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To achieve the best adhesion of the print surface, it is important to keep it clean. Cleaning the surface is simple: the best option is Isopropyl alcohol (available in drugstores) which works best not just for PVB, but other materials as well.

Combining translucency and easy smoothing expands the field of use. Movie props, costume parts and other unusual models are just some of many options.

It’s possible to smooth the surface of the print and glue PVB models together using IPA. The result of IPA post-processing will be a very glossy, glass-like smooth surface. However, this also leads to a loss of small details and rounding of sharp edges. Detailed smoothing description can be found in our dedicated article, general smoothing instructions can be found in our older article.

Lion model made by 3DWP.nl, download STL   |   PETG Clamp model by InquisitiveKangaroo, download STL   |   2024 © Prusa Polymers a.s.

The most ideal parts are those, which require filament translucency. It’s good to tweak print settings, especially layer height, number of perimeters and infill density. We recommend printing with a large nozzle diameter in combination with spiral vase mode.

PBV is very prone to absorbing moisture. Always put the spool back inside the bag with silica gel or let it dry for 4 hours at 60 °C before printing!

Polyvinyl butyral (PVB) has similar mechanical properties as PETG, print settings are almost identical to PLA. Thanks to its translucency and easy smoothing with IPA it’s great for printing visual models such as unconventional vases, jewellery, lamp shades and other design parts.

Pour a small amount of IPA on an unscented paper towel and wipe the print surface. The bed should be cleaned when it’s cold for the best results but it can also be cleaned when already preheated for PVB, just be careful not to touch the bed surface or the nozzle. Keep in mind that when cleaning at higher temperatures, the alcohol will evaporate before it can clean anything. Alternatively, you can clean the bed with warm water and a few drops of dish soap on a paper towel. Denatured alcohol is also another option.

PVA

PVB is a special material suitable for printing lamp shades, vases, jewellery and other design parts. Its main advantage is the solubility in isopropyl alcohol (IPA) that allows to produce models with glass-like surface. Thanks to its low warping, PVB is suitable for printing large models.

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PVBglass

Thanks to low melting temperature, it’s possible to print detailed parts. This can be used for printing jewellery and other fashion items.

You can take advantage of PVB transparency to produce unusual-looking models, especially in combination with underlight and chemical smoothing. It’s good to print models in a spiral vase mode, then smooth them out with IPA and achieve glass-like transparency. Higher number of perimeters can influence the light permeability: The more perimeters you print, the less light will go through.