HIPS Filament: The Best Dissolvable Support Material?

HIPS (High Impact Polystyrene) is a filament that most 3D printer owners have heard of but few have actually used. That is a shame, because for the right application, HIPS is incredibly useful. Its primary role is as a dissolvable support material for ABS prints, but it also works as a standalone material in its own right.

If you have a dual-extrusion printer and print with ABS, HIPS might be the most impactful material you add to your workflow. Let me explain why.

What Is HIPS?

HIPS is a thermoplastic made from polystyrene modified with polybutadiene rubber for improved impact resistance. In the 3D printing world, its most notable property is that it dissolves in limonene, a citrus-derived solvent. This makes it an ideal support material because you can print complex geometries with full support and then simply dissolve the supports away, leaving a clean part with no witness marks.

HIPS has been used in manufacturing for decades. Disposable cups, food packaging, and CD cases are commonly made from HIPS. It is safe, inexpensive, and well-understood.

HIPS as Support Material for ABS

This is where HIPS shines brightest. If you print with ABS and have a dual-extrusion setup, HIPS supports offer several advantages over breakaway supports:

Clean surfaces: Dissolved supports leave virtually no marks on the model surface. Breakaway supports always leave some scarring, no matter how carefully you tune the interface gap.

Complex geometry: Internal cavities, enclosed channels, and dense support regions that would be impossible to remove mechanically can simply be dissolved.

No risk of damage: Removing breakaway supports from thin walls or delicate features risks breaking the part. Dissolving eliminates that risk entirely.

Excellent adhesion to ABS: HIPS bonds well to ABS during printing, which means supports stay attached where they need to. But the bond dissolves completely in limonene.

The Dissolving Process

The dissolving process is straightforward but requires some supplies and patience:

What You Need

• Limonene (D-Limonene): A citrus-based solvent available online. D-Limonene from Amazon works well. Get a quart to start.
• A container: Glass or HDPE plastic. Do not use polystyrene containers (for obvious reasons) or thin plastic containers that limonene might attack.
• Ventilation: Limonene smells like oranges, which sounds pleasant, but it can be irritating in concentration. Work in a ventilated area or use a fume hood.

Process

1. Place your printed part (ABS model with HIPS supports) in the container.
2. Pour enough limonene to fully submerge the part.
3. Wait. The dissolving time depends on the volume of HIPS, but expect 12-24 hours for a typical print. Agitating the solution (stirring or using an ultrasonic cleaner) speeds it up.
4. Check periodically. Remove the part when all HIPS is dissolved.
5. Rinse the part with water and let it dry.
6. The limonene can be reused until it becomes saturated with dissolved HIPS.

Tips

• Warming the limonene slightly (30-40°C) speeds up dissolving significantly. Use a water bath — do not heat limonene directly on a flame, as it is flammable.
• An ultrasonic cleaner filled with limonene is the fastest method. The agitation dramatically reduces dissolving time.
• Do not rush it. Partially dissolved HIPS can leave a sticky residue on ABS. Let it dissolve completely.

HIPS Print Settings

Whether you are using HIPS as support material or printing standalone parts, these settings work well:

| Setting | HIPS | |---------|------| | Nozzle temperature | 220-240°C | | Bed temperature | 90-110°C | | Print speed | 40-60 mm/s | | Cooling fan | Off or very low (0-20%) | | Enclosure | Recommended | | Layer height | 0.2 mm | | Retraction | Similar to ABS |

HIPS prints very similarly to ABS, which is why they work so well together. Both materials want high bed temperatures, minimal cooling, and ideally an enclosure to prevent warping.

Important: HIPS needs an enclosure for reliable results, just like ABS. Printing HIPS on an open printer will result in warping, layer splitting, and poor adhesion.

HIPS as a Standalone Material

While most people know HIPS as a support material, it is a capable printing material on its own:

• Impact resistance: Good — better than PLA, comparable to ABS
• Machinability: Excellent — sands, drills, and cuts easily
• Paintability: Very good — accepts paint and adhesives well
• Lightweight: HIPS is less dense than most printing materials, making it good for lightweight structural parts
• Chemical resistance: Moderate — handles most household chemicals but dissolves in limonene and some other solvents
• Cost: Similar to ABS, typically $18-25 per kg

For standalone use, HIPS is a solid choice when you want something easy to post-process. It sands smoother than ABS and takes paint beautifully.

HIPS vs PVA: Which Dissolvable Support Is Better?

Both HIPS and PVA are dissolvable support materials, but they serve different ecosystems:

| Property | HIPS | PVA | |----------|------|-----| | Dissolves in | Limonene (solvent) | Water | | Best paired with | ABS | PLA, PETG | | Print temperature | 220-240°C | 185-210°C | | Requires enclosure | Yes | No | | Storage sensitivity | Low | Very high (absorbs moisture) | | Dissolving time | 12-24 hours | 12-24 hours | | Cost per kg | $20-30 | $30-50 | | Ease of dissolving | Moderate (requires solvent) | Easy (just water) |

Choose HIPS if: You print primarily in ABS and have an enclosed printer. The ABS/HIPS pairing is reliable and cost-effective.

Choose PVA if: You print primarily in PLA or PETG and want the convenience of water-soluble supports. Be prepared to store PVA in a dry box — it absorbs moisture aggressively and becomes unprintable when wet.

Recommended HIPS Filaments

eSUN HIPS — Reliable, widely available, natural color works well for support material. Good layer adhesion to ABS.

Hatchbox HIPS — Consistent diameter and quality. Prints predictably.

For limonene: Pure D-Limonene — Food-grade quality, works well for dissolving HIPS.

Dual Extrusion Setup Tips

Getting HIPS supports to work well requires proper dual extrusion configuration:

• Purge tower or prime tower: Essential to prevent contamination between materials. Configure your slicer to purge adequately when switching between ABS and HIPS.
• Z-hop on retraction: Helps prevent the inactive nozzle from dragging across the print.
• Interface layers: Set 2-3 interface layers between the support and model for cleaner dissolution.
• Support gap: Use a smaller Z gap than you would with breakaway supports (0.1-0.15 mm instead of 0.2 mm) since the supports will be dissolved, not broken away.
• Nozzle temperature: Both ABS and HIPS print at similar temperatures, which simplifies the dual-extrusion workflow.

For slicer-specific instructions, PrusaSlicer and Cura both have good documentation on configuring dual-extrusion support material.

Safety

Limonene is generally safe but requires common-sense precautions:

• Ventilation: Use in a well-ventilated area. Prolonged inhalation can cause irritation.
• Skin contact: Can cause skin irritation with extended exposure. Wear gloves if handling frequently.
• Flammability: Limonene is flammable. Keep away from open flames and heat sources.
• Storage: Store in a sealed container away from direct sunlight.

Check the safety data sheet (SDS) for D-Limonene for complete safety information.

Is HIPS Worth Adding to Your Workflow?

If you meet these criteria, yes:

1. You print regularly with ABS
2. You have a dual-extrusion printer (or are considering one)
3. You print complex geometries that need extensive support

If you are a PLA or PETG user without dual extrusion, HIPS will not be useful to you. Look at PVA instead (see our PVA guide) or stick with breakaway supports.

For finding complex models that benefit from dissolvable supports, 3DSearch lets you browse across Printables, MakerWorld, and Thingiverse to discover designs that would be difficult to print without full support structures.

Will HIPS change your support game?