KSA FAB LAB > Stratasys > Vantage i

Why Model Orientation Matters

This article discusses the impact that part orientation can have on build time and project cost.

Our Test File

Our model for this demonstration is a part of a pedestrian canopy. The model is quite small in scale - measuring just over 2.5" long by 5/8" wide, standing 3/8" tall (to be precise, it is 2.6188" long, 0.6404" wide, and 0.3980" tall).

Original orientation

Without any changes, the part would take 40 minutes to produce, at a cost of $1.17. (0.100 in3 of build plastic, 0.159 of support plastic).

In this orientation, however, most of the cost of the model comes from support plastic. This support volume is spent holding up the canopy.

Upside-down orientation

If we flip the part over, we put most of the mass lower to the ground - thus requiring less support plastic. The resultant file would take 22 minutes to produce and cost only $0.71 (0.099 in3 of build plastic, 0.058 in3 of support plastic). At half the time and about 2/3 the cost, the benefit of proper orientation should be clear - particularly for larger models.

Side orientation

If you need your part to have strength in a given axis, that axis should be oriented parallel to the ground plane. For example, if our shade needed to actually bear a load, the previous orientations would fail more quickly because each layer can separate from its neighbors under stress. Standing this part on its edge will orient each layer for maximum strength.

Unfortunately, producing this part in that orientation increases the time and cost of production - the production time increases to 3 hours, 36 minutes and the cost becomes $1.22.

Summary