<p>The best method is to have a scale on your microscope that looks like a ruler drawn in the optical path.  However I usually visually compare an unknown nozzle with known nozzles under a microscope.  If you don't have a microscope, you can get USB otoscope cameras (15mm focal length for looking in ears) for under $20.</p>
<p>You can get a fairly good idea of the size by telling the printer to extrude in air then measure the extrusion diameter with calipers.  Of course, it's better if you can compare with a known nozzle.  If you push the filament through by hand, the extrusion will be too thick.  With the stepper motor extruding, I measure the extrusion diameters between 0.3 and 0.5 mm on a 0.4 mm nozzle.  Low cost calipers are less than $20.  The main different with the low cost calipers is the slides are not smooth, reducing the accuracy in the 0.01 mm place.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-05-18T18:20:15.363Z
2021-05-19T12:47:28.680Z
2021-05-19T12:47:28.680Z
Perry Webb
<p>I got interested in the question and did some research. I found PCB drill bits from 0.1-1 mm in 0.1 mm steps for around 7€ and believe they are an interesting option. They should help clean the nozzle (or quickly break in the process?) and I think one could experiment with revitalizing worn nozzles by drilling them up a bit (as they are carbide, they should work well with brass nozzle, hardened steel ones might be too much). Having them (and a Dremel-style tool and proper clamping) could open up a world of nozzle hacking, see e.g. CNC Kitchen on YouTube for what happens if you solder a copper wire into the nozzle.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-12-06T11:40:56.447Z
2023-12-06T14:55:59.147Z
2023-12-06T14:55:59.147Z
Jan Bühler
<p>If your nozzle is worn enough that you can't read the size stamped on one of the hex flats, you need to replace it anyway.</p>
<p>That said, the best ways I know to measure the aperture are with either a pin gage (known diameter high precision wire, find the largest that will enter the nozzle aperture), or optically -- take off the nozzle or hot end and put it on a scanner bed; use the scanner to image the nozzle at highest available resolution, then count the pixels across the opening in the image and multiply by the pixel size (for instance, if 6400 ppi, you'd multiply your pixel count by 1/6400 in/px * 25.4 mm/in).</p>
<p>I've used the optical method to measure photographic pinholes (drilled in delicate, .001&quot; thick brass shim stock) that were smaller than 0.5 mm, so I know it works in this size range.</p>
<p>Measuring the extruded filament may not give an accurate diameter, for two reasons -- the hot, freshly extruded material may either swell or stretch after extrusion (and may well do both in a short length of extrusion, giving varying diameter), and it's difficult to accurately measure small round samples (especially of plastic) with either micrometer or dial/digital caliper -- it's too easy to compress the sample and obtain an artificially undersize result.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-06-07T19:15:05.893Z
2021-06-07T19:20:38.990Z
2021-06-07T19:20:38.990Z
Zeiss Ikon
<p>I would find some wires (piano wire, CAT5 copper, paperclip, nozzle unclogger, etc. ) and choose one that should fit the nozzle (eg. a 0.5 mm copper wire will fit a 0.8 mm nozzle) and push them into the nozzle. Heat them up a bit to soften the filament in the nozzle and brush with a metal wire brush to easily clean it up.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-06-05T09:03:43.003Z
This would seem to be a logical answer, and I was thinking along the same lines, using either wire or fishing line. However, as you mention, apparently a 0.8 mm wire wouldn't fit a 0.8 mm nozzle - so it would seem to be a bit of a hit and miss measurement, unfortunately. Unless you have a table showing which wire diameters fit which nozzle diameter. Also, the wire would probably need to be manufactured to a pretty high tolerance, for it to be accurate.
Greenonline
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-06-07T09:19:23.110Z
A .8 wire would fit a .8 nozzle just fine and will absolutely not fit in a .7 nozzle. The wire should be filed to a nice round edge and not a rough cut.
Hacky
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-06-07T19:23:52.540Z
This answer seems to be about cleaning the nozzle, but the question is about measuring its aperture.
Zeiss Ikon
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-06-08T18:47:43.413Z
Unwound guitar strings are good for poking out the nozzle. Take a set of “10’s” the most common size for electric guitar, the high E string is .25mm, the B string is .33mm, and the G string is .43mm. Acoustic guitar strings are a little larger as a set.
ChinchillaWafers
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-05-19T07:06:16.750Z
2021-05-19T07:15:33.953Z
2021-05-19T07:15:33.953Z
Hacky
<p>Extrude some filament, let it hit the desk or whatever surface the printer is resting on; but not the bed as it may be too close. The initial filament will form a coil. After extrusion stops measure the straight part of the extruded filament as close to the coil as possible. This will give you the true current nozzle diameter. (Edit: I mean measure with a micrometer)</p>
<p>Just as ancillary info, the nozzle diameter increases as the filament is passed through it. This is called nozzle wear, and since the diameter is changing the quality of your prints is going to drift. If you have a brass nozzle then after every spool of filament, you should reverify your nozzle diameter. Steel or other hardened nozzles would be much more resilient.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-05-19T14:03:38.310Z
This doesn't account for [die swell](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Die_swell).
Davo
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-05-19T17:06:14.187Z
@Davo, from what I understand Die swell in as it pertains to a 3d printing nozzle would not make a substantial difference during the extrusion and printing process.
user77232
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-06-09T11:48:23.753Z
Not every material suffers from die swell, it's material dependent. And it tends to be minimal if extrusion is slow.
FarO
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-05-19T13:58:42.767Z
2021-05-19T17:07:42.367Z
2021-05-19T17:07:42.367Z
user77232
<p>Majority of nozzles have a .4 or a .3 on it, that indicates how big it is in millimeters. If yours doesn't, take one of these digital rulers (the ones that have the prongs that stick out on the side and slides, I don't know the name off of the top of my head), extrude some filament and measure the filament, make sure that you find a piece that was extruded after the bottom hit the ground and make sure that you find one that isn't bending that way its not stretched or compressed.  (Your measurements won't be exact due to things cooling off and shrinking)</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-05-22T19:44:16.570Z
The word you're looking for is [calipers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calipers).
Andrew Morton
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-06-05T08:59:10.267Z
I might be wrong, but wouldn't the extruded filament be wider than the nozzle (after heating and deformation)?
Greenonline
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-06-07T19:00:38.680Z
I believe that it would actually do the opposite @Greenonline because heat makes things expand so when they cool off they would be shrinking.
alexjshepler
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-05-19T19:13:46.940Z
2021-06-07T19:01:45.347Z
2021-06-07T19:01:45.347Z
alexjshepler
<p>I have a 3D printer, which wasn't used for a longer time. There is a nozzle, but don't know what diameter is it. I used several widths - from 0.2 to 0.8, switched them depending on my needs, but don't remember which one was used lately.
The nozzle is a little bit worn down, so the diameter on the side is not visible.</p>
<p>How to get the nozzle diameter, without taking it off the printer?</p>
<p>This is more of a theoretical question, because I can simply swap the nozzle, but still - eager to know.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-05-18T23:05:01.777Z
Have you seen [this question](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/14095/how-to-measure-the-nozzle-diameter), the answers may help you, the question is very similar.
0scar
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-05-19T14:11:29.073Z
Does this answer your question? [How to measure the nozzle diameter?](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/14095/how-to-measure-the-nozzle-diameter)
Davo
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-06-05T10:44:43.503Z
I can't see how your question differs from [How to measure the nozzle diameter?](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/14095/how-to-measure-the-nozzle-diameter)
Greenonline
<nozzle>
How to determine width of the nozzle, that is already installed on the printer?
malpka
# How to determine width of the nozzle, that is already installed on the printer?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-05-18)

I have a 3D printer, which wasn't used for a longer time. There is a nozzle, but don't know what diameter is it. I used several widths - from 0.2 to 0.8, switched them depending on my needs, but don't remember which one was used lately.
The nozzle is a little bit worn down, so the diameter on the side is not visible.

How to get the nozzle diameter, without taking it off the printer?

This is more of a theoretical question, because I can simply swap the nozzle, but still - eager to know.

**Tags:** nozzle
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Have you seen [this question](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/14095/how-to-measure-the-nozzle-diameter), the answers may help you, the question is very similar.  
> **username_2**: Does this answer your question? [How to measure the nozzle diameter?](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/14095/how-to-measure-the-nozzle-diameter)  
> **username_3**: I can't see how your question differs from [How to measure the nozzle diameter?](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/14095/how-to-measure-the-nozzle-diameter)  

---

## 6 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2021-05-18. Score: 3

The best method is to have a scale on your microscope that looks like a ruler drawn in the optical path. However I usually visually compare an unknown nozzle with known nozzles under a microscope. If you don't have a microscope, you can get USB otoscope cameras (15mm focal length for looking in ears) for under $20.

You can get a fairly good idea of the size by telling the printer to extrude in air then measure the extrusion diameter with calipers. Of course, it's better if you can compare with a known nozzle. If you push the filament through by hand, the extrusion will be too thick. With the stepper motor extruding, I measure the extrusion diameters between 0.3 and 0.5 mm on a 0.4 mm nozzle. Low cost calipers are less than $20. The main different with the low cost calipers is the slides are not smooth, reducing the accuracy in the 0.01 mm place.


---

### Answer by username_5 on 2023-12-06. Score: 1

I got interested in the question and did some research. I found PCB drill bits from 0.1-1 mm in 0.1 mm steps for around 7€ and believe they are an interesting option. They should help clean the nozzle (or quickly break in the process?) and I think one could experiment with revitalizing worn nozzles by drilling them up a bit (as they are carbide, they should work well with brass nozzle, hardened steel ones might be too much). Having them (and a Dremel-style tool and proper clamping) could open up a world of nozzle hacking, see e.g. CNC Kitchen on YouTube for what happens if you solder a copper wire into the nozzle.


---

### Answer by username_6 on 2021-06-07. Score: 1

If your nozzle is worn enough that you can't read the size stamped on one of the hex flats, you need to replace it anyway.

That said, the best ways I know to measure the aperture are with either a pin gage (known diameter high precision wire, find the largest that will enter the nozzle aperture), or optically -- take off the nozzle or hot end and put it on a scanner bed; use the scanner to image the nozzle at highest available resolution, then count the pixels across the opening in the image and multiply by the pixel size (for instance, if 6400 ppi, you'd multiply your pixel count by 1/6400 in/px \* 25.4 mm/in).

I've used the optical method to measure photographic pinholes (drilled in delicate, .001" thick brass shim stock) that were smaller than 0.5 mm, so I know it works in this size range.

Measuring the extruded filament may not give an accurate diameter, for two reasons -- the hot, freshly extruded material may either swell or stretch after extrusion (and may well do both in a short length of extrusion, giving varying diameter), and it's difficult to accurately measure small round samples (especially of plastic) with either micrometer or dial/digital caliper -- it's too easy to compress the sample and obtain an artificially undersize result.


---

### Answer by username_7 on 2021-05-19. Score: 0

I would find some wires (piano wire, CAT5 copper, paperclip, nozzle unclogger, etc. ) and choose one that should fit the nozzle (eg. a 0.5 mm copper wire will fit a 0.8 mm nozzle) and push them into the nozzle. Heat them up a bit to soften the filament in the nozzle and brush with a metal wire brush to easily clean it up.

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: This would seem to be a logical answer, and I was thinking along the same lines, using either wire or fishing line. However, as you mention, apparently a 0.8 mm wire wouldn't fit a 0.8 mm nozzle - so it would seem to be a bit of a hit and miss measurement, unfortunately. Unless you have a table showing which wire diameters fit which nozzle diameter. Also, the wire would probably need to be manufactured to a pretty high tolerance, for it to be accurate.  
> **username_7**: A .8 wire would fit a .8 nozzle just fine and will absolutely not fit in a .7 nozzle. The wire should be filed to a nice round edge and not a rough cut.  
> **username_6**: This answer seems to be about cleaning the nozzle, but the question is about measuring its aperture.  
> **username_8**: Unwound guitar strings are good for poking out the nozzle. Take a set of “10’s” the most common size for electric guitar, the high E string is .25mm, the B string is .33mm, and the G string is .43mm. Acoustic guitar strings are a little larger as a set.  

---

### Answer by username_9 on 2021-05-19. Score: 0

Extrude some filament, let it hit the desk or whatever surface the printer is resting on; but not the bed as it may be too close. The initial filament will form a coil. After extrusion stops measure the straight part of the extruded filament as close to the coil as possible. This will give you the true current nozzle diameter. (Edit: I mean measure with a micrometer)

Just as ancillary info, the nozzle diameter increases as the filament is passed through it. This is called nozzle wear, and since the diameter is changing the quality of your prints is going to drift. If you have a brass nozzle then after every spool of filament, you should reverify your nozzle diameter. Steel or other hardened nozzles would be much more resilient.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: This doesn't account for [die swell](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Die_swell).  
> **username_9**: @Davo, from what I understand Die swell in as it pertains to a 3d printing nozzle would not make a substantial difference during the extrusion and printing process.  
> **username_10**: Not every material suffers from die swell, it's material dependent. And it tends to be minimal if extrusion is slow.  

---

### Answer by username_11 on 2021-05-19. Score: -1

Majority of nozzles have a .4 or a .3 on it, that indicates how big it is in millimeters. If yours doesn't, take one of these digital rulers (the ones that have the prongs that stick out on the side and slides, I don't know the name off of the top of my head), extrude some filament and measure the filament, make sure that you find a piece that was extruded after the bottom hit the ground and make sure that you find one that isn't bending that way its not stretched or compressed. (Your measurements won't be exact due to things cooling off and shrinking)

> **Comments:**
> **username_12**: The word you're looking for is [calipers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calipers).  
> **username_3**: I might be wrong, but wouldn't the extruded filament be wider than the nozzle (after heating and deformation)?  
> **username_11**: I believe that it would actually do the opposite @Greenonline because heat makes things expand so when they cool off they would be shrinking.  

---

