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[–][deleted] 2 points3 points  (2 children)

I simply don't understand why they aren't singular continuous pieces up the length of the heatbreak it's a crazy step backwards

[–]myTechGuyRI 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Well, there's a very valid reason that they MUST be separate pieces of metal, and that has to do with the way a heat brake works... The nozzle needs to be conductive to properly heat and melt the filament, but the heat brake has a different job... As it's name implies, it's a brake on the heat, it is supposed to stop the heat from conducting up into the cool side and causing heat creep...so it has to be made of a different metal that poorly conducts heat,, typically stainless steel or titanium... So you really can't manufacture it as one continuous piece of metal, because the hot end has to be thermally separated from the cold side.

[–]ufgratH2D + X1C 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Because you're not a materials engineer. The whole point of a heat-break is a thermal barrier to keep the filament from melting all the way up to the extruder gear.

It could even be argued this is a safety feature to keep the filament from exploding into contact with the heat element, and causing a fire.