Super hard nozzles - Test pilots

[Anders Olsson]

Are you trying to tell me that you managed to wear the ruby with CF, or is that just remains of plastic there?

Haven't seen any wear whatsoever on the ruby with anything except my boron carbide filament, so it would be spectacular if you managed to wear it that easily

[Blizz]

In the hole it might be plastic?
I can take a pretty closeup picture of it, but I can't evaluate what it is, don't have a microscope.

[Blizz]

Dunno if this one helps?

To be honest, I have printed a lot of things since I mounted it, but it was all black filament (although I'm starting to doubt myself now that I'm thinking about it)
I'll see if I can make a backlit one, focussing more on the hole

[Blizz]

Ah, now I recall: I did use "white"... (transparent-y) when I pushed some cleaning filament through. Might be that.

[Neotko]

Do a reverse atomic to clean the outside to be sure?

[Blizz]

Do a reverse atomic to clean the outside to be sure?

Good idea.

[Blizz]

Managed to get a good reverse-atomic:

I does seem that you guys are right, here it is again:

(and off topic, but damn I love my MP-E65 objective)

[Anders Olsson]

Interesting.
The outer edge on the shoulder seems fractured but I doubt that that kind of wear comes from CF-filament since the carbon fibers are very small and thereby has more of a polishing effect.
It feels more likely that the fractures comes from the tool that caused those scratches on the brass part of the nozzle.

That brings up an interesting topic: How to clean the nozzle in an good way.
So, what kind of tool caused those scratches on the brass part?

I have personally only used paper to wipe the nozzle clean, but it does not get super clean that way.
Neotko has much more experience here.
Here is what his ruby nozzle looked like after 8 kg of Formfutura CF as a comparison:

And here is what ABS with 60% (wt) of 22-59um boron carbide particles will do to the ruby after a day or two of printing for example:

(boron carbide is harder than ruby )

[Neotko]

Wow that's nasty!

One could actually print a cleanning tool on the material of his choose. Like a small cube with a stick to hold it. You set the temp, press the cube-with-stick, cool down and pull reverse atomic. With 3mm filament must be easier than when I use 1.75. I set temp high and swusih the filament, cool down, setting fans at 80% or more so it cools faster outside. Then wait for atomic pull temp. With e3d nozzles I use also an small metal brush to wipe clean. But this shortens the brass tip life span, but my prints can't get color contaminated so I preffer to burn nozzles than getting color spots on a flat surface.

[Anders Olsson]

To be honest, I have printed a lot of things since I mounted it, but it was all black filament (although I'm starting to doubt myself now that I'm thinking about it)

You haven't by any chance printed the GMASS Tungsten filament by the way?
It seems that one can probably wear the ruby a bit, according to my very preliminary tests

[Anders Olsson]

So, here is what happens when you print Tungsten filament (with huge particles in it) with the ruby nozzle:
viewtopic.php?f=20&p=2312#p2312

I am still interested in some feedback from Blizz by the way, as his nozzle wear appears quite similar to what the GMASS Tungsten does to the nozzle.

The next batch of ruby nozzles is slightly delayed by the way, I am expecting to be able to send out a few more for testing after easter.

[Blizz]

Anders: I did send you a reply on your PM, wasn't that sufficient?

Anyway, it probably comes down to my - apparently not so good - cleaning method with a kitchen sponge.
Before I took a picture that detailed I never ever considered it could do actual damage.
But now... I guess I will have to find something else.

[Anders Olsson]

Strange, I did not get any reply on the PM (?)
That was why I kept reminding you, sorry for that, and thanks for the update

[Blizz]

You're right... I just checked my outbox, can't find it.
I have the - it seems bad - habit of using the abrasive side of a regular kitchen sponge to clean a nozzle heated to 80º. As said, no idea it cause so much damage (scratches on the brass). You think the chipping of the ruby might be related to this as well?

[Anders Olsson]

I am not sure if a kitchen sponge can break chips of the edge of ruby.
It sounds lite it should not, but some of those sponges will scratch both stainless steel and glass on the other hand.

Anyway, this is why I started this thread at all, I need people to do all these things to the ruby that normal users would come up with
So, at this point, damaged rubies are at least as interesting as ones that survived without a scratch for me.