Print Orientation Affects Strength

When orienting prints on the build plate, it’s common practice to prioritize factors like achieving the best overhang quality and minimizing the amount of support material needed. While these considerations are important for print quality and efficiency, they are not the only elements to keep in mind when deciding on the print orientation. One crucial factor that is often overlooked is the mechanical strength of the printed part, which is inherently influenced by the layer-by-layer nature of 3D printing.

Because 3D prints are created by stacking layers of material, parts typically exhibit their weakest mechanical strength along the Z axis—perpendicular to the layers—making them more prone to breaking or delaminating along those layer lines. As a result, if you're printing a part that must withstand mechanical stress or structural loads, it’s essential to carefully consider the orientation not only during printing but also during the design phase. By aligning the print so that the greatest stresses are along the X or Y axes (parallel to the layer lines), you can significantly improve the part’s durability and performance. Taking print orientation into account from the start can help ensure the final object meets both functional and strength requirements.