A scanning technique for the additive manufacturing of an object. The method comprises the irradiation a portion of a given layer of powder to form a fused region using an energy source. When forming an object layer by layer, the irradiation follows a first irradiation pattern at least partially bounded by a stripe region. When forming the first fused region using a first irradiation pattern a first series of solidification lines are formed, at angle other than 90° with respect to a substantially linear stripe region boundary. A series of second solidification lines are formed that intersecting the end of the first solidification line at a first angle other than 0° and 180° with respect to the first solidification line. A third series of solidification lines are formed that are substantially parallel to a first series of solidification lines and intersect one of the second solidification lines.