Abstract: Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF), better known as FDM© (Fused Deposition Modeling) is an additive manufacturing process (AM) by which a physical object can be created from a 3D model generated in the computer, through layer-by-layer deposition of semi-melted plastic filaments. However, parts produced by the FDM process have different characteristics compared to parts produced by traditional methods such as plastic injection, especially with regard to mechanical properties related to stresses (tensile, compression, torsion and shear), due to the anisotropic nature of the process deposition. Many works have been carried out in order to determine the influence between the FDM process parameters and the mechanical characteristics of parts produced by this technology. Traditionally, the studied parameters comprise those that are adjusted in slicing software, which does not satisfactorily reflect the bond between the layers. This work uses the area of contact between the layers as the determining factor of the transverse tensile strength to bedding and suggests a methodology for the determination of this parameter. Using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the Taguchi analysis method, we identified the contact area between the layers as the most relevant parameter for tensile strength in the transverse direction of the printed layers with a relevance of more than 95% over the others investigated parameters. From the survey of relevant properties, new tests were carried out to determine a mathematical model to predict the minimum slicing parameters that should be used to obtain the required strength. Keywords: Fused Deposition Modeling, Mechanical Strength, AM Anisotropic Property, Layer Bond Properties, PLA.