When 3D scanning a printed part for dimensional verification, why is it necessary to account for the material's specific thermal contraction coefficient when comparing the scan to the original CAD model?

All materials undergo thermal expansion and contraction as their temperature changes. When you print a part, it is typically processed at an elevated temperature. As the part cools to room temperature, it shrinks by an amount determined by its Coefficient of Thermal Expansion, which is a numerical constant that defines how much a material changes its size per degree of temperature change. If you scan a part at a diff....