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4.6 Remove support material
If your object was printed using support materials, these need to be removed. How to remove support structures
depends on the material used.
PVA support
PVA support structures can be removed easily by dissolving the PVA in water and leave no trace afterward.
Dissolving PVA can take up to several hours.
Tip: Experience quicker and easier post-processing when using PVA support
material with the UltiMaker PVA Removal Station. The PVA Removal Station
removes PVA up to 4x faster compared to motionless water.
1.
Submerge the print in water to let the PVA dissolve.
2.
Rinse the print with clean water to remove any excess PVA.
3.
Let the print dry completely.
4.
Dispose of the wastewater.
Note: PVA is a biodegradable material. However, please check local regulations for more comprehensive
guidance on wastewater disposal or visit this support page for additional information.
It is possible to use the water for more than one print, but this might extend the dissolving time. Through
repeated use, water becomes saturated by previously dissolved PVA. For the quickest result, fresh water is
recommended.
Breakaway support
UltiMaker Breakaway support material is optimized to snap off easily from the object. Follow the steps below:
Warning: The support structures can be sharp. Wear protective gloves to prevent injury, especially when
working with larger models.
1.
Tear away most of the inner support structure using pliers.
2.
Use cutting pliers to grip the Breakaway support interface and pull it away from the model.
3.
Remove the last traces of the Breakaway support using cutting pliers or tweezers.
Tip: Similar steps can be used to remove support structures printed with build materials. However, these
structures can be more difficult to remove and leave more scarring on the model.
UltiMaker Factor 4
Installation and user manual
Learn more here.
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