<p>Short melting zone melts material in small amounts which is suitable for thin layers with small nozzles. In opposite, long melting zone can heat a big amount of filament which is needed for fast printing and thick layers.</p>
<h2>short melting zone</h2>
<ul>
<li>less amount of melted material</li>
<li>thin layer heights</li>
<li>quality printing with details</li>
<li>give more precise volume control with less flow/pressure lag and better retraction performance (thx @Ryan-Carlyle)</li>
<li>nozzles: 0.25-0.8 mm (available for E3Dv6)</li>
</ul>
<h2>long melting zone</h2>
<ul>
<li>more amount of melted material</li>
<li>thick layer heights</li>
<li>fast printing with less details</li>
<li>nozzles: 0.4-1.2 mm (available for E3D Volcano)</li>
</ul>
<h2>Example</h2>
<p>Example of those hotends are E3Dv6 and E3D Volcano</p>
<p>E3Dv6</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/WiRIv.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/WiRIv.jpg" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>
<p>E3D Volcano with a much longer melt zone than v6</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/LK5gZ.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/LK5gZ.png" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>
<p>Speed comparison video: <div class="youtube-embed"><div>
                <iframe width="640px" height="395px" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_PQjwvWoGpk?start=0"></iframe>
            </div></div></p>
<p>Speed comparison graph:
<a href="https://i.sstatic.net/o1Vbg.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/o1Vbg.png" alt="e3d speed comparison graph" /></a></p>
<h2>Update</h2>
<p>CNC Kitchen YouTube channel did a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngpw0ojHODA" rel="nofollow noreferrer">review of 0.1 mm nozzle</a>, where the author discusses problems with very low material flow. The main point is the usage of high-quality materials (he uses Polymaker PolyMax PLA) and avoiding materials like PVA, which tend to crystalize under heat.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-02-14T03:44:07.143Z
Should also mention that short melt zones give more precise volume control with less flow/pressure lag and better retraction performance.
Ryan Carlyle
CC BY-SA 4.0
2016-02-13T23:28:27.360Z
2021-11-08T13:55:20.960Z
2021-11-08T13:55:20.960Z
amra
<p>There are many hot end designs out thee and one difference is the length of the melting zone. </p>

<p>The melting zone is that part of the hotend where the pushed in filament is heated up and therefore starts to melt. Is it better to have a short melting zone, or a long melting zone? What are advantages of each solution. And are there materials that benefit from a short/long melting one more than others?</p>

<hotend><3d-design>
What is the best length of the melting zone in the hotend?
Lars Pötter
# What is the best length of the melting zone in the hotend?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-02-13)

There are many hot end designs out thee and one difference is the length of the melting zone.

The melting zone is that part of the hotend where the pushed in filament is heated up and therefore starts to melt. Is it better to have a short melting zone, or a long melting zone? What are advantages of each solution. And are there materials that benefit from a short/long melting one more than others?

**Tags:** hotend, 3d-design

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2016-02-13. Score: 13 | Accepted answer

Short melting zone melts material in small amounts which is suitable for thin layers with small nozzles. In opposite, long melting zone can heat a big amount of filament which is needed for fast printing and thick layers.

## short melting zone

* less amount of melted material
* thin layer heights
* quality printing with details
* give more precise volume control with less flow/pressure lag and better retraction performance (thx @Ryan-Carlyle)
* nozzles: 0.25-0.8 mm (available for E3Dv6)

## long melting zone

* more amount of melted material
* thick layer heights
* fast printing with less details
* nozzles: 0.4-1.2 mm (available for E3D Volcano)

## Example

Example of those hotends are E3Dv6 and E3D Volcano

E3Dv6

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/WiRIv.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/WiRIv.jpg)

E3D Volcano with a much longer melt zone than v6

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/LK5gZ.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/LK5gZ.png)

Speed comparison video:

Speed comparison graph:
[![e3d speed comparison graph](https://i.sstatic.net/o1Vbg.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/o1Vbg.png)

## Update

CNC Kitchen YouTube channel did a [review of 0.1 mm nozzle](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngpw0ojHODA), where the author discusses problems with very low material flow. The main point is the usage of high-quality materials (he uses Polymaker PolyMax PLA) and avoiding materials like PVA, which tend to crystalize under heat.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: Should also mention that short melt zones give more precise volume control with less flow/pressure lag and better retraction performance.  

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