# Hotend

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{{Short description|Fused-filament 3D printer component}}
[[File:Extruder_lemio-en.svg|thumb|right|The hotend is the part of the extruder near the [nozzle](/source/nozzle), here it is the lower part of a [direct-drive extruder](/source/direct-drive_extruder) ]]

A '''hotend''' is a component of [fused filament deposition](/source/fused_filament_deposition) [3D printer](/source/3D_printer)s. Its purpose is to heat up and melt [filament material](/source/3D_printing_filament) for depositing into the intended shape.

The hotend is usually made of a bulk heat-conductive material with an internal [resistive heater](/source/resistance_heater), coupled with a [thermistor](/source/thermistor) or [thermocouple](/source/thermocouple) for precise temperature control. In common desktop 3D printer designs, the heater is located near the nozzle, and a [heatsink](/source/heatsink) is attached upstream (on the colder side).<ref name="Xometry 2023 z819">{{cite web | title=Hotend: Definition, Types, How It Works, Advantages, and Disadvantages | website=Xometry | date=2023-04-28 | url=https://www.xometry.com/resources/3d-printing/hotend/ | access-date=2024-04-21}}</ref> A [heatbreak](/source/Thermal_break) component made of dissimilar metals ([bimetal](/source/bimetal)) can be used to limit heat transfer to the cold filament above, increasing the controllability of the melted filament.<ref name="CNC Kitchen 2021 w915">{{cite web | title=Testing BiMetallic Heat Breaks | website=CNC Kitchen | date=2021-02-20 | url=https://www.cnckitchen.com/blog/testing-bimetallic-heat-breaks | access-date=2024-04-21}}</ref><ref name="All You Need to Know About 3D Printer Heat Break z649">{{cite web | title=All You Need to Know About 3D Printer Heat Break | website=All You Need to Know About 3D Printer Heat Break | url=https://www.crealitycloud.com/blog/tutorials/all-you-need-to-know-about-3d-printer-heat-break | access-date=2024-04-21}}</ref>

==Nozzle==
The nozzle is an interchangeable tip attached to the hotend with a small diameter hole through which the melted filament is extruded. In desktop [fused filament deposition](/source/fused_filament_deposition) printers, different sized nozzle holes can be used to balance between [printing speed](/source/3D_printing_speed) and precision. Common large sized ones (1.0mm) extrude more material per travel length whereas smaller sized nozzles (0.2mm) result in higher quality.<ref name="0.4mm Vs 0.6mm Nozzle for 3D Printing – A Closer Look at the Tradeoffs o706">{{cite web | title=0.4mm Vs 0.6mm Nozzle for 3D Printing – A Closer Look at the Tradeoffs | website=0.4mm Vs 0.6mm Nozzle for 3D Printing – A Closer Look at the Tradeoffs | url=https://www.crealitycloud.com/blog/tutorials/nozzle-for-3d-printing | access-date=2024-04-21}}</ref>

In consumer desktop printers, the nozzle is often made of [brass](/source/brass) or [stainless steel](/source/stainless_steel). Desired characteristics include [abrasion resistance](/source/abrasion_resistance), as the nozzle frequently slides across the printed object, and [thermal conductivity](/source/thermal_conductivity). To improve thermal conductivity, nozzles can be perforated with multiple holes on the intake side, forming an internal structure with more contact area between the heated nozzle body and the filament.<ref name="CNC Kitchen 2021 n343">{{cite web | title=Bondtech CHT High Flow Nozzle Reviewed | website=CNC Kitchen | date=2021-10-23 | url=https://www.cnckitchen.com/blog/bondtech-cht-high-flow-nozzle-reviewed | access-date=2024-04-21}}</ref> This results in a higher maximum [volumetric flow](/source/volumetric_flow), which can improve printing speed.

==See also==
* [3D printer cabinet](/source/3D_printer_cabinet), encapsulation that can provide better control of the environment around a 3D printer
* [3D printer extruder](/source/3D_printer_extruder), feeding mechanism for filament in certain types of 3D printers
* [PTC heating element](/source/PTC_heating_element), type of heating element with self-regulating properties to prevent thermal runaway

==References==
{{reflist}}

Category:Fused filament fabrication

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Hotend](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hotend) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hotend?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.