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Soluble filament

Support material you dissolve after printing: BVOH in water, HIPS in D-limonene.

With soluble filament you print supports that you do not break off after printing, but dissolve. This lets you print models with large overhangs, cavities and moving parts, with a clean surface. You need a printer that prints with two materials at once. Below you will find Fiberlogy BVOH, which dissolves in water, and HIPS, which dissolves in D-limonene. Below the products you can read which suits your print material. Read more…

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What is soluble filament?

You print ordinary supports in the same material as your model and break them off afterwards. That leaves marks, and in cavities or between moving parts you cannot reach them. With soluble filament you print the model in your normal material and the supports in a second material that you dissolve afterwards. This requires a printer with two extruders or a multi-material system.

BVOH or HIPS?

PropertyBVOHHIPS
Dissolves inWarm waterD-limonene
Combine withAccording to Fiberlogy, PLA, PETG, ABS, ASA, nylon and flexible filament, among othersMainly ABS and ASA
Nozzle190–220 °C230–245 °C
Print bed50–70 °C80–100 °C

BVOH is the easiest choice: it adheres well to many materials and you dissolve it in plain water. Like ABS and ASA, HIPS needs a warm bed and an enclosure, which makes it their standard support partner. You can also use HIPS on its own as a light, matte model material that you can polish, glue and paint with acrylic paint.

Printing and dissolving

  • Dissolving BVOH: place the print in warm water. Change the water now and then and move the print around to speed things up.
  • Dissolving HIPS: immerse the print in D-limonene, a solvent made from citrus peel. Work in a ventilated room and wear gloves.
  • Moisture: BVOH is very sensitive to moisture. Store it sealed with silica gel beads.
  • Enclosure: for HIPS, Fiberlogy recommends a printer with an enclosure.
  • Tip: print only the support interface layer in soluble material and the rest in your normal filament. That saves material and time.

Something going wrong? Our article on solving common 3D printing problems covers the most common problems and their solutions.

Pros and cons of soluble filament

Advantages

  • Clean surfaces without support marks
  • Supports in places you could not otherwise reach
  • Print moving mechanisms in one go
  • HIPS can also be used on its own as a model material

Disadvantages

  • You need a printer that can print two materials
  • Switching materials costs extra time and filament
  • BVOH has to be stored carefully and kept dry

Applications

  • Prototypes: models with cavities and large overhangs.
  • Mechanisms: hinges and moving parts printed in one go.
  • Decoration: ornaments and vases with lots of detail.
  • HIPS as model material: cosplay, architectural models and figures.

Soluble filament is part of our technical filament.

Frequently asked questions

  • What is the difference between BVOH and PVA?

    Both filaments dissolve in water and are used as support. According to Fiberlogy, BVOH adheres well to many different materials, such as PLA, PETG, ABS, ASA and nylon, which makes it more widely usable. That is why we stock BVOH and not PVA. Both are sensitive to moisture and should be stored dry.

  • Can I use soluble filament with a single nozzle?

    Yes, if your printer can switch filament automatically during printing, such as a printer with a multi-material system. Each switch does purge some material. A printer with two extruders is more efficient. Without automatic switching, soluble support is not practical.

  • How long does it take to dissolve BVOH?

    That depends on how much support there is and how thick it is. A thin interface layer disappears quickly, solid supports take longer. Warm water, changing it now and then and movement speed up dissolving. Rinse the print with clean water afterwards and let it dry.

  • What do you dissolve HIPS in?

    HIPS dissolves in D-limonene, a solvent extracted from citrus peel. ABS and ASA are not affected by it, which makes HIPS the standard support for those materials. We do not sell D-limonene. Use it in a ventilated room and dispose of the used solvent as small chemical waste.

  • Can I also use HIPS as a normal print material?

    Yes. HIPS is light and gives a matte surface. You can polish, glue and paint it with acrylic paint, which makes it suitable for architectural models, figures and cosplay. Fiberlogy recommends a printer with an enclosure for HIPS.