A computer implemented method (10, 26, 56) for printing a three-dimensional part in an additive manufacturing process, the method comprising: receiving a digital model of the three-dimensional part to a computer (step 12), wherein the digital model is provided in a coordinate system having a plurality of coordinate axes, and has a surface geometry, wherein the surface geometry comprises a plurality of facets having surfaces; determining a surface area for each of the plurality of facets (step 28); calculating surface plane angles for each of the plurality of facets relative to one or more of the coordinate axes with the computer (step 30); calculating a build score for each of the one or more coordinate axes with the computer (step 32) based on: D p = ∑ 1 n f α p, i A i R, wherein D p is the calculated build score for coordinate axis p; wherein α p,i A i /R is a facet score for facet i relative to the coordinate axis p, α p,i is the calculated plane angle for the facet i relative to the coordinate axis p, A i is the calculated surface area for the facet i, and R is an optional normalizing value; wherein f ( α p,i A i / R) is a non-linear function of the facet score for facet i relative to the coordinate axis p; and wherein n is a total number of the plurality of facets; selecting an orientation for the digital model in the coordinate system based at least in part on the calculated build scores comprising orienting the digital model such that a coordinate axis corresponding to a highest build score is aligned with a printing axis for the additive manufacturing process (step 34); and printing the three-dimensional part with the additive manufacturing system based on the oriented digital model (step 24). receiving a digital model of the three-dimensional part to a computer (step 12), wherein the digital model is provided in a coordinate system having a plurality of coordinate axes, and has a surface geometry, wherein the surface geometry comprises a plurality of facets having surfaces; determining a surface area for each of the plurality of facets (step 28); calculating surface plane angles for each of the plurality of facets relative to one or more of the coordinate axes with the computer (step 30); calculating a build score for each of the one or more coordinate axes with the computer (step 32) based on: D p = ∑ 1 n f α p, i A i R, wherein D p is the calculated build score for coordinate axis p; wherein α p,i A i /R is a facet score for facet i relative to the coordinate axis p, α p,i is the calculated plane angle for the facet i relative to the coordinate axis p, A i is the calculated surface area for the facet i, and R is an optional normalizing value; wherein f ( α p,i A i / R) is a non-linear function of the facet score for facet i relative to the coordinate axis p; and wherein n is a total number of the plurality of facets; wherein D p is the calculated build score for coordinate axis p; wherein α p,i A i /R is a facet score for facet i relative to the coordinate axis p, α p,i is the calculated plane angle for the facet i relative to the coordinate axis p, A i is the calculated surface area for the facet i, and R is an optional normalizing value; wherein f ( α p,i A i / R) is a non-linear function of the facet score for facet i relative to the coordinate axis p; and wherein n is a total number of the plurality of facets; selecting an orientation for the digital model in the coordinate system based at least in part on the calculated build scores comprising orienting the digital model such that a coordinate axis corresponding to a highest build score is aligned with a printing axis for the additive manufacturing process (step 34); and printing the three-dimensional part with the additive manufacturing system based on the oriented digital model (step 24).