Troubleshooting
What is HIPS filament used for?
By SSS
Published . Updated .
- Nozzle220–250 °C(428–482 °F)
- Bed90–110 °C(194–230 °F)
- Speed—
- Dry—
- Density1.04 g/cm³
Source: 3DXMAX® HIPS · Last checked 20 October 2026
Ranked filaments
| Rank | Filament | Nozzle | Bed | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3DXTech · HIPS 3DXMax | 220–250 °C428–482 °F | 90–110 °C194–230 °F | |
Product page read 27 October 2026 lists an extruder of 220–235 °C (428–455 °F), a bed of 100–110 °C (212–230 °F), and drying not needed. The catalog, Open Filament Database verified 13 October 2026, stores 220–250 °C (428–482 °F) and a bed of 90–110 °C (194–230 °F). The two ranges disagree. The page is the one that names d-limonene. | ||||
| 2 | 3DXTech · HIPS | 220–250 °C428–482 °F | 90–110 °C194–230 °F | |
Catalog nozzle 220–250 °C (428–482 °F) and bed 90–110 °C (194–230 °F), Open Filament Database, verified 13 October 2026. This is the other 3DXTech HIPS row. The 220–235 °C (428–455 °F) extruder on the 3DXMAX page is not copied onto it. | ||||
| 3 | Spectrum · HIPS-X | 230–245 °C446–473 °F | 80–100 °C176–212 °F | |
Catalog nozzle 230–245 °C (446–473 °F) and bed 80–100 °C (176–212 °F), Open Filament Database, verified 13 October 2026. No d-limonene sentence was checked for this row, so none is stated. It is a different band from the 3DXMAX page. | ||||
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HIPS is high-impact polystyrene. 3DXTech sells 3DXMAX HIPS both as a part material and as a support for ABS and ASA that can be broken away or dissolved in d-limonene. Supports, PVA, and ABS are the pages that already cover interfaces, water-soluble support, and the model plastic.
What 3DXTech writes
The 3DXMAX HIPS page, read 27 October 2026, lists an extruder of 220–235 °C (428–455 °F), a bed of 100–110 °C (212–230 °F), and drying "not needed." The benefits list says the polymer does not absorb moisture and that no drying is required. It says HIPS can be removed by hand and dissolved with d-limonene, and that it works with ABS and ASA, including carbon-fiber, glass-fiber, and ESD-safe grades of those materials. The product description says it is an excellent break-away support for ABS and ASA or can be completely dissolved in d-limonene, and that this grade is formulated to be more sensitive to attack from d-limonene than the company's usual HIPS colors.
d-Limonene is the solvent the page names. The page does not publish a concentration, a soak time, or an exposure limit. The safety data sheet is linked from that page. Read it before using the solvent. The page does not call the solvent or the dissolved part food-safe. Dissolving support is not a food-contact step.
The catalog row, Open Filament Database verified 13 October 2026, stores a nozzle of 220–250 °C (428–482 °F) and a bed of 90–110 °C (194–230 °F). That band is wider than the page's 220–235 °C (428–455 °F) extruder and 100–110 °C (212–230 °F) bed. Both ranges stay. 3DXTech HIPS stores the same catalog band and was not the page read above, so the 220–235 °C (428–455 °F) chip is not copied onto it. Spectrum HIPS-X stores 230–245 °C (446–473 °F) and a bed of 80–100 °C (176–212 °F) from the Open Filament Database, verified the same day, with no solvent sentence attached.
What the community says
a Reddit thread in r/BambuLab says they are using HIPS for prints and supports, on ABS stock AMS settings because there is no HIPS option, with Inland filament.
a Reddit thread in r/BambuLab says the quality is poor anywhere the part touches support, and asks what HIPS is and which settings were used.
a Reddit thread in r/BambuLab says a dissolvable material can be limited to the interface in PrusaSlicer, which would use less of it.
Pros and cons
Pros
- The support role and the solvent name come from 3DXTech's 3DXMAX page, read 27 October 2026.
- The catalog temperature band is shown next to the page band instead of being overwritten.
Cons
- No exposure limit, concentration, or dissolving time is published on the page that was read, so none is invented.
- A comment that uses Inland HIPS with ABS profiles is that person's setup, not the 3DXMAX chip.
Printer considerations
- HIPS as a dissolvable support is a second material. [Supports](/answers/supports) is the general interface page. [PVA](/answers/pva) is the water-soluble support, and it is not limonene. [How to print ABS](/answers/abs_print) is the model material 3DXTech names beside ASA.
- The 3DXMAX page says the grade is formulated to be more sensitive to d-limonene than the company's usual HIPS colors. That is a solvent warning from the maker, not a soak recipe.
- Read the safety data sheet linked from the 3DXMAX page before using d-limonene. The product page does not call the solvent food-safe, and dissolving support is not a food-contact process.
Sources & notes
Published . Updated .
- 3DXTech 3DXMAX HIPS product page manufacturer
- Open Filament Database record for 3DXTech HIPS other
- Open Filament Database record for Spectrum HIPS-X other
- a Reddit thread in r/BambuLab reddit
- a Reddit thread in r/BambuLab reddit
- a Reddit thread in r/BambuLab reddit
- a Reddit thread in r/3Dprinting reddit
- a Reddit thread in r/BambuLab reddit
Related questions
- How do I print ABS successfully?ABS
- How do I use PVA/BVOH dissolvable supports?Troubleshooting
- What filament is best for supports / support interfaces?Troubleshooting
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Questions
Is HIPS the same as PVA?
No. 3DXTech names d-limonene for 3DXMAX HIPS, and also says it breaks away from ABS and ASA. PVA is the water-soluble support on PVA. Supports is the interface page. ABS is the model material named on the HIPS page.
How do I handle d-limonene?
The 3DXMAX page says the support can be dissolved in d-limonene and that this grade is more sensitive to that solvent. It does not give a concentration, a time, or an exposure limit. Use the safety data sheet linked on that product page, and keep the solvent out of any food-contact story.