Scale green parts by axis
Calculate metal FFF green-part dimensions and separate X/Y and Z slicer scale factors from expected or measured sintering shrinkage.
Method
Oversize factor = 1 ÷ (1 − shrinkage fraction). Required green dimension = desired final dimension × oversize factor.
A desired 100 mm final dimension at 16% linear shrinkage needs a 119.0476 mm green dimension and 119.0476% scale.
Use responsibly
Shrinkage depends on material, printer, geometry and the debinding/sintering process. Use current supplier or processor values and validate each axis with coupons; this does not certify part properties.
Dimensions and shrinkage values remain in your browser. No file contents or calculation inputs are sent to our analytics system.
Last reviewed: 11 August 2026
Calculation and copy checked for this release.
Scaling by 116% and then shrinking the result by 16% gives only 97.44% of the target. The correct inverse is 1 ÷ 0.84, which is about 1.190476 or 119.0476%.
Bound-metal workflows can shrink differently in the build plane and vertical axis. The calculator preserves those two inputs instead of averaging them into a misleading single factor.
The measurement mode derives linear shrinkage and the matching inverse scale from green and sintered dimensions. Repeat this for each axis and representative batches before production use.
No. They are a clearly identified example from BASF’s documented 316L workflow. Replace them with current values for your material and processing route.
No. It calculates nominal oversize only; it does not model distortion, support effects, furnace variation or dimensional tolerances.
Practical guide
Why shrinkage percentage cannot simply be added to 100%, how to calculate inverse scale and why X/Y and Z should be measured separately.
