How to 3D Print Dimensionally Accurate Parts

Comments · 576

• JO

  @JohnJones-oy3md · 6 years ago

  Good reminder that it's all fun and games when printing big-busted winged figurines - until you need to print something practical.

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• GO

  @goesbysteve · 6 years ago

  Great engineering level video thank you. “I’m using black because BLACK” 🤣

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• JA

  @ja-no6fx · 2 years ago

  The way you troubleshot this and your thought process driving your actions were outstanding. Well done

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• KZ

  @Kz1nk · 5 years ago

  Just so you guys know if you are using PLA and your parts are slightly to big (or your holes are slightly too small) your issue may be solved by increasing your horizontal expansion offset. Basically the PLA is expanding just a little bit due to the heat of melting it, so your parts will be just a little to big. The horizontal expansion offset can help fix this. You will need to do multiple tests seeing what value works best for you.

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• SO

  @solosailor222 · 6 years ago

  For precise features, we usually CAD those features in a very thin, quick,  proto print to get them accurate. Then the full size part. This saves lots of iterative printing time and waste material. Also for threads, snap fits, flex fits, and anything that fits something from "the real world" or even another printer.

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• LE

  @lensman5762 · 4 years ago (edited)

  I am a photographer. I still use the old 4X5 field cameras. Last year I bought an MPP MK VII technical field camera for landscape photography. It came with one lens board of Copal 1 size. This camera has not been produced since the early 70s so, instead of paying silly prices for battered old lensboards off the Bay, I decided to 3D print them using a CF infused PLA. I ran exactly into the same problem as you just did. Both trial size No 0 and No1 boards came out undersized. I had to adjust the printing sizes in Cura by quite a bit , around 1% mark If my memory serves me right, to get the lens flange to fit the holes and the retaining nut fit in.  I am not quite 100% sure if the quoted filament sizes are accurate or not either.

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• ZZ

  @zzmike · 4 years ago

  Very interesting. I suppose the shrinkage changes based on the thickness and shape . . . . . if it were directly proportional, no matter what, printing a set of 12" "rulers with very fine scale marked, then compare to actual ruler and maybe that would tell you whether the shrinkage happens across the scale, or jsut in certain parts?. Love your videos, and the Fusion 360 has been far more useful than what pertain to be F360 tutorials. You make it far clearer than those other guys! Thanks!

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• JG

  @JGDeRuvo · 5 years ago

  One of the best videos on this problem I’ve seen. Thanks man!

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• WO

  @wolfganggosejacob779 · 6 years ago (edited)

  in the beginning i thought, that you didn&apos;t calibrate your axis correct, but your solution and description are GREAT... &nbsp;<br>a new aspect to improve my parts. thx ;) hope that the software desire not too much manual changes in settings when changing filament OR temp! <br><br>automatic part-enlargement should be mandatory for filament-settings ... NOT after importing, but BEFORE PRINTING!

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• CH

  @chrisj8822 · 6 years ago

  You can change to a Z up orientation in Fusion 360 by clicking on your name in the upper right and selecting &quot;preferences&quot;. In the general tab look for &quot;default modeling orientation&quot; and change it from &quot;Y up&quot; to &quot;Z up&quot;

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• TH

  @TheTacktishion · 3 years ago

  I just wish all Youtube &nbsp;videos were as clear and concise as this. &nbsp;Great Job....!

• PY

  @pyoung9331 · 5 years ago

  Thank you for sharing your experience with us and I really enjoyed the video presentation. &nbsp;It showed me how one should go about dealing with shrinkage.<br><br> <br> <br>Things that I noticed and hope you will continue to do include: <br> <br>You don&apos;t assume too much of the experience or knowledge of your audience which I think is great.<br><br> <br> <br>You disclosed brand names of what you used (filament, 3D program, 3D slicer, spreadsheet, etc.) which I liked. &nbsp;It gives me ideas on how I can use them more effectively or in my environment. &nbsp;Your spreadsheet usage was particular interesting to me. <br> <br><br>You scripting of your video was well done in that you presented what you wanted to do, demonstrated the problem (with lots of visual close up shots) on what happened, how you identified the problem, the possible solutions and the final solution that you settled on. &nbsp; <br>I thought that a visual inspection of the 3D object would have suggested that the problem was not in the hardware (i.e. 3D printer) but somewhere else since the printed object looked pretty good. &nbsp;But I do commend you for doing your &apos;due diligence&apos; to make sure that you didn&apos;t miss anything as part of your problem analyze segment. &nbsp;As a side note, I thought that if I were looking for the actual shrinkage value due to the equipment &amp; material, I would print the largest diameter rectangle that my printer to produce and measure the resultant print. &nbsp;The deviation between designed &amp; actual dimension would be the most accurate. <br> <br><br>But back to the video. <br>The pacing was sometimes fast, especially when not familiar with the application or situation but I was able to follow it. &nbsp;The video presentation was professionally done, with great video framing &amp; sound reproduction. &nbsp;Thank you especially for taking the time to do a great presentation. <br> <br>Finally, I do want you to know that I appreciate the time &amp; effort that you put in producing the video and encourage you to continue to do so. <br> <br><br>Take care and stay safe,<br> <br> <br><br>Pat Young

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