MakerBot RapidRinse: Water Soluble Support Material

Combined with the Method X heated chamber, the workflow delivers ±0.2mm dimensional accuracy on engineering-grade ABS prints. No caustic chemicals, no chemical waste stream, and no protective gear at the dissolution bench. Australian engineering teams, defence contractors, and university research labs gain a faster, safer way to print functional ABS parts to spec.

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What Water Soluble Support Material Is

Water soluble support material is a printable polymer designed to dissolve in water after a 3D print finishes. MakerBot RapidRinse uses this principle on a faster cycle than older alternatives. The material rinses away in tap water, leaves no chemical residue, and clears the small cavities, lattices, and overhangs where mechanical removal struggles. For workshops running multiple jobs per day, the time saved at the post-processing bench adds up to hours per week.

PVA, or polyvinyl alcohol, was the original soluble support standard for industrial 3D printing. PVA works in cold water but takes hours to fully break down on dense parts. RapidRinse cuts the window down and skips the caustic chemicals required by other soluble materials. No specialised ventilation, no chemical waste stream, and no protective gear for operators handling the dissolution bath.

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How RapidRinse Works with ABS-R

Pairing solves the ABS problem. MakerBot engineered RapidRinse alongside ABS-R, a refined ABS formulation released as a matched set. ABS has been one of the most useful engineering polymers in 3D printing for two decades, but the material shrinks, warps, and cracks unless the printer holds the right thermal conditions. ABS-R refines the original formulation for repeatable prints across batches, and the two materials work together inside MakerBot's Method range.

A cleaner workflow follows from this pairing. Engineers no longer wrestle with snapping rigid supports off finished parts. Quality control sees a more consistent surface finish on the underside of every overhang.

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Performance on the MakerBot Method Range

MakerBot's Method X holds parts at temperature using a patented Variable Environmental Controlled Temperature 110 system, often shortened to VECT 110. Stable thermal conditions are the difference between a usable ABS print and a warped scrap part. Combined with the soluble support workflow, the Method X reaches a dimensional accuracy of ±0.2mm, or ±0.007 of an inch, on engineering-grade ABS components.

A 6-in-1 modular extruder runs on the Method platform, swapping quickly between material groups and avoiding cross-contamination between print jobs. MakerBot built the system on 15 patented Stratasys technologies tested over more than five years of industrial deployment. For Australian buyers, the current MakerBot Method models stocked through Australian 3D Printers are the MakerBot Method and the MakerBot Method XL. Both machines run the Method X material set, including the RapidRinse 0.45kg spool and the matching ABS-R 0.65kg spool.

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What This Means for Australian Buyers

Engineering teams, university R&D labs, and contract manufacturers running Method printers in Australia gain three practical wins from this pairing:

• Faster post-processing on every ABS print.

• A cleaner workshop without the chemical handling required by PVA-style soluble supports.

• More reliable dimensional accuracy on functional prototypes and small-batch production parts.

Defence, automotive prototyping, and aerospace R&D teams benefit the most. Their parts often include internal channels and lattice structures where breakaway supports physically fail. For local pricing on the Method, Method XL, and the soluble support material set, request a quote directly with Australian 3D Printers. Broader context on Australian printer pricing tiers sits in our 3D Printer Cost Australia guide.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is water soluble support material?

Water soluble support material is a printable polymer engineered to dissolve in water once a 3D print is finished. It removes cleanly from complex geometries and internal channels where mechanical breakaway supports physically fail. MakerBot RapidRinse is one of the fastest options in this category and dissolves in plain tap water with no chemical additives.

How long does MakerBot RapidRinse take to dissolve?

Dissolution times vary by part geometry, water temperature, and support volume. MakerBot positions RapidRinse as the fastest-dissolving option in its material line. Older PVA-style soluble supports often need warm water and longer dissolution windows on dense parts.

Which 3D printers support RapidRinse?

Compatible printers include the MakerBot Method X and Method X Carbon Fibre platforms. Australian buyers access the material set through the MakerBot Method and Method XL machines stocked locally. The 6-in-1 modular extruder on these printers handles the swap between RapidRinse and other Method materials without cross-contamination.

What is the difference between RapidRinse and PVA?

PVA, or polyvinyl alcohol, was the original water soluble support standard for industrial 3D printing. RapidRinse dissolves faster, leaves cleaner surfaces on the build, and uses plain tap water with no chemical additives. PVA workflows often require warm water and longer dissolution windows, particularly on dense parts.

Where can Australian schools and businesses buy MakerBot RapidRinse?

Australian schools, universities, and businesses buy MakerBot RapidRinse through Australian 3D Printers, the authorised local reseller of the MakerBot Method range and its full material set. The RapidRinse 0.45kg spool and the matching ABS-R 0.65kg spool are both stocked for the Australian market.

Is RapidRinse safe to use without specialised ventilation?

No caustic chemicals or solvents are needed for dissolution. Operators rinse parts in plain tap water, which removes the need for protective equipment and chemical extraction systems required by older soluble supports. The material suits classrooms, university labs, and shared workshops where chemical handling is restricted.

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