Break it before you print it: Predict FDM Part Performance
Every engineer who prints a load-bearing bracket, fixture or production aid asks the same question: will it hold? Today the answer is to add material and hope, or to print it, build a rig and break it.
General-purpose FEA does not answer it, because it treats a printed part as a solid block. An FDM part is built filament by filament, and its strength depends on orientation, raster angle, contours and layer direction. Two beams with the same geometry, material and printer, differing only in toolpath, can deflect six times differently under the same load.
NoviPath by Novineer, integrated with GrabCAD Print, reads the actual toolpath and simulates the part as it will be printed. Add loads and restraints, and in minutes you get deformation, stress, failure load and location, and safety factor. Behind it: more than 1,500 physical tests on Nylon 12CF, Antero 800NA and ULTEM 9085 across the F900, Fortus 450mc and F3300.
In 45 minutes you will see:
So join Stratasys and Novineer on Thursday, 12 November 2026, 7:00 PT / 9:00 CT / 10:00 ET / 15:00 GMT / 16:00 CET.
Frank Lindeman joined Stratasys in 2014, when the cloud PDM and file sharing company GrabCAD was acquired. Before GrabCAD Frank was with 3D CAD company SolidWorks helping software partners develop a wide range of applications using the SolidWorks API platform. Frank is a member of the Stratasys Software team, a group of software engineers developing next generation software for 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing, working out of Cambridge in the UK. Today, Frank focuses on making Stratasys customers and software partners successful with the introduction of Stratasys software products, and their integration with design software and factory control software. He also represents the voice of the customer, identifying opportunities for new software features, functions, or entire products. His experience and approach are grounded in both 25 years of development of technical software as well as a deep understanding of design and manufacturing processes. Frank holds an M.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering.
Dr. Ali Tamijani is Founder and CEO of Novineer, Inc., and Professor of Aerospace Engineering at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. A recipient of the AFOSR Young Investigator Award, NSF CAREER Award, and Embry-Riddle’s Outstanding Researcher of the Year Award, he has led Novineer in launching NoviVision, NoviDesign, and NoviPath, products that help engineers turn existing parts and design requirements into production-ready digital models faster and with less risk. NoviPath is integrated with Stratasys' GrabCAD Print Pro as part of a strategic partnership. He has also driven the company’s early growth by securing federal support, building partnerships with OEMs, and establishing corporate agreements with defense organizations including the U.S. Army.
Jay specializes in physics-based modeling, additive manufacturing simulation, and software development. A former Stratasys engineer, he brings hands-on experience across commercial R&D, geometry processing, and machine learning.
