<p>The <a href="https://blog.prusaprinters.org/everything-about-nozzles-with-a-different-diameter_8344/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">general consensus for nozzle diameter versus layer height</a> is to limit the layer thickness to eighty percent of the nozzle diameter. For a 0.4 mm nozzle, one usually limits the layer to 0.3 mm. The printer on which the nozzle is installed will determine the minimum layer thickness, often a typical value of 0.10 mm. I have printed successfully to 0.10 mm layer thickness with a 0.40 mm nozzle.</p>
<p>The linked site says just about the same as above, but also provides useful information regarding appearance, speed, strength, etc.</p>
<p>With a &quot;next size up&quot; nozzle of 0.6 mm, you'd want to limit the layer height to 0.48 mm but you might get away with 0.50 mm layers as there is some wiggle woom.</p>
<p>For 0.8 mm nozzle, you can get your 0.60 mm layers as the max for that nozzle is 0.64 mm.</p>
<p>The article also references that one can print wider than nozzle dimensions by increasing the extrusion factor, which may go by other terms, depending on the slicer used.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-03-18T18:55:25.027Z
OP seems to be concerned about the lower limit on layer width, not the upper limits you've focused on.
R.. GitHub STOP HELPING ICE
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-03-18T19:05:36.370Z
I misread the last portion and have edited the corrections. Thanks.
fred_dot_u
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-12-25T13:42:10.563Z
"wiggle woom" lol
glibg10b
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-12-25T17:02:30.303Z
How in the world did I miss that typo? The R isn't even close to the W for a touch typist. I'll leave it for the jollies, but I wish it had been worm.
fred_dot_u
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-03-18T18:28:51.933Z
2022-03-18T19:04:55.733Z
2022-03-18T19:04:55.733Z
fred_dot_u
<ol>
<li><p>Yes, absolutely. I believe the original sample file that came with the Ender 3 (0.4 mm nozzle) was sliced for 0.1 mm layer height. As long as your printer can get decently precise Z positioning at 0.1 mm increments, it should be able to do it.</p>
</li>
<li><p>I've never used smaller nozzles but they pose challenges that make them unattractive. It's hard to flow material through such a small opening, so you have to go slow and use narrow line widths. This may make sense for really small parts, but even then there are tradeoffs.</p>
</li>
<li><p>Yes, you can print lines wider than the nozzle, up to at least the width of the flat end of the nozzle, and with slightly reduced quality, even beyond that. Lost in Tech on YouTube has several videos showing his results doing this with very wide lines, up to nearly 2 mm if I recall. For 25% to 50% over the nozzle width, it's no problem at all, and a lot of people even recommend doing that. Wider lines improve overhang quality and part strength, but may compromise the ability to print fine detail.</p>
</li>
</ol>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-03-18T20:24:17.087Z
Thank you for such a detailed and illuminating response. If you do not mind, I have a follow up question. I have struggled with setting the z-offset value for my printer. Is there a laid down procedure of how to reach that magical figure even if it is by hit and trial? I hope you meant z-offset when you talked about Z positioning at 0.1 mm increments.
Beenum
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-03-18T19:01:36.997Z
2022-03-18T19:01:36.997Z
R.. GitHub STOP HELPING ICE
<ol>
<li><p>Is it possible to 3D print multiple 0.1 mm high layers with a 0.4 mm diameter nozzle in FDM while ensuring fidelity to the set layer height? The raster width is set at 0.4 mm and I am not touching that. The part thickness is 3 mm, so 30 layers of 0.1 mm have to be deposited for the completion of the print job. My polymer is PLA.</p>
</li>
<li><p>If not, should I be using a 0.2 mm diameter nozzle for this purpose?</p>
</li>
<li><p>Can a 0.4 mm print nozzle print rasters with higher width (0.5 mm, 0.6 mm, etc.)?</p>
</li>
</ol>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-03-19T16:11:50.947Z
I've printed 0.05 mm layer heights with a 0.4 mm nozzle, not a problem for the Ultimaker 3E. Prints come out as if it is an extrusion product, no/barely visible layers!
0scar
<nozzle><layer-height><dimensional-accuracy>
Print limitations with 0.4 mm nozzle
Beenum
# Print limitations with 0.4 mm nozzle

(Asked by: username_0 on 2022-03-18)

1. Is it possible to 3D print multiple 0.1 mm high layers with a 0.4 mm diameter nozzle in FDM while ensuring fidelity to the set layer height? The raster width is set at 0.4 mm and I am not touching that. The part thickness is 3 mm, so 30 layers of 0.1 mm have to be deposited for the completion of the print job. My polymer is PLA.
2. If not, should I be using a 0.2 mm diameter nozzle for this purpose?
3. Can a 0.4 mm print nozzle print rasters with higher width (0.5 mm, 0.6 mm, etc.)?

**Tags:** nozzle, layer-height, dimensional-accuracy
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I've printed 0.05 mm layer heights with a 0.4 mm nozzle, not a problem for the Ultimaker 3E. Prints come out as if it is an extrusion product, no/barely visible layers!  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2022-03-18. Score: 6

1. Yes, absolutely. I believe the original sample file that came with the Ender 3 (0.4 mm nozzle) was sliced for 0.1 mm layer height. As long as your printer can get decently precise Z positioning at 0.1 mm increments, it should be able to do it.
2. I've never used smaller nozzles but they pose challenges that make them unattractive. It's hard to flow material through such a small opening, so you have to go slow and use narrow line widths. This may make sense for really small parts, but even then there are tradeoffs.
3. Yes, you can print lines wider than the nozzle, up to at least the width of the flat end of the nozzle, and with slightly reduced quality, even beyond that. Lost in Tech on YouTube has several videos showing his results doing this with very wide lines, up to nearly 2 mm if I recall. For 25% to 50% over the nozzle width, it's no problem at all, and a lot of people even recommend doing that. Wider lines improve overhang quality and part strength, but may compromise the ability to print fine detail.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thank you for such a detailed and illuminating response. If you do not mind, I have a follow up question. I have struggled with setting the z-offset value for my printer. Is there a laid down procedure of how to reach that magical figure even if it is by hit and trial? I hope you meant z-offset when you talked about Z positioning at 0.1 mm increments.  

---

### Answer by username_2 on 2022-03-18. Score: 3

The [general consensus for nozzle diameter versus layer height](https://blog.prusaprinters.org/everything-about-nozzles-with-a-different-diameter_8344/) is to limit the layer thickness to eighty percent of the nozzle diameter. For a 0.4 mm nozzle, one usually limits the layer to 0.3 mm. The printer on which the nozzle is installed will determine the minimum layer thickness, often a typical value of 0.10 mm. I have printed successfully to 0.10 mm layer thickness with a 0.40 mm nozzle.

The linked site says just about the same as above, but also provides useful information regarding appearance, speed, strength, etc.

With a "next size up" nozzle of 0.6 mm, you'd want to limit the layer height to 0.48 mm but you might get away with 0.50 mm layers as there is some wiggle woom.

For 0.8 mm nozzle, you can get your 0.60 mm layers as the max for that nozzle is 0.64 mm.

The article also references that one can print wider than nozzle dimensions by increasing the extrusion factor, which may go by other terms, depending on the slicer used.

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: OP seems to be concerned about the lower limit on layer width, not the upper limits you've focused on.  
> **username_2**: I misread the last portion and have edited the corrections. Thanks.  
> **username_4**: "wiggle woom" lol  
> **username_2**: How in the world did I miss that typo? The R isn't even close to the W for a touch typist. I'll leave it for the jollies, but I wish it had been worm.  

---

