# Should I switch to 1.75mm? **URL:** \ **Category:** Uncategorized\ **Created:** [June 19, 2020, 11:06pm UTC](https://forum.lulzbot.com/t/should-i-switch-to-1-75mm/21902 "2020-06-19T23:06:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bribot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ba8739/32.png) [@bribot](https://forum.lulzbot.com/u/bribot)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2020, 11:06pm UTC](https://forum.lulzbot.com/t/should-i-switch-to-1-75mm/21902/1 "2020-06-19T23:06:10Z")
I’m investing in a new third-party tool head for my Mini 1 to use with abrasive and flexible filaments. I’m considering going with 1.75mm for future-proofing. While I do have several reels of 2.85 kicking around, I figure I’ll still have the stock tool head to use with them. Is this a good move? From what I’ve read, metal-filled filaments are less brittle in the 1.75 diameter, though flexible filaments are maybe harder to use? I’m considering a .4 or .5 diameter Nozzle X, as detail is more important to me than speed. ---
**Author:** ![mbur371189](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecb155/32.png) [@mbur371189](https://forum.lulzbot.com/u/mbur371189)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2020, 1:31am UTC](https://forum.lulzbot.com/t/should-i-switch-to-1-75mm/21902/2 "2020-06-20T01:31:32Z")
I use both I like the 1.75 is more available and is more pliable. ---
**Author:** ![bribot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ba8739/32.png) [@bribot](https://forum.lulzbot.com/u/bribot)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2020, 3:12am UTC](https://forum.lulzbot.com/t/should-i-switch-to-1-75mm/21902/3 "2020-06-20T03:12:46Z")
Thanks mbur, that’s good to know. I’ll probably go with the 1.75 nozzle. ---
**Author:** ![TheVirtualTim](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.lulzbot.com/thevirtualtim/32/9965_2.png) [@TheVirtualTim](https://forum.lulzbot.com/u/TheVirtualTim)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2020, 4:42pm UTC](https://forum.lulzbot.com/t/should-i-switch-to-1-75mm/21902/4 "2020-06-21T16:42:56Z")
There are a LOT more filament varieties available in the 1.75mm size. For those who use their printers as a “workhorse” (printing more industrial parts rather than art, etc.) they can get everything they could possibly need in 2.85mm … and don’t miss the artsy filament types. For filaments that have interesting additives (wood, metal, etc.) the possibility of a clog goes up as the nozzle opening size is smaller (also a larger nozzle can print faster). But this comes at a trade-off of having slightly less fine detail. ---
**Author:** ![bribot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ba8739/32.png) [@bribot](https://forum.lulzbot.com/u/bribot)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2020, 4:47pm UTC](https://forum.lulzbot.com/t/should-i-switch-to-1-75mm/21902/5 "2020-06-21T16:47:07Z")
Thanks Tim! I’m leaning toward a 1.75mm toolhead with a .5 Nozzle X. I printed Bronzefill once or twice with no troubles on my stock .5 brass nozzle, and the level of detail’s pretty good. Guess I could always swap it out for a larger nozzle if clogging becomes an issue. ---
**Author:** ![mbur371189](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecb155/32.png) [@mbur371189](https://forum.lulzbot.com/u/mbur371189)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2020, 11:37pm UTC](https://forum.lulzbot.com/t/should-i-switch-to-1-75mm/21902/6 "2020-06-21T23:37:09Z")
Sometimes you can good deals on used toolheads or even parts to build one. Why not just have 2 or 5 that way you can have more options. ---
**Author:** ![bribot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ba8739/32.png) [@bribot](https://forum.lulzbot.com/u/bribot)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2020, 11:40pm UTC](https://forum.lulzbot.com/t/should-i-switch-to-1-75mm/21902/7 "2020-06-21T23:40:01Z")
For sure, I did look for a used toolhead, but haven’t found any, and don’t really have the skill or time to commit to building one. So I’m resigned to purchasing new this time around, anyway. I like the idea of having several around to choose from, though. ---
**Author:** ![TheVirtualTim](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.lulzbot.com/thevirtualtim/32/9965_2.png) [@TheVirtualTim](https://forum.lulzbot.com/u/TheVirtualTim)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2020, 1:26am UTC](https://forum.lulzbot.com/t/should-i-switch-to-1-75mm/21902/8 "2020-06-22T01:26:45Z")
I use Nozzle X. When switch to it (or any hardened steel nozzle) expect to need to turn up your print temps a bit to compensate. I print PLA at 230°C. But really ,… print a “temperature tower” model and determine which temp works best for your printer and filament combination. I find that sometimes the best temperature varies even if the only thing you change is the _color_ of the filament (apparently those additives matter). ---
**Author:** ![bribot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ba8739/32.png) [@bribot](https://forum.lulzbot.com/u/bribot)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2020, 12:25pm UTC](https://forum.lulzbot.com/t/should-i-switch-to-1-75mm/21902/9 "2020-06-24T12:25:29Z")
Good advice, Tim, thanks. I ended up ordering a 1.75mm toolhead with .5 Nozzle X. Trouble is, all the affordable 1.75 metal composite filaments seem to be currently out-of-stock at all Canadian suppliers. Maybe the shortage is related to the pandemic somehow? ---
**Author:** ![TheVirtualTim](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.lulzbot.com/thevirtualtim/32/9965_2.png) [@TheVirtualTim](https://forum.lulzbot.com/u/TheVirtualTim)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2020, 6:10pm UTC](https://forum.lulzbot.com/t/should-i-switch-to-1-75mm/21902/10 "2020-06-24T18:10:23Z")
Maybe… I noticed while printing PPE that it was hard to get filaments between businesses being shut down and a surge in demand for people with 3D printers to produce supplies. I managed to get a relationship with IC3D (out of Columbus Ohio) because I only live a few hours away (with extended shipping times I knew I could get filament from them faster than most others). I basically told them I wanted PETG but didn’t care about the color. They actually modified their ordering website to create a color called “no preference” … you’ll get whatever color happens to being produced at the time. If you wanted to pick a specific color, you could be waiting a few days until they happen to get around to produce it. The point is, their production shifted almost entirely to producing the filaments needed for PPE – which I think was mostly PETG and PLA. ---
**Author:** ![bribot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ba8739/32.png) [@bribot](https://forum.lulzbot.com/u/bribot)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2020, 12:10am UTC](https://forum.lulzbot.com/t/should-i-switch-to-1-75mm/21902/11 "2020-06-26T00:10:38Z")
Well, if that’s the case, at least it’s for a good cause. I tried printing a visor, but it wasn’t ready for prime time. ---
**Author:** ![bbc0](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e8c25b/32.png) [@bbc0](https://forum.lulzbot.com/u/bbc0)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2020, 4:45pm UTC](https://forum.lulzbot.com/t/should-i-switch-to-1-75mm/21902/12 "2020-06-26T16:45:15Z")
I have an older Mini. What would be the best way to alter it to take the 1.75 filament? Do Lulzbot sell parts to do this or do I need to cobble parts from other manufacturers? Thanks in advance. ---
**Author:** ![TheVirtualTim](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.lulzbot.com/thevirtualtim/32/9965_2.png) [@TheVirtualTim](https://forum.lulzbot.com/u/TheVirtualTim)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2020, 6:00pm UTC](https://forum.lulzbot.com/t/should-i-switch-to-1-75mm/21902/13 "2020-06-26T18:00:13Z")
LulzBot does not make any 1.75 tool-heads. But IT-Works 3D does and this is probably your easiest option and it upgrades you to a Titan AeroStruder. Another advantage to this (albeit more expensive approach) is that an AeroStruder with a filament guide-path installed is extremely versatile – you can print all kinds of material with it … things like TPU no longer need a special tool head to print because the AeroStruder “just works” (it does _need_ that short plastic “filament guide path” between the hobb gear and the cold-end to prevent the filament from flexing. It is technically possible to operate without one… but then you can only use stiff filaments – no TPUs. I think the IT-Works toolhead does have the filament guide-path that lets it print TPU. See: [https://itworks3d.com/product/e3d-titan-aero-toolhead-for-lulzbot-mini/](https://itworks3d.com/product/e3d-titan-aero-toolhead-for-lulzbot-mini/) Another option might be to swap out your hexagon hot-end on your existing tool head. I’m not sure if this is all you need to swap, but here’s the part: [https://itworks3d.com/product/hexagon-hotend-assembly-2/](https://itworks3d.com/product/hexagon-hotend-assembly-2/) ($30) I’d phone IT-Works 3D and ask them before just buying the parts in case there are other components of the tool head that need to be swapped. ---
**Author:** ![bribot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ba8739/32.png) [@bribot](https://forum.lulzbot.com/u/bribot)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2020, 1:04pm UTC](https://forum.lulzbot.com/t/should-i-switch-to-1-75mm/21902/14 "2020-06-28T13:04:17Z")
I ordered a 1.75 Pro X toolhead for abrasive filaments from IT-Works. Zach and Melanie were very helpful and responsive, and the price was better than Lulzbot’s own HS+ toolhead. It should arrive any day–now if only I can source some filament! Ironically I chose 1.75 for the variety of filaments available, but ironically, affordable metal-filled options are available only in 2.85 at the moment in Canada. ---
**Author:** ![bribot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ba8739/32.png) [@bribot](https://forum.lulzbot.com/u/bribot)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2020, 12:03am UTC](https://forum.lulzbot.com/t/should-i-switch-to-1-75mm/21902/15 "2020-07-07T00:03:01Z")
Update: some metal filaments are back in stock here. Mine have arrived and are under quarantine. Still awaiting the new 1.75 hardened toolhead. Might actually get to print something this month! ---
**Author:** ![JoeBowler300](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/258eb7/32.png) [@JoeBowler300](https://forum.lulzbot.com/u/JoeBowler300)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2020, 6:34am UTC](https://forum.lulzbot.com/t/should-i-switch-to-1-75mm/21902/16 "2020-07-07T06:34:26Z")
I’m going to try converting my Taz 6 stock toolhead to 1.75mm. I ordered the 1.75mm hexagon kit from It-Works 3D that Tim linked above. With that I’m going to try the Bi-Metallic heartbreak (MK8 style) from Slice Engineering (ordered from Matterhackers).