How do you place an STL face parallel to the print bed?

Reviewed September 17, 2026 · NEST technical guide

Select the intended surface, align that surface plane with the build plate, then reject the placement if any other part of the model penetrates below the bed.

In NEST

1. Load the STL.
2. Orbit until the intended bed-facing surface is visible.
3. Tap or click that surface.
4. Select Place face parallel to bed.
5. Use Flip face 180° if the opposite parallel orientation is required.
6. Check the resulting footprint, height, and plate clearance before nesting.

Parallel does not always mean printable

A selected triangle may belong to a recessed or internal surface. A correct tool must reject an orientation that places other geometry below the bed rather than merely lifting the whole bounding box.