Why only brass hot end?

Hi, i am new to reprap ans i am thinking about building my own. I was wondering why almost every one is using brass for the hot end nozzle and barrel? steel or alloy are much easier to find and cheaper! any thougts?
Thanks for giving your opinion!

Brass is much more thermally conductive than steel and it is much easier to work with, which is very important when drilling tiny 0.4mm holes.

What about aluminum?

I'm new myself. I actually just made my account to ask this question lol.

But I've been lurking for a while, doing reseach for a build I'm planning, and I was wodnering the same thing. I tend to make a lot of things from aluminum (mostly because I can do limited machining of it, using my drill press and a small X/Y vise).

I've noticed that most hotends seem to be brass, and I was wondering if thats just because brass fittings are easier to find, or is the material actually better suited for the application?

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/11/2013 11:52AM by TheJones.

Hi,
as far as I heared, the noozle itself made from aluminium is easy breakable ;-) Just once hitting the printbed hard and you will get a different diameter on the orifice.
So Heaterblock aluminium, Noozle and heater brass, and stainless steel as thermal break, and aluminum for cooling.

A good example is the E3D V4 or the reprap-fab V3 or Organ-Pipe