# Is there really no independent axis scaling?

**URL:** <https://forum.formlabs.com/t/is-there-really-no-independent-axis-scaling/38560>\
**Category:** Support & Troubleshooting\
**Created:** [July 2, 2024, 9:30pm UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/is-there-really-no-independent-axis-scaling/38560 "2024-07-02T21:30:06Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![avelliaris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5fc32e/32.png) [@avelliaris](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/avelliaris)\
**Post date:** [July 2, 2024, 9:30pm UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/is-there-really-no-independent-axis-scaling/38560/1 "2024-07-02T21:30:06Z")

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Hi Everyone,

We are still learning PreForm and have made some parts with astounding accuracy. I do mean _astounding_, to within a thou in some cases. We have been struggling with threaded parts however.

We used an EnvisionOne before for our resin prints and would apply a 1% scale down on the XY plane (or plane the threads went through) on one half of a threaded part (one we could not use a tap on). It seems like this is impossible to do with PreForm? No matter what we try, PreForm will apply a global scale.

Even worse, if we apply independent scaling on a .3MF file in another slicer, like Bambu’s, PreForm will _still_ apply a global axis scale (i.e. if XY only is 1% in EnvisionRP 3MF, it will become 1% XYZ in PreForm).

 ![ScalingIssues](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/uploads/formlabs/original/3X/2/6/26a008169149dc539b617ea8705044e632d1ce0e.png)

It looks like PreForm will just global scale to whatever the largest value is. Is this normal?

One might ask: “Why don’t you scale in CAD?”

For threads, it’s more complex than that as scaling the Z-axis will change your pitch. To fit threads typically we scale the plane through the treads 1% to get a fit. Changing the CAD file itself will also change our drawings and make a thread not follow the spec anymore.

If this is a “feature” of PreForm, has anyone found a way to do this other than scaling in CAD?

Also, if anyone in engineering is reading this, please consider adding independent axis scaling as a feature. If its absence is a QOL thing, please just add it in and leave it as off by default, and have an option to enable in a drop down list somewhere.

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**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/uploads/formlabs/original/3X/5/b/5bc2bdf993ff27c2e0eecab5010b25626fbb327a.png) [@system](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [January 1, 2025, 9:30am UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/is-there-really-no-independent-axis-scaling/38560/2 "2025-01-01T09:30:39Z")

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