Theshrinkage rate of 3D printing materials is a critical factor in 3D printing projects—it directly impacts the dimensional accuracy, structural integrity, and final quality of printed parts. Whether you’re making a small prototype or a large industrial component, ignoring material shrinkage can lead to wasted time, お金, and failed prints. This guide breaks down what material shrinkage is, why it happens, and how to control it effectively.
1. Basic Concepts: What Is 3D Printing Material Shrinkage?
Before tackling solutions, it’s essential to understand the core of3D printing material shrinkage.
意味
Shrinkage refers to the percentage of volume or size reduction that occurs when a 3D printing material cools down after being melted (in fused deposition modeling, or FDM) or cured (in resin-based printing). 例えば, if a PLA part is designed to be 100mm long but measures 99.8mm after printing, its shrinkage rate is 0.2%.
Key Influencing Factors
Several elements affect how much a material shrinks. Here are the most common ones, organized for clarity:
- 材料タイプ: Different materials have unique thermal expansion coefficients (how much they expand when heated) and curing behaviors—this is the biggest driver of shrinkage.
- Printing Parameters: Settings like printing temperature (too high can increase shrinkage), fill density (higher density often means more shrinkage), そして 層の高さ (thicker layers may cause uneven cooling) all play a role.
- Environmental Conditions: Ambient temperature (fluctuations can disrupt cooling) and humidity (especially for hygroscopic materials like PETG) can worsen shrinkage.
場合: A team printing ABS brackets for a robotics project noticed parts were 0.6% smaller than designed. After checking, they found the workshop temperature dropped by 8°C during printing—this uneven cooling increased the shrinkage rate beyond ABS’s typical range.
2. Shrinkage Rates of Common 3D Printing Materials
Not all materials shrink the same way. Below is a detailed table of the most widely used 3D printing materials, their typical shrinkage rates, and use cases to help you choose wisely.
| Material Name | 化学組成 | Typical Shrinkage Rate | 重要な利点 | 適切なアプリケーション |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 腹筋 | Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene Copolymer | 0.4% - 0.8% | 耐衝撃性が高い, 耐久性 | 自動車部品, 電子ハウジング |
| プラ | ポリラトン酸 | 0.2% - 0.8% | 生分解性, low odor, 印刷しやすい | プロトタイプ, おもちゃ, 家庭用品 |
| PETG | ポリエチレンテレフタレートグリコール | 0.8% - 1.2% | 高い透明性, シャタープルーフ | Food-safe containers, clear prototypes |
注記: These rates are averages. 例えば, a PLA part printed at 210°C may have a 0.3% 収縮率, but the same PLA printed at 230°C could shrink by 0.6%.
3. How to Control the Shrinkage Rate of 3D Printing Materials
Controlling shrinkage doesn’t have to be complicated. Here are four practical methods, with actionable steps:
1. 設計最適化
Compensate for shrinkage in your 3D model before printing. If your material has a 0.5% 収縮率, enlarge the model by 0.5% in your CAD software (例えば。, SOLIDWORKS, ブレンダー). 例えば, a 200mm-long ABS part should be designed as 201mm to end up at 200mm after shrinkage.
2. Smart Material Selection
Choose a material with a shrinkage rate that matches your project’s accuracy needs:
- Need high precision? Go with PLA (0.2% - 0.8%) instead of PETG (0.8% - 1.2%).
- Need durability? 腹筋 (0.4% - 0.8%) 作品, but be sure to adjust printing parameters to minimize shrinkage.
3. Adjust Printing Parameters
Tweak these settings to reduce shrinkage:
- Printing Temperature: Lower the temperature by 5–10°C (例えば。, from 250°C to 240°C for ABS) to slow cooling and reduce size loss.
- Fill Density: Use 50%–70% fill density instead of 100%—lower density means less material to shrink.
- ベッド温度: Keep the print bed warm (例えば。, 110ABSの°C) to ensure slow, even cooling.
4. 後処理
印刷後, use these methods to fix minor shrinkage:
- 熱処理: For ABS parts, bake them at 80°C for 30 minutes to “relax” the material and reduce residual shrinkage.
- Chemical Smoothing: For PLA or PETG, use isopropyl alcohol (IPA) to gently smooth surfaces and correct small dimensional gaps.
Yigu Technology’s Perspective on 3D Printing Material Shrinkage
Yiguテクノロジーで, we believe controllingthe shrinkage rate of 3D printing materials is a mix of science and practice. Many clients struggle with failed prints due to uncompensated shrinkage—our solution is to pair material expertise with tailored tools. We recommend using our 3D printing material test kits (which include ABS, プラ, and PETG samples with pre-tested shrinkage rates) to find the right material fast. さらに, our design software plugin automatically calculates and applies shrinkage compensation, cutting prototype rework by 40%. For high-precision projects, we also offer post-processing services like heat treatment to ensure parts meet exact dimensions.
よくある質問
- Q: Why does my PLA part still shrink even though PLA has a low shrinkage rate?
a: PLA’s low rate (0.2% - 0.8%) doesn’t mean no shrinkage. Check your printing temperature—if it’s too high (over 220°C), shrinkage increases. Try lowering it by 5–10°C and ensure the print bed is at 60°C for even cooling. - Q: Can I use the same shrinkage compensation rate for all parts made with the same material?
a: Mostly, but adjust for part size. 大きな部品 (over 300mm) may shrink slightly more due to more material cooling. 例えば, a 400mm ABS part might need 0.6% compensation instead of 0.5% for a 100mm part. - Q: Does humidity affect the shrinkage rate of PETG?
a: Yes—PETG absorbs moisture, which causes uneven cooling and higher shrinkage. Dry PETG filaments in a dehydrator (50°C for 4 時間) before printing to reduce shrinkage by up to 0.3%.
