When 3D printing a model with overhangs or hollow spaces, use these filaments to prevent the model from losing its shape. They support the structure during the printing and cooling process, then dissolve or snap away once the part is hardened. Use them in dual-extrusion fused filament fabrication (FFF) printers alongside your primary filament. Unlike parts with supports printed from a single filament, there’s no cutting, sanding, or polishing required. Choose a filament that prints at a similar temperature as your primary filament so they cool at the same rate and won’t warp.

Drop parts made with soluble filaments in a warm, circulating bath to dissolve them off of your primary part, leaving a smooth finish. They’ll dissolve within 2 to 12 hours, depending on the size of the print. To accelerate this process, use ultrasonic cleaners.

Parts made with BVOH filaments dissolve in water. They’re compatible with a wider variety of primary filament materials than PVA, another common water-soluble support filament. Because they are water soluble, these filaments are sensitive to humidity and should be stored in a sealed container with a desiccant.