HIPS filament for 3D printers

The HIPS filament

HIPS is one of the most outstanding for its properties, and for the possibility of using it as a support material. Learn when and how to use it.

Every day the variety of materials available for 3D printing grows. Some of these filaments look more like a passing fad than a real utility. However, other materials are becoming as popular as the usual ABS and PLA.

Among these new filaments that are gaining popularity every day is HIPS, high impact polystyrene commonly used in the food industry for product packaging. Another example of the use of HIPS is the case in which the CD and DVD discs are packed. Its use is so common outside of 3D printing that after polyethylene, polyvinyl, chloride, it is among the most manufactured polymers worldwide, so it was normal that it ended up in our filament coils.

Characteristics of HIPS

In its natural state, the hips filament is bright white, although it is usually sold in various colors. As it is known, it is a biodegradable plastic, so there are no adverse effects when it is put in contact with people. It is frequently used in prototypes, as it has excellent dimensional stability, not to mention that it is also very easy to manufacture, paint, and glue.

3d HIPS filament printing tips

To avoid warping and adhesion problems, we recommend the use of heated bed during printing. It is also widely used as a support structure during printing because it easily dissolves in a colorless liquid hydrocarbon called limonene.

For practical purposes, HIPS has very similar properties to ABS, although with less deformation and more hardness.

As for the temperature of the hot bed, we recommend putting the bed between 55-65 ° C and the nozzle at about 240 ° C.

Logically, it is best to check the manufacturer’s recommendations, each HIPS filament has its particularities. If you have a double extruder, you can try to print on ABS using HIPS as support material.

The result is amazing, since you won’t have to use pliers, sandpaper, or any other tool, so the resulting piece will be free of impurities, and handling marks.

However, we recommend that before removing the piece from the printing bed you wait for the piece to cool down completely: HIPS is more flexible while it is hot, so you could deform the piece if it is not yet cold.

When it has cooled down, place the piece in a glass jar with enough limonene and soak it for 24 hours. It is recommended that you shake the bottle from time to time to accelerate the process.

Once the necessary time has passed, remove the printed object and rinse it with fresh water. As you will see, the hips will be completely removed from the ABS piece, avoiding the use of pliers, sandpapers, etc.

In our store you can find two different brands of HIPS filament: The premium HIPS filament from Formfutura, the Smartfil Support from Smart Materials and the Esun, which is a little cheaper than the previous one. You can find them in a wide variety of colors.

If you decide to try them, remember to use the manufacturer’s recommendations. In case of doubt, you can always call us, and we will gladly advise you on the best way to use it.