I've Been Keeping a Secret | QIDI Q1 Pro 3D Printer Review 

Appreciate the fact that you are an engineering channel that happens to incorporate 3D printers in that process. Your feedback on real world use cases, dimensional accuracy, and finish mean far more to me than some career reviewer creating baubles and useless trinkets ad nauseum. I want to know you were able to create something and what came out of the printer was usable without having to spend countless hours tinkering with the settings to get it that way.

I'm a big fan of the growing transparency RU-vidrs have been giving us viewers about sponsorships. What I'm not a big fan of though (which doesn't apply to James here), is that some will say "I got this product for free, but this is NOT a sponsored video". I heavily disagree with that statement. They get a product, usually one that costs hundreds if not thousands of bucks, for free, AND they have a product that probably isn't even available yet that they can make a video about. That seems like a pretty big sponsorship to me. It doesn't pay the bills directly, but it helps them save and earn money.

Well you went and did it James, you made me pull the trigger and buy one 😉😉. Actually I've been watching your channel for some time and I respect and enjoy your methodology on projects, reviews etc. I've watched your printer reviews and could never make the decision. You're review, the options and price point final got me over the bump, thx.

Great "review" as usual. Really appreciate your approach and style in these videos.

Those GF ABS parts look phenomenal. I think this is at the top of my list for printers I'm actually considering buying now. The X-Plus 3 was on the list before, but this seems even a step better. The main reason I want a new printer is an enclosure and the ability to print more advanced materials. Speed and Klipper features are nice too.

Hi 👋 that was a great introduction to the machine, thank you for sharing your experience with the printer,

James, thanks for the review. I'm in Australia and ordered one as soon as I saw your review, it arrived this morning, and it's already put to work. I only started 3d last year, when I saw your review on the A1 mini, so I was happy to take your recommendation a second time. Hopefully you don't review another printer in the next few months, as I'm not sure I can justify yet another printer.

I have 4 AMS units connected to my X1C. In my opinion other companies NEED to enter that space and make something to compete for their own products. I can’t even consider a different printer if it doesn’t have the ability to store, automatically feed and keep dry filament.

Great video. My first printer was a Qidi iFast. It was a steep learning curve for a noob, but customer service was spectacular. On a K1 now, and this looks interesting, I may try one.

Great video! You keep a nice tidy shop. Well done!

We just got an a1 mini for our bakery. Holy crap have printers come a long way in 5 years! I am extremely happy with that purchase, and we actually prefer the smaller size.

I'm really digging the look of this new Qidi printer. The older ones felt a bit cheap to be honest. And this one exceeds expectations with a great print quality and attractive pricing. Big shoutout to Qidi for stepping up their game!

I love your printer “reviews” you provide the exact point of view I’m looking for on them

Mine will be delivered by the end of May. I wanted to get a printer after years and years of just watching content about them. This was the one. It can print almost all materials, has a great set of features (like the electric chair heating system) overall and is priced so uniquely for its feature set.

Looks great. My first printer was a QIDI. If this was released mid last year I might have bought it when I wanted to upgrade my printer, but now it is a P1S, with which I am extremely happy as well. If they release a larger version of this printer (I know the Xmax 3 exists but it is missing a camera and this one seems more dialed in), I might buy it as a larger addition to my P1S.

Excellent review thanks for the link!

Thanks for the review.

I never printed or needed multimaterial ever. But recently I watched a video where the support was printed using a different filament type and it peeled right off. For ABS/ASA (any other filament is pretty much useless for everyday applications) it is necessary to have heated bed+chamber and for parts to come out perfect the multimaterial option is a must have too. But it was good to see how strong the bambu team kicked the door on 3d printers and made others produce sub 500$ "starting to be usable" quality.

I appreciated this review. I see availability in Australia isn't until May, so no pre-order from me as by then some other manufacturer will probably release their new model. I'm reminded of the MS-DOS PC market in the 90's 🙂

The bambu lab printers don't do 256 x 256 mm printing, even though they say so. You have to print an adaptor and tell it not to use the filament cutter to use that front left corner... So, print volume is about the same on the QIDI as it is on a stock Bambu Lab X1 or other printer.

Thanks for the review, love all your videos! Would you say the quality and speed of prints are comparable to the X1C?

Damn those prints look exceptional

heated chamber? nice

Excellent review.

would love to see Qidi make an Xmax size with either Idex or at least multi material ability. Something to compete with the Midinga 400

Great video! I was trying to decide between x-plus 3, Adventurer 5m pro and the P1S. Now I have this one to look at too. So I will be printing parts for RC airplanes and around the woodshop. I will need to print glass fiber nylon, abs cf, tpu, pet cf and petg. I don't want to tinker with it. I want to print parts for other hobbies, not get a 3D printer hobby. Which do you recommend? Max budget for printer is $700 since I will need to buy a filament dryer and filament.

1:48 auto z offset and redundancy which I appreciate.

Great review! Just a note on the lack of “instant print cancel”. This is actually a Klipper limitation / quirk. I run into it occasionally in my custom home built Klipper powered printer. The issue with it acting oddly after a cancel during a bed level operation is also Klipper related. I usually restart the Klipper service from the menu to ensure I don’t have issues for the next attempt. I am surprised they went with the Fluidd UI over Mainsail though, the former doesn’t get anywhere near the same level of developer support and IMO isn’t as intuitive to use.

Seems like a good and fair review, thank you. Do you have any views on the nozzle cleaner and PETG? Could that be used to wipe the nozzle on every layer change? I have 2 Qidi machines (iFast and X-Plus), and PETG is a pain for accumulating around the nozzle.

James. Newb here looking for my first 3D printer. I’ve seen your reviews of the X-CF Pro and Carbon fiber printing is what I want to do, and I considered that one as my first printer. Then comes along the Q1-Pro. In your opinion, since you have experience with both, which one would you choose and why? Thanks for your time. Keep up the great work!

Two complaints that I saw Angus make over on Maker's Muse, were that the door has no (or not obvious) handle for opening it, and his concern over removing the reverse bowden to clip the filament when reloading, specifically as that is likely to cause failure of the fastener for the tube. I don't know if there are differences in the samples they released, but he noted that the end of the revers bowden, at the spool had a fitting on it, like it may have a futuer for either an mmu of some sort, or possibly a dry box for the filament, possibly both. I'd love to get one, but I'm still working out how to get health insurance after being retired from my career. 3dPrinting may be a part of my future income stream, but I'm not currently counting on that. In any case I have a benched Creality K1 That still has extrusion issues after replacing the extruder stepper, may get that fixed with the new hot end, but that looks 'interesting' to fix. And I've got a CR-10S for large format, and an Ender 3v3 SE for PLA and PET-G variants. It claims it can print other materials, may try TPU, but not impressed with doing anything with ASA or ABS while the printer isn't in a vented (to outside) enclosure as long as it's in my "man cave." The room where I have my gaming and streaming setup as well as an overloaded electronics bench, synthesizer, and an entire corner that my lack of control over clutter has made effectively unusable. So the K1 may be on the bench for a while.

What kind of Nozzles do they use, are they proprietary? 👍👍

I enjoyed the slightly sinister "you wouldn't want that" 😆

Nice. What's the workflow from Fusion to its software?

My flashforge 5m has been amazing and i would love them to just release a bigger version. Do you think there will be a ‘max’ version of this??

Got 2 p1s and 1 p1p, but with that price, it's worth checking out. Just ordered one.

Looking forward to a Q1 Max ;-)

I recently bought a Q1 Pro and some QIDI ABS-GF filament to test out. I found that, using the pre-baked settings, there is a very sharp elephants foot in the first couple layers. Also, on the Califlower it hit the outer dimensions within 0.02mm but the inner dimensions were 0.1-0.2mm undersized. Did you see either of these in your testing and did you need to correct for them to get good prints?

I've got the X-Max3 and though there was quite a learning curve coming from a bunch of last generation printers, I'm pretty much ecstatic. The heated chamber makes complex ABS geometry a snap, especially if you need some fan to handle overhangs. I personally hope Qidi brings out a large IDEX printer similar to the I-Fast. If they come out with something in the 400x400x400 or 500x500x500 range maintaining the heated enclosure (70C would be great) they can name their price. I'll buy it.

Looks okay but Ive had really good results using the X1C with one of those small resin printer heaters. Combined with the heated bed and enclosed printer its quite easy to get near 60c chamber which makes printing ABS a dream

great review!!! very helpful

Wait. is it Saturday already?

First on an unusual time for a Clough42 video.

Can I still create my gcode through cura, and use this printer?

Właśnie ją testuje. Na mnie robi dobre wrażenie:)

I do cosplay, and like to print big props. I have an A1 for PLA, and tried the K1 max for abs but it keeps warping on big prints, do you think I should consider the q1 pro for big abs prints like swords ? I think the warp will occur on a P1S too

The affiliate link for the QIDI Pro doesn't seem to be working. I'm interested in buying this printer and wanted to make sure you got the "credit" since it was your video that convinced me it was the right one for me. Can you repost it? Thanks James, love the channel!

Were you able to use orca wirelessly?

Did you print flexible stuff with this Qidi? This one could be good to replace my old klipperized ender 3 s1 pro. Or it could be perfect to sit between the ender and x1c. And maybe Voron 0.2.

Looking to upgrade from my sidewinder, would people recommend waiting for something like this or purchase a Xplus 3 instead? I know there are obvious issues with size difference and the auto levelling etc. Keeping my sidewinder for bigger prints but QIDI seems like a great cheaper alternative to Bambu for a fast printer. Only 399 in the UK on the early bird compared to 519 for the xplus 3

"I need another printer like I need another hole in my head." 😂 Well! If you wanna offload a printer then I suppose I could be convinced to take one off your hands for ya. 😅

James, what is your opinion of the glass filled ABS compared to the carbon filled nylon? I am still experimenting with filaments for structural fixtures/components and would love to get your input.

Ugh I can't make up my mind between buying this or getting the Phrozen Arco....the Arco has a 300x300 build volume but its not heated and the nozzle is rated to 300C vs the QIDI at 350C...both run klipper.

I hope they get a better spool holder before they ship out to those of us who pre ordered. every video i've seen on this printer that and no handle on the front door have been the biggest complaints.

It has AMS in the machines part number, so maybe a multi colour system is on the way ?, or maybe that's just a coincidence 🤔.

Actually I don't care 3D printers nor plan to buy one but enjoy watching all of your reviews :)

I did hope there was a new Bambu lab printer.

I bet they're not going to send you another printer. The print quality is really nice though.

After the improvement, all Qidi are equivalent to or even better than Bambu, due to the space heating, 120° heating bed and 350° on the nozzle. And all of this for less money, including top service.

Early bird + 5% off for first time Qidi customers brings this printer to $450… What other printer can do everything this does for that price? Thanks for the review!

Would you say this or the k1c is better?

This one doesn't have a bunch of cloud services pushed on it either, that was a big thing putting me off the bambu and attracting me to this. Yes I know you can use bambu without the cloud stuff, you just throw out a bunch of utility. Here, no cloud and the same utility.

Can you compare it to the X max3? (disregard the price difference) Print quality, Warm up time etc

Wow I did not expect a heated chamber for 500$

I used your affiliate link to buy an Bambu X1 Carbon with the AMS many months ago after watching your review, and although I haven't had enough free time to really use it enough yet, I haven't had a single failed print on it. I hope you got your kickback for that. RU-vid costs me too much money LOL.

Vector3D mentioned that the version of Klipper in his review unit is an old, outdated version that cannot be updated. Do you know if Kiauh can uninstall that version of Klipper to reinstall vanilla Klipper?

James, whats your thoughts on the possibility of an making an addon filament cutter? Do you think its feasible for someone to fabricate? I feel thats the biggest downside if this printer with otherwise a ton of upside.

Wait, is it Saturday already?

I dont understand what qidi is doing. This seems to undercut the plus 3? Which one is better.

Just got my P1S Yesterday….

I feel like I make this same comment on every heated chamber 3D printer video, but I really want one of these mass manufacturers to make a printer with a 90C+ chamber and preferably a 410C+ extruder. Even with a standard 300C extruder, the difference between printing large (non-fiber filled) polycarbonate pieces at 60C and 90C chamber temps is night and day in terms of warping, and 410C+ would open up the world of almost all filaments. The stratasys heated chamber/bellows patent has expired, and I'd buy an open source Method-X equivalent in a minute. There's really nothing in the 90C+ chamber market for under $5000 (Funmat HT or Makerbot Method-X, which is a poor man's stratasys).

Is it Saturday night?

Now have a dilemma with this or a p1s 😂

if you want to tinker and never print more than PLA maybe PETG, there's always the ender series, with a decent profile it can go pretty fast with decent results ... that's what I have and I think for someone who is on the fence with getting a 3d printer it might be a good first choice. For those of us with more cad experience and more uses outside of printing trinkets I agree there's options, IMO this would be a good choice for my 2nd 3d printer ... but as little as I use my little 200$ ender 3 im not in the market (don't get me wrong when I use a printer I use it a ton ... then for a while it sits there being a dust collecting table weight)

With this printer, I believe Qidi has missed an obvious opportunity to correct the complete mess with filament changing and filament runout that is long overdue. This problem could have easily been corrected by reintroducing the cutter knife from the initial printers introduced in 2023.

Right, 'secret'.

One of the conflicts of interest that arise from getting a "free" anything is that it is likely the very best that them can make. One you buy may of may NOT be the best one. Consumer Reports gets around this by buying items as an average buyer would.

👍

Why dont they come up with a better test piece than that silly boat?

Printer Info comes to late for me. After i have to send the A1 back, i buy an K1C. Maybe i choose this machine, but i didnt know anything about it.

It's crazy how much 3d printing world is evolving we now have "typical" sub 15 minute perfectly printed 3d benchies

At 0:23… How did you get the first hole in your head? 😛

For me the Q1 have 3 problems: - risk of electricity shock a the 110/230v build space heater - not a Vanilla Klipper - the Klipper version is over a year old. 😢

why is he staring at me..... 12:54

3:34 may be you should say something about QiDi not attributing the Slicer origin to Prusa. It's against the software license.

Cabinet is way to bulky for a small print volume.

I love these shill videos. Too bad the scooter video disappeared. Did it catch on fire?

I wouldn’t buy a 3D Printer without AMS/MMU in 2024. Other than that the chamber heater and enclosure makes it a good printer.

Why would they even offer a high speed printer with no multi color option ?

I,m First!

Remember, everything you send to the bambu cloud goes right to china, and if you don't use the cloud, it limits the options you can access on the printer.

You are walking a VERY fine line between being respected for your reviews or ending up being another RU-vid shill.

$300 more than my 2016 Monoprice

Well I definitely can't recommend this printer to anyone, I got burned on mine. Out of the box it immediately locks up if I select the Folder menu option. There's a newer firmware but it won't find/install it from the USB drive. I've successfully printed one test job from QIDI Slicer but the printer screen switches to the Folder menu locking up again and I have to power cycle to get it back. So far QIDI Tech is giving me the run around and I'm getting that sick feeling in my gut that I've been had. My recommendation is to steer far a wide away from Q1 Pro until it matures hopefully. It looks like I'm out $600 on this printer and I certainly can't afford to invest in another brand. You've been warned!

It's not nice keeping secrets. Shame on you. You did not mention anything about the nozzles. Are they proprietary? Available?

If you were given a free printer and get commission on sales then you were paid.

You need to upgrade to Phrozen Arco with AMS not this shitty chinese privacy disaster Bambulab nonsense overpriced crap.

Somehow they refuse to send me one for review, I do not trust your reviews brother.