Scaling issue

[Spencer9 0]

I have an ender pro 3d printer, and am using Ultimaker cura slicer. Everything I print is coming out smaller than what the model is.Around 20% smaller.  Where do I go from here.Any Help?

[GregValiant 1,492]

What version of Cura?  5.1beta has settings for scaling a model.  They are in the Material section under "Scaling Factor Shrinkage Compensation".  There is a horizontal setting for XY and a vertical setting for Z.  Typically they are both set to 100%.

Under "Walls" the Horizontal Expansion setting can also have an effect.

On the left side toolbar, the second button down is the scale tool.  You can enter percentages, or the size.  Normally Cura assumes millimeters and if a model is very small (like one designed in inches) it will scale up by 1000%..  When that happens you must make an adjustment.

 

Within the printer the X, Y, and Z steps/mm can scale a model but they almost never need to be adjusted.

The defaults are "M92 X80.00 Y80.00 Z400.00 E93.00".

If the Cura settings look OK you could slice a calibration cube, open the gcode in a text editor, and put M92 Z80 Y80 Z400 at the start of a gcode right before the G28 line and then print the file.  If that works and the model turns out the correct size then add an M500 line after the G92 and start the print again.  The M500 will save the settings and you can abort the print when the skirt/brim starts.  Leaving the "E" value out means you would not overwrite your E steps/mm if you happen to have calibrated them.

Edited July 19, 2022 by GregValiant