PVA Settings for Prusa Core One

Temperature Settings

Start with the nozzle at 200°C and the bed at 55°C. If you see poor layer adhesion, increase the nozzle temperature by 5°C increments. If you experience stringing, decrease the nozzle temperature by 5°C. For the first layer, you can increase the bed temperature by 5°C for better adhesion, then let it drop back to 55°C for subsequent layers.

The PVA filament has a recommended nozzle temperature range of 185-215°C and a bed temperature range of 50-60°C. The Prusa Core One supports nozzle temperatures up to 300°C and bed temperatures up to 120°C, which fully covers the recommended range for this filament.

Speed & Quality

The Prusa Core One supports high-speed printing at up to 500 mm/s. For PVA, we recommend 20-30 mm/s for general printing. Start with the lower end for quality-critical prints and increase for draft prints. Always print the first layer at 25-50% of your normal speed for better adhesion.

For quality-critical prints like miniatures or display pieces, reduce the speed to 20 mm/s and use a 0.12-0.16mm layer height. For draft or rapid prototyping, you can push the speed to 30 mm/s with a 0.24-0.28mm layer height. The standard 0.2mm layer height at 25 mm/s provides the best balance of speed and quality for most prints.

Bed Adhesion

PVA is used as a support material and should adhere to whatever build surface your main material uses. Use a bed temperature of 50-60°C.

Common Issues with PVA on Prusa Core One

Here are the most common problems you may encounter when printing PVA on the Prusa Core One, along with proven solutions:

• PVA not dissolving: Use warmer water (up to 45°C) and change the water periodically
• Filament brittle/snapping: Moisture damage -- dry at 50°C for 4-6 hours or replace the spool
• PVA not sticking to main material: Ensure compatible temperatures between PVA and the main filament
• Clogging: PVA is sensitive to heat; avoid leaving it idle in the hotend at high temperatures

Tips for Best Results

Follow these expert tips to get the best possible prints with PVA on your Prusa Core One:

• Store PVA in an airtight container at all times -- it literally dissolves in moisture
• Print from a dry box and use the spool immediately after opening
• Warm water (40-45°C) with gentle agitation dissolves PVA much faster
• PVA works best with PLA as the main material due to similar print temperatures
• Only use PVA when support quality truly matters -- it is expensive and moisture-sensitive

Support Settings

PVA is itself a support material. Dissolve in warm water (up to 45°C) after printing. Set support interface Z-distance to 0mm for water-soluble supports.

PVA at a Glance

Prusa Core One Specifications

The Prusa Core One features a 250 x 220 x 270 mm build volume with a maximum print speed of 500 mm/s. It uses a direct drive extruder system, which provides better control over flexible and specialty filaments. The hotend can reach 300°C and the heated bed supports temperatures up to 120°C.