About BuMat Elite 1.75mm HIPS Filament »
BuMat Elite HIPS Filament (High-impact polysterene) is a very unique, useful printing material. Comparatively, HIPS Filament prints very similarly to ABS. It performs reliably, and results in stiff / low flexibility objects that are even stronger and more resilient.
Two properties of note make BuMat Elite HIPS the useful material that it is. First is its wide use and adoption within the food industry, in applications ranging from packaging to disposable cutlery, plates, and even CD jewel cases. It exhibits high heat resistance, making it a viable material choice for a number of different uses.
More commonly however, HIPS is known for its unique ability to dissolve in a liquid chemical known as Limonene. The importance of this relates to its implementation as a print support material for dual nozzle / dual extrusion printers. For objects that might otherwise be considered “impossible” to print as either a single piece, or to print at all – BuMat Elite HIPS can function as the support material that makes printing these objects possible. In cases where an object has overhanging structures, complex & intricate horizontal extrusions, or similarly challenging details – HIPS filament can be used to fill in the empty space, providing vertical support to components of an ABS print that would otherwise need to be “floating” in midair.
Once the print is complete, the BuMat Elite HIPS filament can be separated from the ABS, removing the support material & leaving behind only the desired, completed object. The HIPS support filament can be peeled away from the ABS, but more importantly – can also be dissolved away by placing it in a bath of Limonene. While Limonene will completely dissolve the HIPS support structures from your print, it won’t have any impact on the ABS used for your primary object. This ensures complete removal of the HIPS material, and allows for novel uses – e.g. printing objects inside of other objects, or partially attached but freely moving from one another. Think in terms of a gear mechanism with multiple moving parts that interact with one another, or sealed ball bearings – created in a single print. This greatly increases the range of what’s possible with your 3D printer, opening up the doors to new innovation and functionality.
In this Terminator Rex model for example, you can see in the image gallery the print with support material in place, and then after the material has been removed.
HIPS Filament is an alternative to PVA Filament, another popular material used as support material. Whereas HIPS requires a Limonene bath to dissolve, PVA Filament is easily dissolved in warm water. However, PVA can be more tricky to print with – high temperatures must be avoided, to ensure that the material doesn’t break down.
The natural colored filament has a clean white finish when printed. BuMat Elite HIPS is manufactured at specifications intended for professionals and serious hobbyists who require precision and reliability. Whatever the scale of your project, a filament failure can cost you time and money. The impressive performance of BuMat Elite allows you to print with confidence, removing filament concerns from the equation. Larger and more complex projects print with ease, so you can focus on innovating – not troubleshooting faulty filament.
BuMat Elite HIPS filament comes neatly coiled on a spool, free of tangles and ready to use. All BuMat filament is tested on FlashForge 3D printers to ensure that the specified quality standards are met, and 1.75mm ABS filament is universally compatible with all 3D printer nozzles that accept 1.75mm filament. Every spool is delivered in an airtight vacuum package, ensuring the freshness of the filament upon arrival.
All BuMat filament is made from pure, non-recycled thermoplastics. Strict quality controls eliminate air bubbling, and ensure a hassle free 3D Printing experience. Filament issues can be frustrating, and they take away from time that’s better spent working on your next innovation. With BuMat filament, extruder jams and clogs become a thing of the past – spend less time repairing your printer, and more time creating great prints!