Support Materials
Dissolvable support filament for overhangs, internal channels and print-in-place parts that breakaway supports would scar. Use water soluble PVA with PLA, or HIPS with ABS and ASA, on a dual extrusion or multi-material printer.
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1.75 mm HIPS Support Filament - 1 KG
1.75 mm HIPS Support Filament - 1 KG
2 colours available
$24.95 AUD -
How dissolvable support filament works
Standard supports are printed in the same material as your model and snapped away afterwards, which leaves marks and makes some shapes impossible to clean up. Soluble supports use a second material that your slicer places wherever support is needed. After printing, you soak the part and the support dissolves, leaving clean undersides, open internal channels and moving parts free to turn. We carry two support filaments, each matched to different model materials: PVA, which dissolves in water, and HIPS, which dissolves in d-limonene.
PVA vs HIPS support filament
| Specification | PVA | HIPS |
|---|---|---|
| Pair it with | PLA (the description also lists TPU and PA) | ABS and ASA |
| Dissolves in | Water | d-limonene |
| Nozzle | 210-230°C (220°C recommended) | 220-240°C (230°C recommended) |
| Bed | 25-60°C (40°C recommended) | 80-110°C (100°C recommended) |
| Speed | 40-90mm/s (60mm/s recommended) | 40-60mm/s (50mm/s recommended) |
| Drying | 50°C for at least 3 hours | 80°C for at least 5 hours |
| Moisture absorption (23°C, 24 hours) | 10-15% | 1% |
| Spool | 0.5kg, Natural | 1kg, Natural or Black |
The pairings follow the print conditions. PVA's bed range matches PLA's 25-60°C, while HIPS runs on the same hot 80-110°C bed as ABS, so each prints happily alongside its partner in one job.
Printer setup for soluble supports
What you need
Soluble supports need a printer that can lay down two materials in one job: a dual extruder or IDEX machine, or a single nozzle printer with a multi-material unit such as an AMS. Single nozzle systems purge between materials, so expect a prime tower and some waste. PVA comes on a smaller 0.5kg spool, 180mm across with a 55mm hub, so check it fits your feeder. The PVA product page links a recommended small spool adapter for the Bambu Lab AMS.
Save material with support interfaces
You rarely need to print the entire support in soluble filament. Most slicers let you assign a separate filament to the support interface, the few layers that actually touch the model. Build the bulk of the support from your model material and print only the interface in PVA or HIPS: you still get a clean surface while using far less support filament. Our data sheets also list non-soluble interface pairings, PETG as an interface for PLA and PLA as an interface for PETG, which work because the two materials bond poorly to each other. Multi Material Printing: A Practical Guide covers the slicer side.
Storing PVA and dissolving supports
PVA is very moisture sensitive. Its data sheet lists 10-15% moisture absorption over 24 hours at 23°C, against 1% for HIPS, and damp PVA bubbles, strings and can jam. Keep it sealed in a vacuum bag with desiccant between prints, dry it at 50°C for at least 3 hours before use, and feed it from a dry box on long jobs.
- Removing PVA: soak the print in water, refresh the water from time to time, and stir or agitate to speed things up. Keep the water below the 53°C heat deflection temperature of PLA so the model does not soften. See PVA Soluble Supports: Clean Overhangs Every Time.
- Removing HIPS: soak the part in d-limonene. It is a strong solvent, so wear gloves, work in a well-ventilated space, keep it away from heat, children and pets, and store it sealed. ABS and ASA also need an enclosure and good ventilation while printing.
Buying support filament
HIPS comes on 1kg rolls, so it counts toward our volume pricing when mixed with any other 1kg filament, while PVA is sold on a 0.5kg spool. Add the PLA or ABS for your model, and orders above $299 ship free anywhere in Australia (PO Boxes excluded).
Support filament FAQs
Can I use PVA supports with PETG or ABS?
PVA is designed for PLA, and its product description also lists TPU and PA. Our PETG+ Transparent data sheet lists PVA as a support material too, so PETG is a workable pairing. For ABS and ASA, use HIPS instead, because it prints on a similar hot bed and dissolves in d-limonene rather than water.
Do I need a dual extruder for dissolvable supports?
You need a printer that can use two materials in one print. That can be a dual extruder or IDEX printer, or a single nozzle printer with a multi-material unit such as an AMS. A standard single extruder printer cannot place soluble supports automatically, so stick with breakaway supports in your model material or look at a multi-material upgrade.
How long does PVA take to dissolve?
It varies, so we do not quote a time. The amount and density of support, water temperature, how often you change the water and how much you agitate it all make a difference. Thin interface layers clear much faster than large, solid support blocks, which is another good reason to print only the interface in PVA.
Why is my PVA stringing or bubbling?
Almost always moisture. PVA takes up far more water than most filaments, with 10-15% moisture absorption listed on its data sheet. Dry it at 50°C for at least 3 hours, feed it from a dry box while printing and store it sealed with desiccant between jobs. If problems continue, print a temperature tower within its 210-230°C range.
How should I handle d-limonene?
Treat it as a solvent. It can irritate skin and eyes, so wear gloves and eye protection, use it in a well-ventilated area and keep it away from heat sources, children and pets. Store it in a sealed container, and follow the safety and disposal information supplied with the product you buy.