HIPS Filament. Guide for 3D Printing with HIPS.

by Mike Brooks | Last Updated: March 9, 2022

Many professionals and 3D printing enthusiasts have problems securing their final 3D printed objects from damages occurring during the printing process.

Many are times when the final 3D print exhibit broken and damaged edges or a typical rough surface after what looked like a successful and effective printing session.

Consequently, 3D printing manufacturers came with support material printed alongside regular filaments like ABS and PLA.

After, you can get rid of the support material from the printed object by dissolving it in a D-Limonene solution leaving behind a high-quality print devoid of any damage.

In this regard, the HIPS filament comes out as one of the best a customer can get in the market.

This article provides information to help you appreciate the HIPS filament and its inherent advantages in the 3D printing industry.

What Is HIPS Filament?

The HIPS Filament or the High Impact Polystyrene is a 3D print support material used with the ABS filament in 3D printing.

Also, it remains a dissolvable support material that can be easily removed after printing using d-limonene, leaving behind a solid, high-quality print.

HIPS contains similar physical qualities to the ABS filament (check at Amazon) that make it easy to use as a support material for ABS.

Properties of 3D HIPS Filament

• A solid and durable filament
• Great impact resistance
• Easy to paint
• Safe with food as it remains non-toxic
• It’s not a hygroscopic material
• Can work with numerous adhesives
• Print temperature: 230-240 degrees Celsius
• Bed temperature: 90-100 degrees Celsius

Hardware Requirements for 3D Printing With HIPS

You will need to deploy hardware for your 3D HIPS printing:

• Dual extruder printer (check at Amazon)
• Heat bed
• Build surface
• A cooling system like a fan

How Do You Print With HIPS?

Printing Material

HIPS remains a popular support printing material that you can use with ABS filament to achieve better quality prints.

However, HIPS filament can also be used as a base 3D printing filament.

Using HIPS Filament

If you want to 3D print with the HIPS filament, you need to print with a printer nozzle temperature of between220-240 degrees celsius. Also, you need to adjust the bed temperature to between 90-110 degrees celsius.

Additionally, some machines will develop problems with bed adhesion as high bed temperatures remain high to achieve and maintain.

However, you can use adhesion tricks like the use of the Kapton tape (check at Amazon) to solve adhesion problems.

Summary of HIPS Filament Use:

• Printer nozzle: 220-240 degrees celsius
• Bed temperature: 90-110 degrees celsius
• Soluble: filament remains soluble in d-Limonene solution
• Filament warping and shrinkage: Ranges from minimal to normal
• Safety warning: produces toxic fumes during 3D printing

How to Dissolve HIPS Filament?

Dissolvable Support Material

You can use HIPS which remains an excellent soluble support material with ABS for printing quality 3D objects. As a soluble support material, HIPS material readily dissolves in Limonene, leaving behind the ABS.

Check at Amazon

Moreover, that’s the purpose of support material in the first place. To be able to dissolve so that 3D print remains intact without scratches or broken edges.

After you complete 3D printing your model, you only need to immerse your object in a d-Limonene solution. Then, your HIPS filament component will dissolve, leaving behind a high-quality print.

Is HIPS Filament Food Safe?

3D printing technology is used in printing so many kitchen utensils and home appliances. Notably, both the 3D FDM and SLA additive manufacturing processes use a potent combination of chemicals and heat to 3D print objects.

Therefore, when the 3D printer users question the safety of the HIPS prints for use in handling food, their concerns appear genuine.

Most manufacturing companies that go through being food-grade certified will readily indicate the same on their product packaging.

Otherwise, 3D filaments come with a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS). The datasheet will indicate the material’s chemical properties.

More importantly, it will imply whether the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) has certified the material as food safe.

The Food and Drugs Administration(FDA) declared the HIPS filament compliant for food processing applications. So, it means that HIPS filament remains safe for use in food handling activities.

Pros & Cons of Using HIPS Filament

HIPS filament remains one of the fastest-growing support materials in 3D printing. It presents a couple of unique advantages, like being a low-cost filament.

However, it retains a fair share of disadvantages that include having a heated bed as a feature for better print quality.

Advantages of Using HIPS Filaments

• Low-cost filament
• Water-resistant filament
• Lightweight filament
• It can dissolve in d-Limonene

Disadvantages of HIPS Filaments

• Require a heated bed
• You may need a heated chamber
• High printing temperature
• Needs ventilation

What Is HIPS Plastic Used For?

• Durable Printing Material

The HIPS prints remain durable because you 3D print them using HIPS filament, a stable and robust printing material with good impact resistance. Also, it remains a non-hygroscopic and excellent soluble support material.

• Applications

As one of the most produced polymers globally, you can use the HIPS filament that boasts a glass-like texture in various applications that cut across some industries.

Notably, you can use HIPS filament to manufacture different types of material like yogurt containers, salad bowls, plastic cutlery, medical industry trays, electrical insulations, and refrigerator linings.

Furthermore, the applications of HIPS extend to the printing of prototypes because of its lightweight to being applied in cosplays and other costumes, toys, and home appliances.

Other uses of the HIPS filament can be seen in laptops, CDS, DVDs, and phone cases.

Bottom Line

The HIPS filament, a supreme 3D printing support material, provides many opportunities for professionals and 3D printing enthusiasts in terms of use and application.

Its mechanical properties enable it to be applied both as a standalone base filament and more famously as a support filament to print alongside the ABS filament.

Additionally, it provides you with the unique advantage of being low cost, water-resistant, and lightweight that you can use in applications where 3D print strength is not a priority.

It dissolves in Limonene making it a perfect match for use alongside the ABS filament as a support material.

Michael Brooks is the founder of M3DZone.com. He sees a very bright future for 3D printing that's why his mission is to try and make this easy for everyone. Discover your hidden talent and creativity. You can follow here: Facebook, Twitter & Pinterest.