PVA Filament Print Settings & Material Information

PVA filament
  PVA material summary

The "perfect" support material.
Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA or PVOH) is a water soluble filament.
Due to its water solubility, it is the ideal support and backing material for 3D prints. Overhangs can be printed cleanly with it.
Also suitable for flexible objects or drafts.
Our PVA filament is environmentally friendly and biodegradable.

It is dissolved with normal tap water, a warmer water temperature accelerates the dissolution.
It is disposed of with normal waste water. No damage to the environment as it is biodegradable.

Due to the very high hygroscopy (ability to bind water), the information on "drying" (see below) must be observed.

PVA requires a dual printer (two printheads) and optimal interaction between the print settings of the two printheads and materials.

 
PVA advantages
 
  • water-soluble
  • clean printing of transitions (perfect support material)
  • suitable for flexible objects
  • biodegradable (environmentally friendly)
  • no odour development (odourless processing)

PVA disadvantages
 
  • difficult to find the right print settings (dual printing)
  • protect from moisture (before, during and after printing)
  • for optimization drying before printing is necessary

PVA print area (recommendations)
 
Print temperature:  160°C to 240°C
Print bed temperature: 0°C to 100°C
Print speed: 20mm/s to 45mm/s
Travel speed: 50mm/s to 90mm/s

Since each 3D printer has its own parameter preferences, adjustments to the settings and fine-tuning are necessary to achieve optimal print results.
 
 Spool dimensions
 
Z3D
3D-Drucker-Filament.de
1kg (net) 0,5kg (net)
     
Outer Ø: 200mm 200mm
Inne hole: 53mm 53mm
Thickness: 65mm 38mm
 
 
eSun 1kg (net) 0,5kg (net)
     
Outer Ø: 200mm 200mm
Inner hole: 52mm 52mm
Thickness: 70mm 42mm
 

General information about our filaments


Compability:
Our filaments are suitable for all common 3D printers (FDM / FFF - Fused Deposition Modeling / Fused Filament Fabrication).
Nevertheless, the instructions of the printer manufacturer regarding nozzle diameter, filament material, filament diameter and coil dimensions should be observed.

Storage:
Due to the hygroscopic property (ability to bind water) of some materials, we recommend all filaments indoors to store at room temperature and of course dry. Air-tight ZIP bags or containers with the desiccant SILICA are well suited for this.
The filaments should not hang on the printer for a long time, but always be airtight when not in use and stored with sufficient SILICA sealed.
It is also recommended to dry the filament (especially NYLON and PVA materials) before use (see section "Drying")

Desiccation (drying):
Due to the temperature differences on the transport route or through the storage itself, air may have sneaked into the packaging film. Often, the material may have absorbed some moisture between the manufacturing process and sealing (NYLON and PVA are extremely hygroscopic).
Therefore, we recommend drying overnight in a dehydrator (vegetable dryer) or a few hours in a convection oven (filament and coil only, without foil).

SPECIALTY with transparent colors!
Low humidity has no or hardly any effect on "colored" filaments, only with transparent filaments, some moisture can already lead to cloudiness.

A table with common drying times and temperatures per material is attached. A lump-sum duration for the drying is not to call. Because it depends on how much moisture the filament has already pulled.
A test pressure before drying should serve as the starting point.
The drying time should be tested with about 100g of filament, which has previously separated from the coil. So we say 3x 100g filament in the oven, the first takes after 30 min, the second after 60 min and the third after 120 min out. Afterwards you make another test print with each part. The experiences made can then be transferred to the entire coil. Or if you are not in a hurry, the filament roll in a dehydrator (vegetable dryer) for a few days should also lead to the desired success.

 

Drying times (recommendations):

PLA at 40°C to 50°C approx. 4h* with circulating air
ABS at 50°C to 80°C approx. 4h* with circulating air
PETG at 50°C to 80°C approx. 4h* with circulating air
NYLON at 60°C to 80°C approx. 8h* with circulating air
PVA at 60°C to 80°C approx. 8h* with circulating air

*
Drying time varies depending on the degree of moisture in the filament and environmental influences.
It should also be noted whether the coil will withstand the temperature you have chosen.