Shrinkage Compensator

Calculate scaled-up dimensions to account for material shrinkage after cooling or curing. Enter your desired final dimensions and the tool computes the pre-shrinkage size you should print or mold.

Material

Select a preset or enter a custom shrinkage rate

X Shrinkage

Y Shrinkage

Z Shrinkage

Uniform shrinkage (same on all axes)

Desired Final Dimensions

Enter the dimensions you want after the part has cooled or cured.

Width (X)

Depth (Y)

Height (Z)

Unit

Results update as you type.

How It Works

Most materials shrink as they cool from printing temperature or cure after exposure. To end up with the exact dimensions you need, you must scale up the model before fabrication.

The Formula

Compensated Size = Desired Size / (1 − Shrinkage Rate / 100)

For example, if ABS shrinks by 0.8% and you need a part that is exactly 100 mm wide:

Compensated width = 100 / (1 − 0.008) = 100 / 0.992 ≈ 100.81 mm

Anisotropic Shrinkage

Some materials shrink differently along each axis. For example, nylon filament may shrink more in the Z direction due to layer bonding. Uncheck "Uniform shrinkage" to set per-axis rates when precision matters.

Typical Shrinkage Rates

Material	Typical Shrinkage	Notes
ABS	0.7 – 0.8%	Higher with poor enclosure control
Nylon (PA)	1.5 – 2.0%	Absorbs moisture, affecting shrinkage
PLA	0.3 – 0.5%	Low shrinkage, most predictable
PETG	0.3 – 0.6%	Similar to PLA
Polycarbonate	0.5 – 0.7%	Requires heated chamber
Standard Resin	0.5 – 1.0%	UV-cure shrinkage during post-processing
Tough Resin	1.0 – 1.5%	Higher shrinkage than standard resin
Metal (Steel MIM)	15 – 20%	Significant shrinkage during sintering
Metal (Aluminum)	1.0 – 1.5%	Casting shrinkage

Tips for Accuracy

Print a calibration cube first and measure the actual shrinkage of your specific material and settings.
Temperature, infill density, layer height, and cooling rate all affect shrinkage.
For critical tolerances, iterate: print, measure, adjust the shrinkage rate, and reprint.

Embed This Util

You can embed this util on your own site as a widget. Adding ?embed=1 to the URL loads a compact version with just the tool itself; no header, menu, or documentation. Paste this snippet into your HTML:

Copy snippet Adjust the height to taste.

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