QIDI Technology i-Fast 3D Printer | An In-Depth Review

Is the QIDI Technolology i-fast 3D printer any good? Today we're doing a deep dive and review based on six weeks of testing. We'll look at the features, technology, software, and print results. Buckle up; we're going deep.
*This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated
R QIDI Technology Amazon Store*: amzn.to/3rQqhVn
eSun ABS Filament, 1.75mm (Amazon*): amzn.to/2xYW8uc
QIDI Tech PA12-CF Carbon Fiber Nylon (Amazon*): amzn.to/3LylGyL
My designs on Thingiverse: www.thingiverse.com/clough42/...
00:00 Intro
01:24 Features
11:18 Extruders
15:31 Software
17:48 Touchscreen
20:56 Bed Leveling
23:15 Extruder Calibration
25:14 Print Quality
41:44 Software Quality/Bugs
45:20 Conclusions
Raw Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
creativecommons.org/licenses/b... ifast qidi i fast heated chamber qidi i-fast

[@josephlull956]

Please do a review on how to remove, disassemble and clear the extruders on the QIDI I-FAST 3D Printer. Mine came from the factory with a clogged #2 extruder. The Red PLA filament QIDI supplied is sub-standard and has problems feeding and plugged twice last night. This video should include how to reassemble them to assured proper heights and reduce issues with leveling and calibration. It would be greatly appreciated.

[@XxShantilisxX]

Great review. I've been looking at a bunch of videos on this exact printer and the ultimaker s3 trying to decide on which printer would be my best upgrade path, but most seem to come of as paid advertisements without a whole lot of useful information that I couldn't just find on their websites. Thank you for an outstanding overview and really putting it through it's paces. It goes a long way to helping to make a decision.

[@choschiba-music]

One of the best printer reviews I’ve ever seen! Thank you so much. 👍🏼

[@CncObsession]

Judging from the texture supplied by the heated build plate, I would plan for the finished side to be the bottom. That switch cover would look great and the lettering would be cleaner.

[@Clough42]

I've done it both ways. I agree that the pebbled surface is attractive.

[@nsboost]

If you order a Prusa… all of the printed parts have the textured surface up. Does look decent. All the prints I sell I don’t even bother post processing this surface off as it looks good imho

[@geoffscott265]

Great video as always, thank you. The heated build volume is clearly a key factor in getting taller long prints to stay flat, so I'll be looking for this in my next printer. The software issues made me smile as I remember starting to struggle with configuration management about 25 years ago. I reckon my company had it cracked after a few years later. These days with git and automated deployment tools, it's surprising to hear of companies still just 'hacking' fixes without any evident version control. I expect they'll catch up soon.

[@atvdev]

How timely, and this is exactly what I've been looking for. Well done sir. Excellent video as always.

[@EMERYE77]

Based on your review and the New Year sale, I ordered one of these today. Thank you for the great information.

[@godfreja]

I consistently find your videos interesting, even when it is a topic I wouldn't think would be. (I'm not in the market for a new 3D printer atm.) Good job!

[@sblack48]

I think they got way more than $2-3k worth of publicity here. This is going to sell a lot of printers. Maybe it will get them to up their software game too, like some config control.

[@Clough42]

I hope so. The software could be better. There are some small mechanical things that would make it easier to use as well.

[@sblack48]

@@Clough42 i hope they use your feedback.

[@BecomingOffgrid]

Worked for me. Mine will be here on Friday. James is a trustworthy source and he is quite picky and thorough. Email me James if you want my order number so you get credit for the sale.

[@1ANeat]

Just wanted to say thanks for this and your other videos. Ive been shopping for a more industrial/home 3d setup and your channel is a wealth of good information

[@dtm1303]

I just bought this Qidi iFast printer. This video was key contributor to my decision. Very very well produced video. I also joined your channel. The unit arrives on Monday, 1/23/2023. The next video I'd love to see is one that covers details of setup for the most common types of filament.

[@jhawker2895]

The best and most detailed product review I have seen to date .... Awesome Job ... Thanks for sharing ... stay safe and well...

[@DonDegidio]

Hi James, One of the better product reviews I've seen in quite a while. The I-Fast does appear to be an excellent 3D printer. I especially liked the way you put it through the ABS testing. The printed parts don't lie. They all looked great and I have seen what your other printers could do when you were experimenting printing those parts. It does have a hefty price tag, but from what I've seen and you recommendation, I think it's worth the price. Hopefully, when the supply chain gets better, it may decrease slightly in price. You and the family stay safe.

[@rixxxer5460]

ive seen it advertised for $1800us on one of there sites . but to get it shipped to Australia ends up costing a bit . so i just went thru amazon .

[@matthewlee8917]

It's really nice to see some companies sending you items out. You put a lot of effort into top notch reviews and info. Everyone needs/deserves some ROI. Keep up the great work.

[@TechnologistAtWork]

I like him because he's an industry expert and looks and behaves like an adult. As someone who's in the maker and tech industry it is frustrating to mostly find information on machines from college grads that quit their jobs to do KZbin. This guy is an industry veteran. His reviews are actual expert reviews. I'm very impressed.

[@kylelandrith2011]

As always, a terrific and informative video. Definitely considering this printer more after your review.

[@kitatit]

Thanks for the excellent review! I’ve been sitting on the fence for the last 20yrs regarding 3D printing. I just bought my first printer. The Qidi I Fast. Mostly based on your review. Thanks very much. Subscribed. Cheers Kit✊

[@b.portier1192]

Great post as always! Thank you James, i'am a big fan of your posts. Greetings from Belgium

[@ej732]

Been running a Qidi XCF for 50 days. Thing is a beast. Churning out CF parts reliably. Like you bring up, software. But support is always on point. Just bought the i-fast today to ramp up production, I wouldn't expect anything less than the XCF. Sounds like more of the same. Work horse, with occasional bugs. Thank you for the review.

[@BecomingOffgrid]

I appreciate how thorough you are James. One of the best on KZbin

[@Rocketpsychologist]

I purchased a QIDI iFast last month (Dec 2022), partly based on James' review. The printer has worked really well (as James showed) - although I've only done high temperature printing with ABS so far (haven't tested the dual printing capability). One good thing is that since James' review, Qidi changed the USB port location to the top of the printer instead of near the door, which is much better. When I first used the unit, I had to slightly adjust the horizontal bar that switches nozzles so that it would properly fit into the slot on the sides of the printer. If it's not aligned, the bar will hit the plastic side wall (not go into the designated slot), and make a bunch of noise as the printer continues to try to push the hot end along the X-axis. It only took a second to fix, and it's been perfect since then. Also, the build plate takes a bit to heat up (mine takes ~15 - 20 minutes to reach 110C), which is slower than the heating rate of a smaller Ender 3 - but given the higher temp, much larger plate, and the evenness of the temperature profile across the plate, it's understandable that it will take longer. Like James, I purchased a second build plate to quickly swap parts off the printer while keeping the bed heated for a subsequent print. Unlike James, I certainly had odor build up when printing with ABS. My printer is located in my basement in a fairly small room - so that certainly contributes to a build-up. Although it has an enclosed chamber, there are spaces at the bottom of the printer where air can easily escape (between the outer plastic shell and internal structure). Also, the only filtration appears to be a small filter screen on the outlet of the circulation fan, which pumps air outside the chamber and is meant for low temp printing only (i.e. it really isn't meant for continuous air filtration while printing with a heated chamber). I don't believe the Qidi iFast has any other filtration system beyond this. So, I duct taped the open slots on the bottom (minding not to cover the air vents for the electronics cooling fans, which are also located on the bottom of the printer), and I purchased a self contained HEPA & carbon filtration unit from Makergadgets to continuously recycle the air within the chamber. The printer has plenty of room in the back to accommodate the filtration unit and not interfere with the build plate. I routed the small power cord for the filtration unit up and through the filament slot of the top acrylic lid. I also taped over the slots of the acrylic lid (with the filament tubes and filtration unit power cord running through) to make it more air tight. It worked perfectly, with hardly any odors escaping when I printed with ABS. My aftermarket fix with the Makergadget filter only costed ~$55. So, for me, the Qidi iFast still makes a lot of sense, since most other heated chamber printers with integrated filtration systems are several thousand dollars more. I sent a suggestion to Qidi to incorporate a HEPA & carbon filter to the heated air system (which recycles the air in the chamber anyway). Given the space within the printer, I think they could easily accommodate this. Their customer service has been excellent so far.

[@richardbennett6053]

Thanks for the indepth review, I admire your careful and honest opinions

[@TheDevnul]

Great breakdown. I printed you tungsten grinder attachment in PETG and It is awesome. Fits my Dremel perfectly. Thanks James.

[@Rocketpsychologist]

Great review. I've been looking for printer that's capable of printing both ABS and polycarbonate parts, and this review really helped me understand the various factors to consider. Much appreciated!

[@design8studio]

Super helpful video, especially the summary. Thanks! A few weeks back I withdrew my deposit for the Prusa XL. I also just recently finally pulled the trigger on building a Voron 2.4 from a kit, primarily because while I had been pondering on it for some time, the Black Friday sale price of the kit was too tempting and I bit the bullet.

[@nico_ingrid]

Excelent videos Sir, I really like your way to do videos! Keep up the good work and I keep watching them as a new sub!

[@stephenfralick9808]

Very informative and well done presentation. It had to take a considerable amount of time required to do such a video. You are obviously experienced and knowledgeable about 3d printing. This one was and continues to be at the top of my list for purchase. May you have continued success in your endeavors. Thank you.

[@QuasiMotoUSA]

I bought an iFast off your review and have been using it for over a year now. I've had to replace the motherboard myself (Qidi customer service sent no charge) but otherwise I've been very impressed. I use it for work, prototyping parts I've built in Fusion before I have them made by SendCutSend to verify fit, and custom motorcycle parts. I've also used it to print full size shoe concepts built in Gravity Sketch VR (I'm a footwear designer). I personally don't need the dual extruder feature but the heated bed and closed design is key as I keep it in a detached shop in PNW. This is a huge unlock for hobby builders, literally whatever you need, if you can model it, you can print it.

[@donteeple6124]

James. you did it again only this time you hit it right out of the ball park. I have ZERO experience with 3D printers, and even with my rudimentary knowledge, your tutorial and review of this, made perfect sense. You possess a rare gift in being able to explain yourself in logical and easily understood ways, even to those of us that have little or no real practical knowledge of these complex things. Thank you for taking you time to share with us, and impart a bit more knowledge, inquiring minds DO want to know. Please keep them coming. Don

[@jacobkudrowich]

Einstein once said that if you can't explain something without using technical jargon in an easily understandable way then you don't understand whatever You're explaining well enough. You can tell James knows what they doing and he's an excellent teacher!

[@Wachuko-1]

Great review. I have one of the older (and smaller) QIDI units... Totally agree with your assessment on their support. Very responsive team and very willing to help solve any issues along the way. I have been looking to replace mine for something newer with larger print capacity... this one sounds like a winner.

[@XxIcedecknightxX]

Still have my Qidi printer from about 6 years ago and it still prints very well with no modifications.

[@cjtroutt8092]

James I been on the fence for a while on 3d printers looking at the results of the prints I would half to say with your opinion on this Printer and testing it for 6 weeks and the results I would have to get one to. I know that it passed your seal of approval to me that Golden. Thank you for the great videos and review of new product.

[@1supertec]

Awesome video, and I didn't even know you could print the walls in a different order but I'm absolutely going to give this a go and see what I get great work dude and thanks for sharing this 👍

[@karlkiernan6863]

I have watched your review a few times now as I am in the market for a larger 3D printer and think this is a great printer for the money. Your review is really in-depth and honest I especially like that you share things that went wrong and what you did to fix them. Regards Karl

[@gpsevinsixx5095]

Awesome in depth review that I stumbled on today after having a bit of time to see if there were any reviews outside of Modbot's. I actually ordered this iFast printer two nights ago and will be receiving it today. I didn't realize it would be that much bigger with the additional filament boxes, but I won't be mounting them in the back either to keep the depth to a minimum. I started with an Ender 3 S1 two months ago and the frustrations with it printing more functional parts just wasn't working out with more exotic filaments. So based on the many great features you pointed out, I jumped right to this to fill the needs the little Ender could not, without having to go through many printers or modified customized printer sizes with floppy enclosures (with an attempt at keeping them toasty) to do what this iFast could and have dual extruder setup. We have the Stratasys units at work and those are not available for us to use, so I believe the iFast could work for me. Great indication of the machine's abilities and print quality in your review. I hope the software will get more streamlined as more input is received from future owners. Thanks for the review!

[@croston3dcnc]

Very in-depth review i'm sold.

[@kevinj5989]

Superb review! Thank you!

[@peterschuller2042]

Hi James, great review - excellent job as usual :) I was the lead Mechanical engineer for a major industrial FDM printer company for 10+ years before leaving a few years ago, and have since been looking for an affordable option with a heated chamber (as I'm addicted to large, uniform, flat prints now). My previous employer held the patent for actively heating FDM printer chambers, but that patent expired several years ago and I've been expecting this would come along eventually... I've had the X-MAX from QIDI for a little over a year now, and aside from the absence of the chamber heater have been very pleased with it. The i-fast looks like a great non-industrial option based on my experience with their X-MAX, and with the massive benefits of the heated chamber. I contacted QIDI before seeing your review and they said that the chamber can't always reach 80C and that 60C is recommended. I just wanted to double check with you after you mentioned that it indeed hit 80C without issue. I couldn't find an operating ambient temp spec. from QIDI and assume your room is 70F +/- 10? Thanks again for the review. I've been a subscriber for some time now and always look forward to your videos and common-sense, clear explanations. -Pete

[@mickjagger8621]

Also curious about this. And I didn’t know the patent was expired, i thought they got it extended.

[@stevensmart8868]

Hey James. What a great review. Thanks

[@vincelebel7896]

Hi James, Really great review of this printer compared to others. I got interested in a sightly used Ultimaker S5 but it uses 2.85mm filament and had some other drawbacks compared to this one such as price that discouraged me. I started printing with ABS on a self-converted Dremel 3D20 on glass believe it or not and its amazing how good the parts turn out. But I need a larger build volume now. This printer looks promising. I think i'm ready to pull the trigger thanks to your review. I wondered if you had any other comments after having this I-fast for a year now. Thanks again!

[@JimWhitaker]

This sort of review gives us real information and an expert assessment. It also gives the manufacturer fair comment about the software and the need for changes. Agile software development and/or poor quality control? Overall I reckon they have had very good value from that loan machine.

[@shadowbrookmedia]

Another timely topic. I am refurbing several (GMC PM Griz) 1236 GBL Going thru them mechanically after bubba moved them with a forklift- Hope all he bent up was drip pans and cabinets. With VFD, DRO and digital lead screws these will be real nice little machnies, Great work -keep it up

[@joell439]

James, Thanks for the honest detailed review. Very, very interesting. The actively heated enclosure with air filters sure appears to be the key feature that makes all the other details work so well. Could you please provide another update around the time the Prusa XL starts shipping later this year? The Prusa XL would be about the same price point, and doesn’t have the enclosure. Thank you 🙏

[@izzoriousaxel8807]

This thing has been excellent for me so far, and Qidi provides excellent customer service. I've only been using CFPA6 and polycarbonate on it so far, but I'm confident you can do any material under that no problem with the right settings and opening the door/lid as needed.

[@MrKtmstu]

Great review thank you. Looks like a great option

[@johnzweifel1564]

Hi, great honest review and appreciate all of your videos. I’ve learned a lot of really useful tricks! I have an iFast that I picked up a few weeks ago and am still getting it dialed in. I’m curious if yours there has any slide in the print bed on the y axis? I noticed it while bed leveling but it doesn’t ever seem to layer shift. Maybe with thermal expansion of the bed it tightens up? It comes from the tolerance slop between the bed leveling screws and the frame, I’ve contemplated putting a small bushing in there to eliminate it but it’s not effecting prints soo… Thanks, keep up the good work!

[@jacquesplante9287]

Thanks for the review, I was on the market for something better than my ender in regard of Material capabilities, and your arguments for and against fitted my need so i ordered one.

[@thierryvalentini2594]

Good morning ! can you tell me if wetting nylon x to dissolve the pva supports deforms the nylon? THANKS !

[@tonyurquhart8278]

As always James, that was brilliantly informative. I've been thinking about dipping my toe in the 3D Printing water, so to speak, so I have been really interested to see your '3D' videos. I'd probably start with an entry level machine until I knew just what I wanted to do & whether I'd make reasonable use of it, but this one also looks like a great 'step-up' option for down the track. Thanks again.

[@Clough42]

For people just starting out, I will always recommend something smaller and less expensive. If your budget is small, there are a number of inexpensive machines that are reasonable starting points. If you have the cash, and are willing to pay for a good experience, the Prusa is excellent. It's generally not a great idea to drop a bunch of cash on something if you don't know how much you'll use it or what you'll use it for.

[@hennysu6351]

good review thank you

[@DA-zh9gi]

Excellent review. I don't have a 3d printer and after this review, this looks pretty good to me. Would like the auto-leveling though, but if it holds Z then not a big deal. Your review and effort is appreciated.

[@tgirard123]

Hey James, I just pulled the trigger on the i-fast. I also had a deposit for the Prusa but this really looks like the printer for me. I'm sorry I couldn't use Amazon but I found it for $2100 at another site and couldn't resist, plus, I kinda prefer helping the smaller shops. I have you electronic leadscrew based on your videos and suggestions and couldn't be happier. I really think the printer is gonna be a great addition AND I can sell my 2 flash forge creator printers and my highly modified creality 3D printer. I could never get any great prints with ABS or high temp filaments with any of them. thanks again

[@TheAyrCaveShop]

Excellent review James, I'm not a 3D printer (yet) but still enjoyed learning about them. Looks like a good unit.. ATB....Dean

[@dave_the_bartender4904]

I bought the qidi xmax ive Received IT yesterday and pretty please with the qualité so far!

[@michaeljuan98]

We have a qidi printer at our makerspace and for constant use it has a couple of issues. The the ribbon cables wear out, the steppers were disconnected when shipped. There is some skipping on the extruder after a year of use. otherwise it's fairly reliable.

[@rixxxer5460]

which model?

[@michaeljuan98]

@@rixxxer5460 xplus

[@Engineerd3d]

When I built my old delta I built it with heated chamber in mind. As long as the temp got over 45c or so the parts were very flat. The bed material for abs is very interesting.

[@drivenba]

Great video as always, I really enjoy your take on 3D printing from a machinist’s viewpoint - I feel like that’s not too common throughout the more well known 3D printing channels. I’ve researched printers for a few years now and this is the first in-depth discussion on what a difference the active chamber heating makes for desirable engineering filaments. I think Qidi will be the first of many upcoming hobbyist printers with active chamber heating now that the patent has expired (surprised they haven’t come out faster actually) Thanks again!

[@KristopherGrove]

Great review, James!

[@anthonyp81979]

Great review James!! I had never heard of Qidi before your review. Your honesty in all of your reviews is greatly appreciated. I hate KZbin creators that receive a free or discounted product for review, and they have nothing but absolute praise for the item. It's extremely rare that a product and its software are completely perfect. I also appreciate that you used the printer extensively for 6 weeks before reviewing it. I know it takes a lot to create a thorough and high quality review like this. If a creator is willing to put all that time and effort into a quality review, I think they deserve to get the product for free. In return, I think the creator owes their audience a truthful review. A lot of creators are worried if they say something negative about a product, they won't receive future products to review. In my opinion, if a company is scared to have someone review their product honestly, it speaks volumes to the real quality of the product and the company. I feel like you have always given us honest and detailed reviews of the products in your videos. You also provide follow ups if you find new features or issues with a product you already reviewed. In the rare case you err, you are man enough to admit your mistake and the correction you made. That speaks volumes to the man you are, and it shows that you actually care about your viewers. I think you hit the nail on the head with this review. No 3D printer is going to have every imaginable feature, especially at this price point. It's about finding the printer that checks the most wants and needs off your personal checklist. Like you, I have been looking at the Prusa XL. Unfortunately, I don't have the programming background you have. That's why I appreciate the simplicity of the Prusa Slicer and the extensive Prusa tutorials and community. I would love to see you review a multi head Prusa XL once they become available. After reading comments on your Fusion 360 and 3D printing videos, I think a large percentage of your viewers are in awe of your proficiency with them both. I would love for you to some day create a tutorial series for Fusion 360 that covers everything from getting started to complex/animated drawings. Thank you again for providing us with high quality, thorough and honest videos. I look forward to your new video every Saturday.

[@Clough42]

I've thought about doing a whole beginner series on CAD and 3D printing. The people who appreciate those videos really appreciate them, but I find that most people searching for 3D printing videos want the magic settings to make everything work, and have little desire to really dig in and understand.

[@anthonyp81979]

@@Clough42 You are absolutely correct. It seems like more and more people are looking for an "EASY" button for everything in life. It would be great if there was an "EASY" setting that worked with every filament, printer, environment, etc, but once you spend a little time printing you realize that there is no "one size fits all" setting for FDM printing. Part of the fun of 3D printing is the tinkering and tweaking to get the best possible results with the equipment you have. If you don't enjoy a challenge, 3D printing probably isn't for you. I know there are a lot of people that would really appreciate it if you did a CAD tutorial series. Unfortunately only a very small percentage of the 99% of people that appreciate and benefit from your videos will leave you positive comments. Meanwhile almost all of the remaining 1% will let you know how everything you said was wrong, that you have no idea what you are doing, and how they could do it 10x better than you. I'm glad you don't let the naysayers get to you. Your sense of humor, attention to details, and the way you explain how and why you do things makes you one of the top hobby machinists on KZbin, in my opinion. Keep up the great work, and remember that there is a silent majority out there that would love to see a Clough42 CAD Tutorial series.

[@g.tucker8682]

@@Clough42 I sure hope that series comes to fruition! Can't wait…

[@shrievy9923]

I would love to see a CAD and 3D printing series, I for one would like to know the settings that can be tweaked for the best outcome. 3D CAD fusion is definitely on my agenda to get to know and learn! Look forward to them if it happens.

[@NimnoXVideos]

@@Clough42 From an engineer who is looking to get into 3d printing in the usual "going to have to go way down the rabbit hole to be satisfied" way, this is something I'd actively/directly support

[@KevinBrowder]

always cool to see an in depth review of a professional level device, I'm still super happy with my voron 2.4 but still its good to see what more professional offerings are doing. (FYI im not sure that actively heated chambers are that necessary for ABS, I'm getting around 55-60C with justa chamber fan and mostly acrylic enclosure and don't really warping, guessing the new prusa will do ok too)

[@Clough42]

Prusa has a reputation for being very well tuned.

[@KevinBrowder]

@@Clough42 yeah, and honestly this is a massive deal. Today Prussia doesn’t have particularly impressive hardware and their prices are kinda meh, but with their tuning, reliability and ecosystem they’ve got a pretty compelling thing going. If this new tool changer platform they’ve got turns out well I think the < 10000$ professional fdm industry is in for a shock.

[@nsboost]

@@KevinBrowder All the specs in the world don’t mean much if it doesn’t print well. The prusa just works. I have a few printers… and it was a long time before I could justify $750 on a Prusa tbh… but I’m very happy with it… it’s just $750… not $1000+. So for a quality machine with great ease of use… I don’t think you can go wrong

[@rb3d797]

For printing large and high parts it is still much more reliable.

[@ericwilner1403]

Very informative! I'd actually looked at the I-Fast earlier this year, when pondering a newer-bigger-better FDM printer than the museum piece I'd been using. The feature list was impressive, but I knew little of the company, it didn't have quite the build dimensions I was looking for (I really wanted 400mm on one axis), and, with all the nice features I didn't really need, the price was up there in entry level capital equipment territory, where I had more of a glorified toy budget. (I ended up snagging an Ender-6 at a somewhat reduced price, knowing that I'll have to tinker with it and add various upgrades - but, then, I'm not likely to put it to revenue-generating use any time soon, so I couldn't justify spending considerably more money to get something all tricked out and ready to run.)

[@Dominick13777]

I created a 3d printed prosthetic call the Dexterity hand. Also, I've been looking for a printer that I could recommend to those wanting to create the hand. We need parts that are durable and create a safe and reliable prosthetic. This printer looks very promising. Thank you for this great review!

[@jstro-hobbytech]

you're a multifaceted man that impresses me more and more. not that I'm important. you're like an electronic/electrical/industrial/mechanical master engineer.

[@abmbarry]

Hello James, Thank you again for such a detailed and authentic review. I have a CNC Mill, however, 3D printing is not an area that I have had any experience to date. This printer seems to tick my previously un-ticked boxes? I see this level of performance as: "Yup, I can certainly see that this would be a very useful addition to my workshop. Mmmm Time to start the "Learning Curve" Many thanks again Jim. Barry M. Australia.

[@dennismacwilliams196]

Good video Thank's for the real good review !

[@UncleKennysPlace]

I've avoided getting a 3D printer because most of the output is crap. This thing puts out parts I would happily use. Hope James gets a commish ...

[@xpim3d]

Nice review! Seems pretty good for the price point

[@love2breathe737]

Expellant job on the review answered pretty much all the questions I have on the twin heads functionality. I think for my main product line I would go with 2 of the single head printers rather than the dual head, which to me would be more cost efective.

[@bernardwill7196]

hi James , so I may use your forename, you do it right with your product review. I have learn a lot . Greetings from germany.

[@lieber1230]

Excellent review👍

[@grassroots9304]

It would be helpful for those of us considering various 3D printers to know definitively which of the items you mention yours coming with come with the units "as sold", e.g. the filament reel holders, different build/print plates, high and low temp print heads. As it sounds like Qidi gave you the unit in the hopes you'd share it favorably w your viewers, it's not unrealistic to believe they may have "sweetened the pot" to you by shipping you accessories the rest of us would not get at the "MSRP" of $2,500 you mention in the video.

[@JFK3-1]

Here because I bought one and want to get familiar. It arrives tomorrow, but I wont be able to get into it until next weekend. I'm excited.

[@CorneliuTicu]

Great review!

[@rbyt2010]

Thanks for the excellent review, James. I've been considering something like this - something that works with a wide variety of materials without an extraordinary amount of fettling. I think they only unanswered (unanswerable?) question is whether the software support would be as good for non-reviewers as it has been for you. ...of course if you get all the kinks worked out for us, it's a non-issue :)

[@Clough42]

That's a fair question. I don't know. I also don't know if everything I received with the test unit is included with the retail units.

[@larry527az3]

@@Clough42 James, I recently bought one of these because of your review and I can confirm that they have been an excellent company to deal with. They've answered everyone of my questions and concerns and always respond within a day. Coming from China I couldn't ask for more. Btw, my first ever print with ABS (I've done thousands of PLA prints on my CR-10) turned out fantastic, not perfect of course but better than my CR10 does in PLA and I haven't tuned or tweaked my settings yet so hopefully it will get better. Also, as a side note, my printer came with two dual head extruders, one low temp (PLA etc) and one high temp (ABS etc). Unfortunately I had to order a single head extruder for those times I want to print using the full volume it offers: 360x250y320z single head vs 330x250y320z dual head volume. PS: My dry box didn't come with the rubber bands you showed, did you buy them separately?

[@Clough42]

@@larry527az3 mine were on the boxes when I unpacked them. It was a review unit, so I can't speak for the retail offering.

[@workingclassinteriors9101]

@@larry527az3 where did you order the single extruder?

[@yellowcrescent]

Seems like a pretty solid printer (minus the software issues.. not being able to interact with the UI while uploading seems like a system design/programming issue.. lol). Didn't realize how big of a change having an enclosure made, especially for ABS. Was thinking about getting the Prusa XL when it comes out-- I've had the MK3S for a few years and it has been problem-free, but I do find that I wish it had a bigger print volume.

[@rixxxer5460]

Here in Australia they are hard to get & the price is around $3500 au ( incl shipping , dutys,tax ,etc) ,im a novice at 3D printing , i only ordered it for Product Prototyping as im becoming a product developer/Inventor , ive researched so many 3D printers & alot of people told me to get a ender 3 to learn on but you need lots of upgraded parts to do things that i want , i wanted an all in one machine where i didnt have to buy multiple machines to run some of the filaments i want to run . I wanted the X-CF Pro but Qidi had none available & to import one from china ended up costing similar to an i-Fast ,l so ordered an i-fast through amazon 2 weeks ago . i plan to be running ASA to start & get into Carbon/nylon. Good review thanks

[@jimruddy6083]

Wow, you weren't kidding about a deep dive! Great descriptions and I especially liked the comparisons with the results from your other printers. Since you mentioned the video on replacing the drill press motor with a VFD and new motor, did you finish or abandon that project? I am curious because it looks like the head on my 30 year old Delta drill press was cast in the same factory as your Jet and the switch box looks identical.

[@Clough42]

Abandoned is such a strong word. More like distracted. All the parts are still waiting for me to finish it.

[@jimruddy6083]

@@Clough42 I very much understand "distracted"!

[@ALMXx317]

Hi, does the chamber contain the toxic fumes from Nylon or CF? Relatively new to printing stronger materials like these.

[@RobytheFlorentine]

Hi, it seems a very intersting printer. I have a Ender 5 plus and I had a LOT of problems. I was close to throw it away (I wouldnt sell it as it would be unfair for the new buyer). Then I have solved it with the transformation to a direct drive with MICRO SWISS. NOW I am SUPER happy, but of course it's open housing. Your new printer seems to have that additional point that mine is missing. Great video.

[@Clough42]

The Ender 3 and Ender 5 are favorites of beginners. It's kind of a catch-22, though. They're good base printers if you tinker and get them running well, but the beginner isn't necessarily prepared to figure out and solve the issues.

[@remocampagna8780]

Thank you for doing this review. I have used the Qidi X-max for a year or so and it has been fantastic but as you say the software lets it down but I know that every time I come back in the morning that the print will be there without exception. I have been wrestling with buying I-FAST but for the same money I could build a better machine with a bigger build plate that would print much faster and if I use IDEX heads and only need half the bed size it effectively allows me reduce a five hour print to 22.5 minutes as I would be producing 2 components at a time. However after watching your review I have been reminded how good QIDI printers are.

[@Clough42]

All of the IDEX printers I looked at claimed to be able to print mirrored or duplicate parts simultaneously, but when I looked deeper, they could only do it practically with a raft, since they're compensating for the two nozzle heights in software, and there was no mechanical way to align them to print well at the same time without the raft to take up the slack.

[@remocampagna8780]

@@Clough42 I was unaware of the limitations that you mention, now I will have to investigate further. I have decided to buy the I-Fast so I can use it immediately and take my time and build the mother of all printers. Thanks for your input.

[@cwgreen1938]

James, I really enjoy your videos and this one is no different. That printer is a humm dinger but I could never afford one like that. From your evaluation of that printer it sounds like it would do you a good job.

[@DailyFrankPeter]

What about part cooling? On print head closeups I've noticed it's only from one side and sometimes not even 100% zeroed on the nozzle, did you notice quality issues on overhangs on the back side of the print?

[@David_Best]

James, this is an outstanding review. Thanks for doing all the research. Looks to me like this would be a better choice for me than the Prussian XL I was considering. Much appreciated. I continue to be impressed with your dedication to understanding all the minutia. How much RAM is left in your brain? 😉

[@stacibare8896]

I watched ur video what is the name and version of the slicer software u are using that came on the flash drive? I didn't get the flash drive with mine

[@markhoward3851]

Great video. I'm interested in the box you printed. I print a small black abs part similar in size. It's a chain/belt guard for a small dc motor. I made my outside corners square. I would like them rounded but I could never get good bed adhesion, or if there were supports, I couldn't' remove them. I'd be interested in your print settings, speed, temp and supports.

[@stevegrise1571]

Thank you for this really usefull very in depth review. Your usage of 3D printer is similar to what we use it for and your criterias seem to be much the same as our criterias. I have been running a Stratasys Fortus 250mc for almost 7 years at the office. I printed a lot of different parts but always in ABS. First, we use the Starasys ABS+ and a year later, we tried successfully the Argyle ABS+ spools. In time, we were able to reprogram (refill) the EEPROM needed to operate and I made see-trough windows in the spools's cartdrige so that we came to be able to use all the filament on the spool regardless of the EEPROM quantity indication. We were able to use filaments from other brands (much less expensive than Stratasys and more affordable than Argyle and Triton 3D) but only a few were good. Stratasys machine are almost full automatic so when it works, it works but when there are problems there isn't much you can do... that was pretty much frustrating. The last year we were checking what to do, what 3D printer to buy to replace our aging Fortus 250mc. Lately, I have been looking the different 3D printer for ABS on the market for the office but also for me at home. I plan to operate a small part time business. I need quite much the same 3D printer... a reliable small/medium production of mostly small to medium parts in ABS and maybe a few parts in TPU or similar "flexible" material. This QiDi i-fast seems to be the best option for us. But I am a bit concerned about using either breakaway support or soluble support (Aquasys 120 or PVA or other similar). My main products need support... some of them with soluble and others, would be fine with just a breakaway support. It seems these support materials (water soluble) must be printed with the "cold" extruder set. Would ABS print well with the "cold" extruder set ?

[@Clough42]

I did all of my ABS printing with the low temperature extruders. And you're right: Ionic will not print at all in the high-temp extruder. It jams and escapes the feed path.

[@stevegrise1571]

@@Clough42 thanks for the information. I am pretty convinced that it is the printer that I was looking for.

[@smallnuts2]

I hope this is so much better than a ender 3. Nothing but leveling issues. Hows are parts accessories when things break on this?

[@michaelrademacher2986]

Can I use SolidWorks and or Mastercam for designing parts for this printer, really like this unit.

[@ER-zv1nr]

Thanks!

[@mhdm]

At 28:29 and later you attribute a lot of the heavy lifting to the heated chamber. I wonder if other factors (all well executed by QIDI) are more important: 1) PEI pebbled surface 2) evenly heated bed 3) (a) chamber. Can you try printing the same part, same settings, same top cover, only with the chamber heat (and its associated fan) off? The chamber will still get warm due to the heated bed, but should save on waiting for chamber heat at startup and power.

[@neilgillies6943]

Really excellent video. Adding an actively heated chamber is a _very_ simple and cheap option to DIY, so that would bring Prusa XL etc into the frame 😁

[@Clough42]

I would think if you're going to put the electronics inside an 80C heated chamber, you would have to design for that.

[@neilgillies6943]

@@Clough42 Yes, of course, the main electronics would prefer to be mounted externally 'in the shade' 😁

[@BrucePotter]

Could you mill the surfaces of the larger parts to improve surface texture and text definition?

[@spokehedz]

That rubber band to seal up the 'gap' in the plastic drybox for the filament is really quite brilliant. Cheap, effective, simple. I love the stuff that we get from the "global" marketplace, but I also have that same issue with how it seems that the end users are the beta-testers in a lot of ways. Software and hardware.

[@steveu235]

Thanks for another interesting video.

[@mkhmkh1266]

I am very interested in printing parts in ABS or PETG and then printing TPU gaskets in place. Have you done anything like this? Now that you have had the machine a while with whatever firmware updates, and now that the price is down to $1,600, do you think this is a good printer for production purposes as described?

[@jokersdance199]

Hello James, I purchased an i-fast a few months ago and I recently decided to purchase some new nozzles for the low temp extruders but they don't fit into the heat block threads. They're too big. My 7mm wrench that fits the original nozzles is too small to fit the new ones that I bought (MK10 Nozzle for 3D Printer, 18 Pcs M7 Brass Extruder Head Hotend Nozzles 0.2mm, 0.3mm, 0.4mm, 0.5mm, 0.6mm, 0.8mm, 1.0mm fit 1.75mm Filament). Can you please tell me what size/type I should have purchased? I can't find any definitive answer online. Thank you.

[@al.r9280]

Just curious, do you think a novice with firmware would have much difficulty figuring out they were having a software problem rather than setup? I like what I see with this printer, but haven't really looked into the trouble shooting end of things that much yet. You do a great job of making a detailed video interesting, hope you keep at it.

[@tee4222]

I’ve owned a qidi x-max for about three years now and I only just learned how to pronounce qidi… I definitely think this machine is very cool but I’ve heard a lot of gripes in the reviews that it’s not great for 24/7 printing as things break fairly often. I’m not sure how legitimate of a concern that actually is, but it’s got me leaning towards going another level up and getting an ultimaker s5.

[@immersiveaudionft2203]

Great review

[@richhooker1263]

Hello and thank you for the great review! I was wondering if any of the updates have allowed use non proprietary slicers? Such as Cura?

[@Clough42]

They claim to support Simplify3D, and I believe the proprietary slicer is actually Cura.

[@ADBBuild]

27:25 If you design your part to have wall thicknesses that are divisible by your extrusion width, you can eliminate gaps while also turning off gap fill. This is assuming either your outside or inside dimension can change slightly.

[@NabilTouchie]

Cura 5 now features adaptable width line, so it fills those gaps in a great way

[@Sam_596]

Printing a vernier scale for nozzle alignment is clever

[@3D_Printing]

Great and detailed video, thanks