PVB print settings
Polyvinyl Butyral · Intermediate
PVB (Polyvinyl Butyral) prints at 215-235°C with the bed at 60-75°C. No enclosure needed. Dry the filament before printing.
Prints about as easily as PLA and smooths with isopropyl alcohol rather than acetone, which makes glass-clear parts achievable without a solvent cabinet.
Settings at a glance
Ranges are typical manufacturer-published figures for this material class, not measurements we took. Always start with your filament maker’s own numbers where they differ. The price is an indicative street price for a 1 kg spool, not a live quote.
Good for
- Transparent and translucent parts
- Vases and display pieces
- Prints you intend to polish
- Light diffusers
Avoid for
- Load-bearing parts
- Anything left in sun or damp
- High-temperature service
The problem people actually hit
It absorbs moisture from the air noticeably faster than PLA, and a spool left out for a fortnight prints cloudy rather than clear. The clarity people buy it for is the first thing moisture takes away.
Drying
Hygroscopic. Dry at 50C for 4-6 hours.
Buying PVB
PVB is stocked unevenly by general retailers. A specialist supplier is usually the better source, both for availability and because they publish the spec sheet. Typical street price is $30-50 per 1 kg spool.
Check before you order
- Diameter 1.75mm unless your printer takes 2.85mm. Check before ordering, not after.
- Published diameter tolerance. ±0.02mm is good, ±0.05mm is loose and shows up as inconsistent extrusion.
- Vacuum-sealed with desiccant. Hygroscopic filament that shipped open has already absorbed moisture and will need drying before its first print.
Specialist suppliers
Deep engineering-material catalogue and published spec sheets, including grades general retailers do not stock.
Specialist stockist with strong coverage of nylon and carbon-fibre filled materials.
Named because they stock this class of material and publish specifications. We have no commercial relationship with either, and these are ordinary links.
Not sure this is the right material? Compare all materials.
What you need to print PVB
Gear that PVB genuinely requires, with the specification that decides whether a given unit will actually work.
Filament dryer
Must reach at least 50C
PVB will not print cleanly wet, and many budget dryers stop at 55-60C. Check the maximum temperature before buying, not the marketing copy.
See filament dryer on AmazonAirtight storage with desiccant
Sealed container plus rechargeable desiccant
Drying a spool once achieves nothing if it sits open afterwards. Storage is what keeps the filament usable between prints.
See airtight storage with desiccant on AmazonAs an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Links above are affiliate links, and using them costs you nothing extra.
PVB questions
- What temperature do you print PVB at?
- PVB prints at a nozzle temperature of 215-235C with the bed at 60-75C. Start at the lower end of the nozzle range and raise it in 5C steps until layers bond cleanly.
- Does PVB need an enclosure?
- No. PVB prints fine on an open-frame printer at normal room temperature.
- Do you need to dry PVB?
- Hygroscopic. Dry at 50C for 4-6 hours.
- What is PVB good for?
- PVB suits transparent and translucent parts, vases and display pieces, prints you intend to polish, light diffusers. Avoid it for load-bearing parts, anything left in sun or damp, high-temperature service.
- How much does PVB cost?
- A 1 kg spool of PVB typically sells for $30-50. That is an indicative street price rather than a live figure, so check the retailer for today's cost.
PVB or PETG?
PETG (Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol) prints at 220-250°C with a 70-85°C bed and needs no enclosure. The usual step up from PLA. Tougher, more heat resistant, still printable without an enclosure. The trade is stringing and fussier bed adhesion.
Read the PETG settings guide →