Removal Method Of Water-Soluble Support Filament - Flashforge Creator 3 Pro User Manual

5.5 Removal Method of Water-soluble Support Filament

Models using PVA as the support filament require some subsequent treatment to remove the PVA support filament.
This can be done by dissolving the PVA in water.
1. Soak the model in water
The PVA model can be dissolved slowly by putting it into water. You can use the following methods to speed up the
dissolution process:
• Using hotter water can reduce the dissolution time. If the construction material is PLA, please make sure that the
maximum temperature of the water does not exceed 35℃ to avoid PLA deformation. If it is of nylon, please make sure
the water temperature does not exceed 50℃ to prevent burning.
• Using stirred/flowing water can significantly reduce the dissolution time. PVA dissolves faster when water flows.
• Soak the model in water for about 10 minutes first, then remove most of the support with pliers, and then put the
model back in water, so that PVA can be dissolved more easily.
2. Wash with water
After the PVA support is completely dissolved, rinse the model with water to remove the remaining PVA.
3. Dry the model
Dry the model completely and then perform additional post-processing on the model if necessary.
4. Waste water treatment
Since PVA is biodegradable, it is easy to dispose of waste water afterwards. When the waste water pipeline is connected
with the waste water treatment unit, the waste water can be discharged through the waste water pipeline. After the
disposal of the waste water, flush the drain pipe with hot water for 30 seconds to remove excess PVA in the drain pipe
and avoid long-term blockage.
The water can be reused to soak multiple models, but it may increase the dissolution time. Therefore, it is recommend-
ed to use fresh water to achieve the fastest effect.
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