A method for operating a three-dimensional,3D, object manufacturing system comprising: selecting with a controller a first zig-zag pattern from a plurality of zig-zag patterns stored in a memory operatively connected to the controller; operating an actuator with the controller to move an extruder in an interior region in a first object layer, the movement of the extruder being relative to a platform supporting an object being manufactured to form swaths in the interior region in the first object layer using the first zig-zag pattern while extruding swaths of thermoplastic material through a plurality of nozzles in the extruder, the swaths of thermoplastic material in the interior region of the first object layer having straight portions and angled portions in the interior region in the first object layer at a first orientation, the straight portions being formed as the extruder is moved along a 0° - 180° axis or a 90° - 270° axis, and wherein the swaths formed with the first selected zig-zag pattern extend at a positive angle deviation from the 0°-180° axis and are wide enough to contact an adjacent swath at the angled portions of the first zig-zag pattern; selecting a second zig-zag pattern from the plurality of zig-zag patterns stored in the memory; and operating the actuator with the controller to move the extruder in the interior region in a second object layer that is adjacent to the first object layer, the movement of the extruder being relative to the platform to form swaths in the interior region in the second object layer using the second zig-zag pattern while extruding swaths of thermoplastic material through the plurality of nozzles in the extruder, the swaths of thermoplastic material in the interior region of the second object layer having straight portions and angled portions in the interior region in the second object layer at a second orientation, the first orientation and the second orientation being at different angles with reference to straight line movement of the extruder during swath formation, the straight portions being formed as the extruder is moved along the 0° - 180° axis or the 90° - 270° axis, wherein the swaths formed with the second selected zig-zag pattern extend at a negative angle deviation from the 0°-180° axis and are wide enough to contact an adjacent swath at the angled portions of the second zig-zag pattern, and wherein the first zig-zag pattern and the second zig-zag pattern sparsely fill the interior region of the object, and the angled portions of the first zig-zag pattern and the angled portions of the second zig-zag pattern cross to form a support structure in the interior region. selecting with a controller a first zig-zag pattern from a plurality of zig-zag patterns stored in a memory operatively connected to the controller; operating an actuator with the controller to move an extruder in an interior region in a first object layer, the movement of the extruder being relative to a platform supporting an object being manufactured to form swaths in the interior region in the first object layer using the first zig-zag pattern while extruding swaths of thermoplastic material through a plurality of nozzles in the extruder, the swaths of thermoplastic material in the interior region of the first object layer having straight portions and angled portions in the interior region in the first object layer at a first orientation, the straight portions being formed as the extruder is moved along a 0° - 180° axis or a 90° - 270° axis, and wherein the swaths formed with the first selected zig-zag pattern extend at a positive angle deviation from the 0°-180° axis and are wide enough to contact an adjacent swath at the angled portions of the first zig-zag pattern; selecting a second zig-zag pattern from the plurality of zig-zag patterns stored in the memory; and operating the actuator with the controller to move the extruder in the interior region in a second object layer that is adjacent to the first object layer, the movement of the extruder being relative to the platform to form swaths in the interior region in the second object layer using the second zig-zag pattern while extruding swaths of thermoplastic material through the plurality of nozzles in the extruder, the swaths of thermoplastic material in the interior region of the second object layer having straight portions and angled portions in the interior region in the second object layer at a second orientation, the first orientation and the second orientation being at different angles with reference to straight line movement of the extruder during swath formation, the straight portions being formed as the extruder is moved along the 0° - 180° axis or the 90° - 270° axis, wherein the swaths formed with the second selected zig-zag pattern extend at a negative angle deviation from the 0°-180° axis and are wide enough to contact an adjacent swath at the angled portions of the second zig-zag pattern, and wherein the first zig-zag pattern and the second zig-zag pattern sparsely fill the interior region of the object, and the angled portions of the first zig-zag pattern and the angled portions of the second zig-zag pattern cross to form a support structure in the interior region.