, and continues to strive for a combination of various properties. All these composite filaments can be realized with dual-nozzle 3D printers such as the Ultimaker S5, combined with the ultra wear-resistant ruby 3D printing core CC Red 0.6, to achieve every printed component.
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Original article link: https://ultimaker.com/en/blog/52749-red-for-ruby-anders-olsson-on-the-new-wear-resistant-print-core?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=facebook_page&utm_medium=Ultimaker&utm_content=Red%20for%20ruby%20%E2%80%93%20Anders%20Olsson%20on%20the%20new%20wear-resistant%20print%20core%20|%20Ultimaker