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Qidi Technology is a Chinese company that was founded in 2012. Since then, the company has been renowned for its collection of FDM 3D printers made for hobbyists and small businesses.
The company gained its popularity after bringing in the market Qidi Tech I, also known as a cheaper derivative of Flashforge Creator Pro.
X- One 2 is the updated version of X-one. The QIDI Tech X-One2 review aims at verifying how far this version is capable of helping users and what are the limitations it entails.
Extremely recommended for beginners, X-one 2 is the 3D printer for all those who wish to plug and play with the machine. X-One 2 is priced at $400.
The main competitor of this machine is the Flashforge Finder. Both the devices are easy to setup. On one side, if Finder has made its place as a kid-specific 3D printer used in academic institutions, X-One 2 has gained the trust of hobbyists as well as small businesses. X- One 2 claims to offer more long term value.
Although X-One 2 does not have a longer user base as much as FlashForge, QidiTech is a company that provides outstanding customer service.
Especially the one on one technical support that the company provides via Skype proves to be of immense assurance to all its customers for dealing with issues in X-One 2.
Features
As with other 3D printers under $500, X-One 2 too doesn’t show you many lists of features. For all the users of Original Prusa i3 MK3 or BIBO2, X-One 2 would disappoint a little bit.
But for all the newbies in this technical world of additive manufacturing, this is a gift from a manufacturing company that’s expert at manufacturing cheap printers.
Especially for making sure that the technology that is available to the top notches, is also available to the small businesses, hobbyists, beginners, and academic institutions.
Below are some of the features of this 3D printer that would surely make you wonder and make you want to re-see the price of the printer mentioned above.
Touchscreen Interface
This is the most notable feature of X-One 2. There aren’t many 3D printers that allow you to have a touchscreen display. Most 3D printers under $500 come with a knob or buttoned operated LCD interface which isn’t as appealing as the touch-based display.
Also, the 3.5-inch touch screen display is used for multi-purposes. Print progress and bed temperature can be managed using this touchscreen.
The other interesting thing which X-One 2 allows its user to do is to save your work and pause it and return to it later. This pause-resume feature is extremely helpful while loading a new filament.
Removable Covers
Not only does the removable panel shaped covers provide X-One 2 with temperature stability during the printing process, but also it protects moving parts from dust and other particles.
The fact that they are removable gives flexibility for the user to use it during the printing process and for safeguarding it against foreign materials.
X-One 2 has a heated print bed, which isn’t generally considered to be safe to be operated when kids are around. So these panels can also serve the purpose of keeping the heated print bed of the printer away from kids.
Ready to Print as Soon as Taken Out of the Box
Qidi Tech X-One 2 is a plug and play 3D printer, meaning that after an hour of unboxing the printer, you can start printing with it.
The complete machine comes pre-assembled so, there is no other work than the feeding of filament and leveling of the print bed, that’s needed to be done.
This 3D printer does not come with the facility to auto-bed leveling. So every time you complete a print, you’d have to adjust the level of the print bed according to the next print design.
But you don’t need to worry because the instruction manual comes with detailed information on how to do so. And the team of Qidi Tech is also ready to explain over the phone.
Enclosed Build-Up
This 3D printer has got itself covered from all sides. Although the top cover is missing, that is good because not all materials are temperature non-sensitive.
Because of its semi-enclosed build-up, you will be able to print with ABS material as there is an assurance of constant temperature in Qidi Tech X-One 2.
Another benefit of this feature is the protection that it gives to the surrounding by not spreading the potentially harmful fumes outside the printer. Also, the risk of accidental interfering is reduced due to the closed build-up on all sides.
Printing Bed
Qidi Tech X-One 2 features a printing bed that’s made of aluminum alloy covered with PEI surface. Temperature-sensitive materials like ABS and PETG which require an aluminum surface on a heating bed can be printed using this printer.
This 3D printer has a flexible range of material options that it provides to its users. On one side, you can print with temperature non-sensitive materials, whilst on the other, you can also print using temperature-sensitive and popular materials that are mentioned above.
Multiple Options to Connect with The Printer
For connecting to X-One 2, one has a USB port, an SD card slot, which is located at the rear-end of the printer. Although you cannot connect to this printer by using Wi-fi, both these options are reliable and don’t let you encounter any issues.
Specifications
Qidi Tech X-One 2 is based on the Fused Deposition Modeling technique and has a build volume of 145 mm * 145 mm * 145 mm.
The nozzle diameter in the printer is 0.4 mm and the maximum temperature that it can withstand is 250 degrees Celsius. The filament diameter of the printer is 1.75 mm and Qidi has made sure that you can also print via using third party filaments.
Even when it comes to software, X-One 2 can be said to be open-sourced. Once you can use Qidi Print, Cura, and Simplify 3d software to slice his/her file on Windows and Mac operating systems.
Although X-One 2 is very flexible when printed with PLA and ABS, it also allows you to print with TPU, Nylon, and PETG without heavy modifications in its hardware.
Price
This desktop 3D printer for beginners is available for $298 which is considered affordable. Seeing the quality of prints that the printer produces and its ability to produce them smoothly justifies its price range.
One may argue about its comparison with Ultimaker 3 which is also a desktop printer, but it’s available at double the price of this FDM printer. And we have also mentioned X-One 2’s comparison with Flashforge Finder at the start of this article.
Qidi has ensured that this printer has got some useful features in this printer that most printers in this price category do not include.
First Impression
At first glance, X-One 2 appears to be a fully enclosed 3D printer as it has a hinged top door and a pair of removable side panels. All of these are transparent and allows you to have a view of the print bed present inside the printer.
This is also an advantage because you can completely monitor the printing material during the print process.
Unlike Qidi Tech I and the X-pro, this one doesn’t have a top cover. And as mentioned above, the side panels are removable so one can easily peek in by removing them out whenever you are switching from one printing material to the other.
Out front of the printer has a 3.5-inch touch screen interface that has easily recognizable icons making it easy to operate and respond.
There is a USB port and SD card slot on the side of the printer with a switch on the back. The spool holder of X-One 2 is also at the back of the machine which can be difficult to reach out especially if the printer is placed to a corner. The extruder is single and needs to be uncovered through the top of this 3D printer.
Setup
Qidi X-One 2 is fully assembled out of the box, unlike its predecessors. Even the extruder is installed inside the frame of the printer. This is what makes X-One 2 an excellent printer for newbies in 3D printing and additive manufacturing.
Setting up the printer is quite straightforward, it completely depends on the type of material that you wish to print the part of the functional prototype with. The initial time to set up the machine varies anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes.
Everything that you need to do is present inside the box, there is no external control system that you need for printing using this machine.
To make the initial printing easy, Qidi Tech has included a sample filament that comes with a gluestick. Leaving the print bed is also easier compared to other printers in the same price range.
Although X-One 2 has a manual leveling system, which beginners wouldn’t like. However, doing the leveling doesn’t take much time.
On the other side of the filament, is the setup of the extruder system which can be a little difficult because it is at the backside, but overall, the complete setup of this printer is easy.
Print Type/Cost
Being an FDM 3D printer, it does offer printing with various popular materials. The overall cost of the print depends on the filaments of the material i.e. either ABS or PLA or any other.
Other constraints also do play a role such as a layer height and complexity of the design. Qidi X-One 2 is a desktop printer and so it does not utilize much electricity as printers of other grades do.
Software
Qidi Tech X-One 2 works easily with Qidi Print, Cura, and Simplify 3D. You can slice your files in Windows and MC operating system.
The files extension that you can slice is STL and OBJ. Although a newbie would have difficulties while operating on the file at first. But that’s normal and something that he/she would face with any other software too.
Customer Service
Qidi provides decent support to its customers. The company promises to offer one to one technical support via Skype.
Moreover, Qidi Tech also has enough number of videos on the internet. The manufacturers are known to respond well even to email about issues related to filament jamming and others.
Parameters Influencing the Buying Decision
Here is a list of points that you should check before planning to spend on this 3D printer.
3D Printer Cost: This is an affordable printer. The technology that is available only in industrial-grade printers is made available to small businesses and hobbyists.
3D Print Quality: The print quality of this printer is excellent. There are a few challenges with some material types apart from the most popular ones like ABS, PETG, etc.
3D Print Speed: Average for a desktop printer, but not too good.
3D Printer capability: Great for beginners and home users.
3D Printer Practicality: One can utilize the machine for learning and creating unique designs.
3D Printer User Expectations: Professionals are not going to love working with this printer because this is not as good as an Ultimaker or a Flashforge. Neither does it have the automation present in that machine. However, hobbyists and newbies would find the printer up to the mark.
The Verdict
It is very easy to fall in love with this 3D printer because it’s cheap and also brings real value to the table.
Qidi Tech X-One 2 is easy to use when it comes to how to start the print process or assemble the printer, you don’t necessarily have to be techy about these things.
Because of its small size, hobbyists and academic coaches are going to love it. Overall, this is an entry-level printer that offers printing with the most popular materials like ABS and PETG with excellent customer support. And, the Qidi Tech X-One2 review clarifies that too.
