Soluble Support Filament: Clean Surfaces with PVA and HIPS

After printing a complex part, cleaning up the support marks left behind with pliers and sandpaper often takes longer than the print itself. Soluble support filament exists precisely to eliminate this problem: instead of mechanically removing supports, it lets you dissolve the support structure in a liquid and reveal the part with a perfectly clean surface.

How Does Soluble Support Work?

Soluble supports are used in dual-extruder printers. One extruder prints the main material of the part, while the second extruder builds the support regions with a soluble filament. Once the print is finished, the part is submerged in the appropriate solvent and the supports dissolve on their own. What remains is a smooth surface — even inside hard-to-reach internal cavities.

The Difference Between PVA and HIPS

There are two common soluble support options, and which one you use depends on your primary material:

• PVA (polyvinyl alcohol): Water-soluble. Typically paired with PLA and PETG. Soaking in warm water is enough to dissolve the supports, so no special solvent is needed. However, it absorbs moisture very quickly, so it must be stored dry.
• HIPS (high-impact polystyrene): Dissolves in a solvent called limonene, and is primarily used alongside ABS. Because it is resistant to water, it is not as moisture-sensitive as PVA.

When Should You Use It?

Soluble supports are not necessary for every part. For simple geometries, manually removing standard supports is fast and economical. However, for interlocking channels, suspended details, articulated hinges, or jobs where visible surfaces must be flawless, soluble supports make a real difference. Achieving a smooth surface where the support contacts the part is nearly impossible with mechanical removal alone.

The downside of this method is that it adds some cost due to the extra material and print time. For this reason, the decision to use soluble supports should be based on whether the part genuinely needs it. If you have a geometrically complex design and do not want support marks to remain, let us determine the best support strategy together. Share images of your part to get a quick quote and start your journey toward a clean-surface result.