OK, I have a good one.
You say the model is oriented by SW to give the cheapest print- and that would mean the shortest height, coupled with the least wax usage. You also say your system recognizes the model's natural planes.
Look at this model... "roof. jpg".
Here's a link to the model (not public or for sale yet) :
https://www.shapeways.com/model/upload-and-buy/6135618
It is built, with one of the long, flat faces sitting on one of the model's main planes. The ONLY logical way to print this model is in the alignment shown below in "4.jpg". A minimum of wax is used to support the print, and only a few small spots on the detailed interior require support. It rests on a natural plane, and if as you say, the system automatically tumbles the model around its axes looking for the best fit, it WILL come upon this orientation.
So, I noticed the pricing was ridiculous... old price $101.47 CDN which was bad enough, now $160.83 CDN. I specifically oriented this model to one of these natural printing planes, so needless to say, I was more than a little suspicious.
I went into the support material tool, and here is what I found... see 1.jpg, 2.jpg, and 3.jpg. below.
Your system has picked the ABSOLUTE WORST orientation possible.
1. It has oriented the model in its absolutely tallest possible position.
2. It has oriented the model in the position that uses the absolute maximum possible amount of wax- not just under the model, but it has COMPLETELY filled the model with wax.
3. There is NO detail to worry about on the exterior of this model, as it is designed to be used with various laser-cut roofing materials. Sanding these outer surfaces would be a snap. So, in your infinite wisdom, you decide to completely fill the highly detailed interior, and DESTROY the surface finish, rendering a possible print unusable?
What gives, guys? This is completely unacceptable. Even properly oriented, this model won't be cheap, but it will produce a beautiful print. However, the way you have it positioned, it will be obscenely expensive and the print will be unusable!
This is why I want the orientation tool to allow us to pick GEOMETRY as the bottom (or top) surface rather than rolling it around on planes that your system decides to invent. It obviously ignores the actual planes and geometry in the model.
Steve Hunter