What is the purpose of supports printed with PVA in a dual extruder setup?

In a dual extruder setup, PVA (polyvinyl alcohol) is commonly used as a support material because it is water-soluble. The primary purpose of using PVA for supports is to facilitate the easy removal of these supports from the main printed part after the printing process is complete. When a complex object is printed, it may have overhangs or intricate details that require additional support during the printing process to stabilize the structure.

Once the print is finished, immersing the entire print in water allows the PVA supports to dissolve, leaving behind a clean and finished object without the need for additional tools or manual intervention to remove the supports. This capability enhances the efficiency and cleanliness of the post-processing phase, making PVA a popular choice for designing intricate models that would otherwise be difficult to print effectively with traditional support materials.

Using PVA thus directly addresses the challenge of removing supports, which is particularly valuable for maintaining the quality and appearance of the final product.