HIPS filament: the numbers
High-impact polystyrene. Typical uses: dissolvable support for ABS/ASA, lightweight models, RC aircraft parts, paintable props.
1.04 g/cm³density (1.03–1.06)
400 mper kg at 1.75 mm
2.50 gper metre
230–250 °Cnozzle
95–110 °Cbed
0.8%linear shrinkage
$25typical per kg ($18–35)
90 °Cmax service temperature
Recommendedenclosure
65 °C · 6 hdrying (low hygroscopic)
3/5difficulty · medium strength · rigid
Printing tips
- Dissolves in d-limonene, which is why it pairs with ABS as a support material.
- Prints like ABS: hot bed, enclosure, no fan.
- Lightweight and sands well as a standalone material.
Grams ↔ metres for HIPS
What a HIPS print costs
Questions about HIPS
What temperature should I print HIPS at?
Nozzle 230–250 °C and bed 95–110 °C are the usual range. Start in the middle and tune with a temperature tower; an enclosure helps with larger parts.
How many metres of HIPS are in a 1 kg spool?
About 400 m at 1.75 mm (density 1.04 g/cm³). One metre weighs 2.50 g.
Does HIPS need drying?
Rarely for fresh spools. HIPS absorbs moisture slowly; dry at 65 °C for 6 hours if it has been open for months or prints with unexpected stringing.
How much does HIPS shrink?
About 0.8% linear. To compensate, scale X and Y by 100.81% in the slicer, or measure a test print and use the shrinkage calculator.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org, skynett81.github.io