The X-Smart 3D printer is a great introduction to 3D printing that won’t break the budget. From children to hobbyists and professionals, this printer can tackle a multitude of projects. QIDI Tech released an updated X-Smart model with improved specs that make this printer one of the best QIDI Tech 3D printers to choose from.
Let’s take a look at the specs:
X-Smart Technical Specifications
| Build Volume: | 170 mm x 150 mm x 150 mm (6.69 in x 5.90 in x 5.90 in) |
| Build Speed: | 60 mm - 180 mm per second |
| Connectivity: | Windows - LAN, USB Drive, Wi-Fi / MAC OS - USB Drive |
| Software: | QIDI Print, Simplify3D, Cura, |
| Print Bed: | Heated, removable, flexible, magnetic |
| Leveling: | Manual, assisted |
| Build materials: | PLA, ABS, TPU, PETG |
| Filament diameter: | 1.75 mm |
| Nozzle Diameter: | .40 mm |
| File Types: | obj, stl, jpg, png, g-code |
| Display: | 3.5 in LCD Touchscreen |
Design & Features
The QIDI Tech X-Smart 3D printer is an easy-to-use printer with a nice sized build area that prints with a wide variety of filaments, non-proprietary filaments included. It’s a fully enclosed unit with a full metal support system for increased stability. It has a sleek and colorful design that make it a nice addition to most labs and offices. QIDI Tech also used aviation-grade aluminum and CNC machining milled structure, with a single 10 mm Z-axis rail, to ensure the print quality minimizes vibrations.
The newly developed single extruder comes equipped with a turbofan that blows on four sides for better cooling throughout the print process. This is essential when printing with different types of filaments that have varying heat settings.
The settings for the filament profiles, and the printer, can be found on the menu. The menu’s tilted 3.5-inch color touchscreen display is responsive, user-friendly, and supports multiple languages. It has the option to monitor the print process with a real-time build progress update, a pause and resume print feature, assisted manual leveling, and the printer’s internet and Wi-Fi settings.
The menu also accesses controls to toggle the light inside of the build area. There is a removable print bed inside the QIDI 3D printer’s build area. It’s held in place with magnets and can be heated to high temperatures for printing with exotic filaments and materials like ABS. The print bed is also flexible, allowing it to be bent repeatedly for easier removing of builds. When leveling the bed, there’s a single rod in the back of the build area to raise the bed and four screw nuts on each corner to level each point.
Printing
Printing designs with the QIDI Tech 3D printer can be done within minutes of unpacking the printer. The covers enclosing the build area can be removed, but it’s best to keep them attached when printing with filaments that need a controlled environment temperature. The precision of the direct extruder’s nozzle produces high quality builds with minimum artifacts. Be sure to pay attention to the amount of filament being used as there isn’t a filament runout detection sensor.
Printing can be noisy with the QIDI Tech X-Smart due to the large turbofan. It’s also worth noting that the operating system being used determines how files can be transferred to the printer. Windows operating systems can send print jobs via ethernet cable and Wi-Fi, along with loading them from the USB drive. MAC systems can only load print designs from the USB drive.
You’ll want to use the printer on a clean surface too as the intake fans and vents are on the bottom of the machine. It can pull in dust and debris that will cause issues during the build process.
Packing & Assembly
The QIDI Tech X-Smart comes assembled and ready to use within minutes of unpacking. Be sure to remove all the zip ties used to secure the moving parts during shipping. Some are located in the build area.
Here’s what comes inside the box:
- 1 x X-Smart 3D printer
- 1 x Power cord
- 1 x Sample roll of PLA filament
- 1 x Metal spool holder
- 1 x Ethernet cable
- 1 x Extra magnetic build plate
- 1 x Instruction manual
- 1 x Direct drive filament guide tube
- 2 x Side panel covers
- 1 x Glue Stick
- 1 x Toolkit that includes extra parts and wrenches
- 1 x Carrying case for the toolkit
- 1 x Scraper
- 1 x USB drive
- 1 x Screwdriver
Customer Support
QIDI Tech has a dedicated tech support team that guarantees a response in 12- 24 hours. The company boasts an infinite tech support service for the life of the printer. There’s a return policy with the retailers allowing users to return any defective printer within 30 days. A 6-month warranty is included with the purchase, and support for troubleshooting issues can be found online through the company’s social media community as well. It’s best to reach out to the company to find out exactly which parts are covered under the warranty replacement for this QIDI X-Smart printer.
Pros & Cons
X-Smart Pros
- The enclosed build area makes it optimal for printing with a wide range of filaments.
- The printer’s easy to use with no assembly required, making it ideal for use in a wide variety of office, lab, and educational environments
- The turbofan cools builds more efficiently throughout the print process
- The printer can use third-party filaments
- It’s budget-friendly
- The resume print option is a bonus feature to keep builds going from where the print stopped.
- The color touchscreen display is tilted for a user friendly experience and comes with a wealth of options to manage the printer settings and monitor build progress
- A sample roll of PLA filament is included that lets users plug the printer in and use within minutes of unboxing.
X-Smart Cons
- The build area is smaller than other QIDI 3D printers
- The direct drive extruder can clog, but its assembly make it annoying to take apart to remove any buildup of excess filament.
- The turbofan is loud and runs whenever the printer is on, regardless if there is a print job in progress or not.
- The touchscreen can lag in response at times
- The ethernet and Wi-Fi settings aren’t available to MAC users
- There isn’t a filament runout detection sensor
Verdict
Being that this QIDI Tech 3D printer has been on the market for a while now, there’s more technical support and information available. The X-Smart's enclosed build area make it ideal for workshops. With the noise level being rather high, offices and classrooms should use this machine with this expectation in mind. It is useful in a learning environment. It isn’t too big and can be used across several industries from dentistry to make molds and casts, replicating toys, jewelry making, and engineering to make prototypes.
The QIDI Print slicer works decent enough to produce solid builds, but other users found better results with the Cura and Simplify3D slicers. The bonus is that the printer doesn’t have to be tethered to a laptop to send the files for printing. Connecting to it over the internet gives users the freedom to work from anywhere on the same network.
It comes fully assembled, but make sure the area is prepared for 3D printing with this device. The room should be able to hold a constant temperature. It should be well ventilated, and the surface area where the printer is stationed should be clean as well.
Overall, this X-Smart 3D printer is a good investment for the price. It has a sturdy construction frame and improved features which make it a top competitor for printers within this price range.
Last update on 2024-12-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
