QIDI Plus4 - 3D Printer

[GoMachV]

Probably as they all work off each others discoveries and developments. There are components of Orca that have made their way into the PrusaSlicer as well, all these teams work together to a degree. That's why it's good to try them and see what you like best.

[GreenBar0n]

All of the software seems to be coming from the same place, ultimately.

I really do like how contained and easy QIDI Studio is to use.



Got the side pods printed.








Need to get the stronger filament for the chassis, they recommend Nylon, but I may try the 85/15% carbon fiber.

[GreenBar0n]

Getting my Halloween passengers ready.

[XLR8]

Incredible! Those look like resin prints. I'm amazed at how far FDM printers have advanced in the past couple years.
I'm also curious; how many rolls of filament have you used so far? I need to place an order and should I get a couple to start or ten or more?

[GreenBar0n]

It's funny you asked how many rolls I've gone through so far, the answer is 1 and 3/4; I just barely made it through printing those heads last night.


The heads were printed at the 0.12mm High Quality layer height, I may try the heads at a 0.08mm layer, to see if there's an appreciable difference.

This QIDI Plus4 is supposed to be a larger bed clone of the BambuLab, it's not as pretty to look at, it's a bit Tesla chic for my taste, but it functions really well, and using the same open source programming the other printers are. The ASM, or multi-filament box for this will be out soon.


I have bought (2) rolls of QIDI Rapido PLA so far, the gray is $27, and 2.2Kg a roll. But I have wasted so much filament learning how to do it incorrectly, and thinking printing at the finest resolution is always the best choice (note to self- it's not). The orientation of the parts was also a tremendous waste of material in the learning process.

If you are printing in only one color so far, and you have Amazon Prime, they ship a roll over night, maybe just start with one roll for now. I'm not working in a properly vented area yet, so I can only print PLA for the moment. ABS and some of those other filaments are too toxic for indoor non-ventilated prints, need to figure that out here.

[XLR8]

Less than two spools?? WOW, that's incredible. Looking at everything you've printed, I was gonna guess maybe five or more.
Anyway, that's in impressive looking machine. And more importantly, it makes very nice prints. I'm impressed!

For material, I'm just fixed on printing ABS. I guess it's because I like working with styrene. I think the P1S comes with a spool of PLA so can use it to learn the process. I'll probably switch to ABS when I'm finished tinkering -- or maybe just continue using PLA and/or give PETG a try. Bambu says the printer is equipped with a charcoal exhaust filter so special venting shouldn't be necessary. If you notice I've suddenly gone quite, you'll know that was wrong.

[GreenBar0n]

what a horrible way to go, ABS poisoning. Mine has the charcoal bag too, but I'm not counting on that.

I'm now positioned right next to a sliding glass door, and may build a containment tent/booth and vent for it, so I can use the good filament.

The reason I chose this particular printer is for its ability to use PPS-CF, which is incredible material, and suitable for engineering prototypes, and injection molds. I'm curious about electroplating 3d printed parts also, going to try that at some point.

Got the 5'x2' workbench built and ready to go.


The rest of this room is destroyed, but I'll load a 3d print job and finish organizing the rest of the place. So stoked to have another 10 square feet of workspace.

[XLR8]

what a horrible way to go, ABS poisoning. Mine has the charcoal bag too, but I'm not counting on that.
...

But you live in California where EVERYTHING is known to the state to cause cancer. Ever heard of Prop. 65?
I remember staying at a hotel in LA a while back. Even the door to my room had a Prop 65 warning.

Anyway, someday I really must get organized. Most everything I have just lands where it came out of the box and my work areas are a tangled mess of unfinished projects.

[GoMachV]

For material, I'm just fixed on printing ABS. I guess it's because I like working with styrene. I think the P1S comes with a spool of PLA so can use it to learn the process. I'll probably switch to ABS when I'm finished tinkering -- or maybe just continue using PLA and/or give PETG a try. Bambu says the printer is equipped with a charcoal exhaust filter so special venting shouldn't be necessary. If you notice I've suddenly gone quite, you'll know that was wrong.

The main drawback to ABS is that you will want to dry it. It prints very nice on the Bambu machines, I will get a little warpage but its rare. Functionally they are much more useful than PLA. ABS is harder with bridging and overhangs, thats where having a support material is really nice. I use HIPS for support on it.

[XLR8]

Thanks for that Jeff. I'm looking at the Sunlu S2 dryer you linked in the other post and it appears to also function as a filament dispenser. Once the filament is dry, I was wondering how to prevent it absorbing moisture during an extended print. Of course, if I had order the AMS I wouldn't need a separate dryer.
Anyway, I'd better get the Sunlu on order but I absolutely hate Amazon; they never miss an opportunity to screw-up an order.
I have a relative that once worked for Bezos. His company is infested with crazy woke extremist and I refuse to do business with them. I'll purchase a dryer elsewhere.

[GoMachV]

Ah Amazon is pure evil, just like eBay haha. I think they sell direct

And yes, you can feed with it- that's the mod I was mentioning where I relocated the entry so it's easier to load. I'll snap some pics.

[GreenBar0n]

I've had more success with Amazon and ebay than failures, by far.

I just ordered the QIDI Rapido PLA in Silver, should have it Friday. Running low on the gray, going to print a few of the last parts for the Manx dune buggy tonight, and then sand the parts, and start painting.

[XLR8]

I've had more success with Amazon and ebay than failures, by far.

I just ordered the QIDI Rapido PLA in Silver, should have it Friday. Running low on the gray, going to print a few of the last parts for the Manx dune buggy tonight, and then sand the parts, and start painting.

After 20 years and 425 purchases on ebay, only two have been a problem and ebay resolved them quickly.

Anyway, the buggy looks really good in gray. I'd be tempted to clear-coat, polish and call it good. ...but, I know you will paint it and make it look fantastic.

I noticed your PLA spools are over 2 kg and $27, that's excellent. Many others I've seen are only 1 kg and cost around $20. I'm thinking larger spools won't fit the AMS so is re-spooling a thing?

[GreenBar0n]

My mistake sorry, the QIDI Rapido rolls are 1Kg, or 2.2 lbs, any color for $27, white is $25. Was going to edit that weight confusion in my last post, glad we got that sorted.

PLA is pretty flexible, it's great for scale cruising, probably not skate park bashing. I'll try to get some video of how durable PLA is, it's pretty tough stuff, and takes the airbrush paint really well.

I want to test some airbrush metallic and chrome on the Manx. The new workbench opens all of that up now, being able to paint in the most ideal conditions, 24/7.


This 3D printed Manx buggy requires a Sand Scorcher, or a Rough Rider (2009 Buggy Champ), for the front and rear end components, the chassis is printed.

I love vintage Tamiya anyhow, so one of these will be here Friday.


Will probably only briefly run the Manx body, as a proof of concept, and then make it a static model for the shelf, and finish the Buggy Champ in boxart and vintage-style decals, eventually.

[XLR8]

Ah, okay, thanks for correcting the weight. So, it appears that 1kg is the standard weight but maybe the spool OD isn't a standard. Silvertriple mentioned in another post that he received some filament spools that wouldn't fit his AMS. Anyway, it is what it is.

Going back at the image of the chassis plate in your previous post, your Manx is gonna be a very detailed model and I'm looking forward to seeing it come together.