Product basics

What is NoviPath, who is it for, and what problem does it solve?

NoviPath is toolpath-aware simulation software for FDM/FFF parts. The same polymer on the same printer behaves like different materials depending on how the toolpath is drawn, so datasheet values measured in one orientation can be off not by percent but by multiples. NoviPath reads the actual toolpath and predicts how the printed part will really behave, where it will fail, at what load, and how much it deforms. It is built for AM engineers, design engineers, structural analysts, and qualification teams who need to understand printed-part behavior before committing to printing and testing.

How is NoviPath different from other FEA tools?

NoviPath isn’t another solver, it fixes what you feed your solver. Traditional FEA assigns a printed part a single homogeneous material card; NoviPath analyzes the sliced toolpath, segment by segment, layer by layer, and builds locally oriented, fully anisotropic properties from it. Two parts identical in CAD can differ several-fold in stiffness purely because of toolpath. A conventional material card cannot see that difference; NoviPath does.

Do I need to be a simulation expert to use NoviPath?

No. The inputs are loads and restraints, and the results are deformation, stress, safety factor, and failure load. A mechanical or aerospace engineering background and familiarity with the FDM process are enough to run the simulation.

What parts and applications are a good fit?

Any printed part where mechanical performance matters: tooling, jigs and fixtures, and end-use FDM parts under mechanical load, wherever deformation, failure load, or failure location is important.

What materials and printers does NoviPath support?

Our validation program covers aerospace-grade materials, Nylon 12CF, Antero 800NA, and ULTEM 9085, printed on Stratasys F900, Fortus 450mc, and F3300 systems.

We use a material other than Nylon 12CF, Antero 800NA, or ULTEM 9085. When will it be supported?

Additional materials are added based on customer demand and available test data. Contact Novineer (info@novineer.com) and/or your Stratasys representative, we’ll work with you to build a roadmap for future additions.

Is NoviPath cloud-based, on-premise, or hybrid?

NoviPath runs entirely on-premises; no internet connection is required.

What workstation do I need, and how long does a simulation take?

An ordinary laptop is enough for a moderate case: with 8 GB of RAM and 4 cores, a case of about 1.5 million elements runs in roughly 5 minutes. A higher RAM helps with a higher number of elements.

How does NoviPath reduce testing cost, engineering time, and failed prints?

Three ways. A few tests at the end of the design stage replace a trial-and-error campaign per configuration. Virtual comparison replaces print-test-repeat iterations. And toolpath-aware simulation reduces overdesign, often yielding a lighter part: the failure you catch in simulation is a print and a redesign cycle you never pay for.