Changing nozzle size?

[Don]

Hello,
MY flash forge extruders have .4 nozzles on them, would it improve my very small detail parts if I changed to a smaller nozzle size?
I'm don't understand what difference the different size nozzles would make to the printed item, any explanations would be helpful.
Thanks....
Don

[Starlord]

You prints would take longer. Because there would be more layers for a given model. It would certainly help in the vertical. The stratification would be less noticeable. I do not know what the effect in the horizontal would be. And it may depend on you slicer.

[curious aardvark]

okay the above is close but the wrong way round. :-)
Vertical layers would not change. they would still be 0.1 0.2 or 0.3.

What would change is the width of the bead. so instead of being 0.45 (ish) they would be 0.35(ish)
This would let you have sharper corners and slightly higher horizontal resolution.

In your slicer you should set your bead width to be the same width as the diameter of the extruded filament when you're loading filament.
So load some filament. then get yiur digital calipers and measure the width - that's the minimum diameter to set your extrusion width at.
I'm lucky my creator x extrudes the pla I use at exactly 0.4.
The 0.5 nozzle on the other hand extrudes at 0.55.

To sum up: - dropping to a 0.3 nozzle won't effect vertical/layer resolution.
It will help with horizontal detail, corners, curves etc.
If you are constantly printing small detailed models - then yes, it could make a difference

[EagleSeven]

Sometime nozzles are Not exactly the size they are supposed to be,
We measure the nozzle opening under a microscope using mm size drill-bits.

Those tiny drill-bits are not much good for drilling, since they brake very easy,
but are good for measuring nozzles.

(Do Not try to drill out a plugged nozzle with them)

We found a set of the various sizes needed at eBay.

[curious aardvark]

(Do Not try to drill out a plugged nozzle with them)

lol - now you tell me - tried it about 11 months ago. And yes, they do snap and get stuck in the bloody nozzle.

So the above is excellent advice :-)

[EagleSeven]

Yes, I'm glad there was 2 of each size in the set .
We only have one of most sizes Now