Why use a 0.4mm hotend over 0.2mm?

Bambu Lab A Series
1

Hi all

Sorry if this is a silly question (but im new to all this and learning). I got a 0.2 hotend along with the standard 0.4 for my A1 mini as im looking to print things as high quality as possible, and sometime quite small.

My question is, why shouldn’t I just keep the 0.2 hotend installed all of the time to get as thin layers/good quality as possible? Is It simply a speed thing?

Im sure there’s a simple answer- but if someone could give a 1-2 on the basic uses of when to use each hotend that would be much appreciated

thanks!
Nick

2

It’s not only a resolution thing, think that you are depositing a cable if the cable as a .2 diameter will have half force than a .4mm one, the part has more resolution but worts mechanical properties!

3

Larger nozzle also makes stronger prints. And some filaments are more likely to clog the 0.2

4

thanks for the info!

5

Clogging! Some filaments clog easily in a .2mm. That, strength and speed are about it.

6

Depends what you want to do, but sometimes even going bigger doesn’t hurt quality that much.

Ive seen plenty of examples of a 0.6mm nozzle outputting great quality, and of course its faster

7

Everything will take 2-3 times longer to print.

8

Some filaments will not pass through a 0.2 nozzle. Like the PLA Marble has particles into embed in the filament. PETG will clog it.