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Shrinkage & Scale Compensation Calculator

Find the slicer scale % to cancel material shrinkage so your 3D printed part hits its target dimension.

About this tool

Shrinkage & Scale Compensation Calculator is a free, in-browser tool that turns a measured versus designed dimension into the exact slicer scale percentage you need so the next print comes out at the size you actually wanted. Materials like ABS and ASA cool and contract, so a part modelled at 20 mm can measure a few tenths short — this tool quantifies that and tells you how much to scale up. Nothing is uploaded; every figure is computed locally as you type.

The shrinkage percentage is (nominal − measured) ÷ nominal × 100, and the scale factor your printer produced is measured ÷ nominal. To compensate you print at the reciprocal, so the recommended slicer scale is nominal ÷ measured × 100, and the compensated model dimension is target ÷ scaleFactor — the size to set the object to so it lands on the target after shrinking.

Use it after a calibration cube: enter the designed edge length and what your caliper reads, then apply the recommended scale in your slicer or CAD. Because the correction is a ratio it applies uniformly to every dimension of the model.

Frequently asked questions

Which value is 'nominal' and which is 'measured'?
Nominal (or designed) is the dimension in your CAD/STL — what the part is supposed to be. Measured is what your calipers read on the finished print. The tool assumes both refer to the same feature, e.g. the outer edge of a calibration cube.
How is the recommended scale percentage derived?
Your printer reproduced the part at a scale factor of measured ÷ nominal. To land on target you print at the inverse, so the recommended slicer scale is nominal ÷ measured × 100. Apply it uniformly to the model.
Does scaling in the slicer affect wall and hole sizes correctly?
Uniform scaling changes every dimension by the same ratio, which corrects overall shrinkage well. Holes and thin walls can also be affected by extrusion width and elephant's foot, so fine features may still need a separate tolerance test.
Is my data uploaded anywhere?
No. The calculation runs entirely in your browser — your measurements never leave your device.

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